Concrete Cancer Spreading in Melbourne
“Concrete cancer”, a condition where the alkaline content of certain building materials reacts with carbon dioxide (also sometimes Ettringite found in hydrated Portland cement) causing them to fall away, is beginning to effect reinforced concrete buildings from the 1920s around the world. These buildings, now almost a century old are showing the signs of age. Some, like Brisbane’s City Hall are suffering so badly from the condition that it threatens the structural integrity of the building. Many parts of Eastern Block countries and Russia are being completely demolished due to structurally unsound buildings as a result of concrete cancer. However non-structural cancer can be easily treated and is simply a sign of poor maintenance.
Not suprisingly, some of Melbourne’s significant buildings are 1920s and made of reinforced concrete.
I have found a few examples of buildings affected by this condition.
Curtin House (formerly Tattersalls Club) (252 Swanston Street) is one such example. Pieces of the historic former home of the Communist Party of Australia are beginning to fall from the building’s elaborate balconies and eaves. Although the building is not on the Victorian Heritage Register, its heritage value is recognised by the Melbourne City Council with a B grade heritage status.
Curtin House, showing signs of concrete cancer
Another badly affected building is Epstein House (136 Flinders Street). This building is graded C by the Melbourne City Council and has a diamonded folding facade. Like Curtin House, the overhanging bits are badly decaying.
Dremans building, a tall interwar warehouse at 84 Flinders Street next to Campbell House is another example. However the building is not listed in the Melbourne City Council’s much out-of-date heritage studies.
However one of the worst cases I have seen in the CBD is the Princess Mary Club (148 Lonsdale Street) next to the Wesley Church. This tudor gothic styled interwar building designed by renowned architect Harry Norris has only a C grading, although it is one of the finest of its style to be found in Melbourne and one of my personal favourites as it blends the moderne with mock historic. It has been unfortunately been indefinitely covered in scaffolding due to the majority of its stuccoed concrete facade falling on the street below.
One can only hope that some money can be spent keeping the cancer at bay, because it is only superficial and can be fixed cosmetically and certainly not an excuse for demolition.
If anyone can think of any other examples in the CBD, please feel free to mention them.
The nicholas hall you are referring too is actualy the former Princess Mary Club (1920s), a womens hostel, which along with the Wesley church is included amongst the buildings on the site on the Heritage Register. However, the Uniting Church authorities have been wanting to redevelop that side of the site for ages (since 1988 at least), and so havnt been maintaining it, and finally got a permit for an office bock in the middle of last year, which includes the demolition of the building. Lots of the ‘concrete cancer’ is actually just external render falling off, but there is also actual concrete cancer to the structure itself, so it would be a very expensive job to fix up, one of the reasons they have been allowed to knock it down. With the current downturn however, the new block looks less likely to be contructed anytime soon, but they may go ahead and demolish the building anyway. The nicholas hall, which is to the west of the church behind a 70s office block, is to be retained and repaired (as is the church of course) – its very plain outside, but rather good 1930s Deco inside (by Harry Norris).
Thanks for the clarifications heritagepoliceman !
Dear Heeritage lover
I am trying to get a campaign together to save the Princess Mary Club. Can you please ring me to discuss. Time is running out – Wesley Church has applied to the Minister for a Planning permit, and if anything is to be done, it needs to be done prior to the permit being issued.
My phone number is (03) 9654 9446. I am speaking to a number of women’s groups, but need to get a broader campaign base.
Regards
Maureen Capp.