Spowers History Timeline
This timeline shows Spowers' history from its start in the late 1800s to the present day. Please use the 'Settings' button on the bottom right of the page to alter the page view / zoom.
1880-05-28 14:20:57
Victorian Gold Rush
Victorian Gold Rush peaks in 1880's by which time Melbourne had become the richest city in the world.
1889-05-28 14:20:57
"Land Boom"
Growing building activity culminated in a "land boom" which, in 1888, reached a peak of speculative development fuelled by consumer confidence and escalating land value. As a result of the boom, large commercial buildings, coffee palaces, terrace housing and palatial mansions proliferated in the city. The establishment of a hydraulic facility in 1887 allowed for the local manufacture of elevators, resulting in the first construction of high-rise buildings.
1895-03-31 20:24:35
Howitt & Godfrey is established
Founding Members, William Scott Purves Godfrey (architect) and Howitt (surveyor) form a partnership, establish the Practice as ‘Howitt & Godfrey'.
1896-03-31 20:24:35
Change of Company Direction
In the late 1800's, there was little to do in the orthodox architectural field and Godfrey turned his attention to a new proposal to sewer the city and suburbs. A degree of specialisation in this field helped materially to promote the firm’s Practice and brought a good deal of work through association with house owners who were anxious to have their properties ‘connected’.
1901-05-05 03:11:07
Godfrey & Spowers is established
Henry Howard Spowers (Architect) briefly joins the firm while Howitt exits. New office space is established at 34 Queen Street, Melbourne and the Practice is registered as Godfrey & Spowers.
1901-05-30 21:01:55
Federation of Australia
Melbourne becomes the seat of government of the federation. The first federal parliament was convened on 9 May 1901 in the Royal Exhibition Building, subsequently moving to the Victorian Parliament House where it was located until 1927, when it was moved to Canberra. The Governor-General of Australia resided at Government House in Melbourne until 1930 and many major national institutions remained in Melbourne well into the twentieth century.
1902-04-16 03:05:04
Change of Company Direction
Throughout the years before the First World War, the firm’s practice was predominantly residential. A few commercial buildings were undertaken but in the main the practice was of houses for the ‘well-to-do’, with their appurtenant coach-houses and servants' wings and all the trappings of those times.
1905-04-16 03:05:04
Toorak Residence
An elaborate new residence in Toorak designed by Godfrey & Spowers in 1905.
1914-05-30 21:01:55
World War I
The War had a significant effect and the practice did not really show much progress until the twenties.
1920-05-28 14:20:57
Change of Company Direction
Godfrey and Spowers remained predominantly residential, although in the mid-twenties a certain amount of commercial and industrial work was carried out.
1921-03-14 07:51:07
State Savings Bank of Victoria & The Bank of New South Wales
Several smaller commercial works helped to augment the continuing residential output. The foundations were laid in this period of an association with the State Savings Bank of Victoria, for which a large number of branches were built and for which we still act as architects. The Bank of New South Wales also became our client and for many years we were its sole architect in Victoria, building many branches in the suburbs and the country.
1924-12-26 00:11:20
The Argus Building
The Argus Building, constructed in 1926 on the corner of La Trobe and Elizabeth streets, is classified by the National Trust and is on the Victorian Heritage Register of Heritage Victoria. 'The Argus' was a morning daily newspaper in Melbourne that was established in 1846 and closed in 1957
1926-12-26 00:11:20
Sargood Gardiner Warehouse
Initially seven storey (plus basement) steelframed and concrete floored warehouse for Sargood Gardiner Ltd of 238 Flinders Street (a combination of the old firm of Sargood Brothers and W Gardiner & Co) and builders Hansen & Yunken erected it for an estimated cost of ₤80,000, 1928-9. Another floor was added by 1936 designed by Godfrey & Spowers but built by Swanson Brothers and costed at ₤5000. The distinctive ground level giant-order loggia facing Flinders Lane was built as a light well for the basement which the architects were quick to claim for goods storage and delivery only, not for show rooms or offices (there was large loading dock onto the rear lane). The Sargood Gardiner Ltd warehouse is significant historically and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City Zone. The Sargood Gardiner Ltd warehouse is significant historically for its evocation of the continuing major role played by the nationally prominent Sargood firm and its affiliates from the 19th into the 20th century and with its wellpreserved exterior the building exemplifies the key warehousing function of the Capital City Zone in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The shift in location for the firm from near to the old swinging basin on the Yarra to a more elevated site on the eastern hill of Melbourne highlights the change in transport modes needed for warehousing in the City. Aesthetically, the warehouse is a fine architectural composition using both classical and Egyptian revival motifs in the arrangement of a distinctive street elevation.
1929-10-25 16:55:44
Wall Street Crash
1930-10-25 16:55:44
Unemployment reaches all time low
Unemployment reached a record high of around 30% in 1932
1931-10-25 16:55:44
The Great Depression
The depression of 1930 played havoc with the profession and with the industry and all practices suffered severely.
1932-12-25 16:55:44
Henry Howard Spowers
In December 1932 Henry Howard Spowers passed away.
1933-01-25 16:55:44
William Purves Race Godfrey
In January 1933 William Purves Race Godfrey succeeds as Partner.
1936-02-03 20:04:13
Award: Bank of NSW Headquarters
Melbourne Headquarters for the Bank of New South Wales Wins Street Architecture Medal.
1937-02-03 20:04:13
Key Personnel
John Scarborough. Geoffrey Mewton. Leonard Grant. Garnet Alsop. Norman Seabrook. Frank Dale.
1939-02-03 20:04:13
Start of World War II
1941-02-03 20:04:13
William Purves Race Godfrey
Practice suspended. W R Godfrey worked with the RAAF as a civilian architect in Melbourne and Sydney; W S P Godfrey, who was then 69, carried out a few commissions for air-raid shelters and other requirements of ARP authorities until the war ended.
1942-02-03 20:04:13
Australian Labor Party
Department of Post War Reconstruction is formed.
1944-02-03 20:04:13
Godfrey, Spowers, Hughes, Mewton and Lobb
W R Godfrey returned to Melbourne to recommence practice. He proposed partnership to Eric Hughes and Geoffrey Harley Mewton, both of whom accepted and then to John D Lobb, who also jointed the new firm, which for the next 25 years in the name of ‘Godfrey, Spowers, Hughes, Mewton and Lobb’. W S P Godfrey retires. The combination of resources and, of course, the expansion in the activities of the new firm had a marked effect and in the early years of ‘Post War Reconstruction’ the firm’s work grew rapidly.
1945-01-01 20:04:13
University Women’s College
The first large job to be undertaken after the war was for the University Women’s College
1945-02-03 20:04:13
End of World War II
1945-03-01 20:04:13
David Syme & Company
Redevelopment for David Syme & Company of ‘The Age’ office on its Collins Street site
1945-05-01 20:04:13
AWA building
1945-08-01 20:04:13
Allan's Music Warehouse
1945-10-01 20:04:13
Ashburton Theatre
1945-11-01 20:04:13
Melbourne University
1946-02-01 20:04:13
Toorak College
1946-04-01 20:04:13
Portland Harbour Trust
1946-06-01 20:04:13
Law Institute of Victoria
1949-06-02 11:00:00
John Davidson
John Davidson joins the firm.
1950-06-01 20:04:13
Conservative Liberal Party
Department of Post War Reconstruction dissolved.
1952-01-01 20:04:13
Masonic Centre
1952-05-01 00:00:00
Centennial House Hospital
1952-07-01 00:00:00
Bank of Adelaide
1952-10-01 00:00:00
Union Fidelity Trustees
1953-01-01 00:00:00
Automobile Fire and General Insurance
1953-01-01 00:00:00
Monash University
1953-04-01 00:00:00
Commonwealth Bank
1960-05-01 00:00:00
National Mutual Centre
Godfrey Spowers Hughes Mewton & Lobb are commissioned to design The National Mutual Centre at 433-455 Collins Street, Melbourne.
1961-01-01 00:00:00
J D Lobb retires
1962-01-01 00:00:00
Key Personnel
The three remaining Partners invited John M Davidson, William W Delaney, Kenneth G Hardcastle and Roger V Major to become Partners.
1964-10-01 00:00:00
Eric Hughes
October 1964 Hughes passes away.
1965-06-01 00:00:00
Roger V Major
Roger V Major retires. Office moves to the 17th floor of the recently completed National Mutual Life building on Collins Street – a move which coincided with, or perhaps brought about, a further increase in activity.
1966-01-01 00:00:00
Northern & Employers’ Group
1966-04-01 00:00:00
Union Fidelity Trustee Co