Sum Kum Lee: 112-114 Little Bourke Street, MELBOURNE

Building Profile

Location

Construction Details

Built in the Victorian period in the Mannerist style

Notable features

One of Melbournes finest examples of high Mannerism, this building demostrates all of the tradementas of the style, including an undulatingfacade with enormous depth as well as a variety of pediments and classical ornament used in different scale relationships. THe use of multiple column pairings to exaggerate the central oriel are noteable. The building is a a Mannerist western interpretation of the Chinese style.

History

The Sum Kum Lee Building is in the heart of Chinatown and was constructed 1887-88 for wealthy merchant and Chinese community leader, Lowe Kong Meng. It was designed by architect George De Lacy Evans and is a three storey brick building with basement. It served as a business warehouse and residence until 1889 when it was occupied by the publishers of the newspaper Table Talk. The newspaper vacated the building in 1903 and it has since had a variety of commercial uses. The heavily embellished boom style classicism facade, with a Mannerist western interpretation of the Chinese style, is modelled in stucco with facing Malmsbury stone at ground level.

• National Trust (B4302)


• Victorian Heritage Register (H0442) - Sum Kum Lee is protected by state law

Did you find what you were looking for ?
Discuss Sum Kum Lee in the Walking Melbourne Forum