C. J. Coles Store, Bourke Street, C. 1927
The C. J. Coles flagship store opened in Bourke Street on 21 March 1930 on the site previously occupied by Coles [no relation] Book Arcade. Today it houses the David Jones outlet located opposite its main city store in the Bourke Street mall.
Harry Norris designed the commercial neo-Gothic structure that today is most readily identifiable as Art Deco. Constructed in structural steel and reinforced concrete, the building’s facade and interior were opulently appointed in elements synonymous with the Art Deco era: decorative and colorful glazed terracotta tiling and marble, mosaics, chrome, and wood paneling respectively.
The basement, ground, first and second floors were dedicated to customers. Two large sales areas were located in the basement and first floor. The Quick Lunch Counter occupied the mezzanine level with the beloved Coles Cafeteria next up on first. Second floor accommodated a Ladies Lounge. Corporate services and the C. J. Coles headquarters were located on the 3rd, 4th and 5th floors. In 1930, C.J. Coles managed 27 city, regional and interstate stores and employed over 800 staff.
Coles located its workforce’s wellbeing as front and centre in the new store and this was acknowledged as unusual even by 1930s standards. The building’s upper floor accommodated a well appointed gymnasium that, at the time, was considered the finest in corporate Australia. It included showers and change rooms. Staff also benefited from their own dining hall with the same services as the customer cafeteria. A registered nurse oversaw a hospital department for wellness and a staff cloak room was manned to manage the security of the their belongings while at work. It is little wonder that Coles’ Bourke store became an iconic part of Melbourne’s history.
Image below shows the facade of the building from the mezzanine level up. Ground floor is obscured by the store’s awning.