Holyman House is an iconic Art Deco building in the central business district of Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
Holyman House | |
---|---|
General information | |
Type | Commercial offices |
Location | Launceston, Tasmania |
Address | 52-60 Brisbane Street |
Coordinates | 41.4360°S 147.1406°E |
Completed | 1936 |
Owner | historic: ANA present: various businesses |
Height | |
Antenna spire | 26 metres (85 ft) |
Roof | 19.7 metres (65 ft) |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 5 |
Lifts/elevators | 1 |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | H S East and Roy Smith |
Main contractor | J & T Gunn |
The building was designed by H. S. East[1] and Roy Sharrington Smith architects,[2][3] of Launceston,[4] with Clive Steele, of Melbourne, as consulting engineer.[5][6][7]
The building was built in 1936[8] to house the various branches of Holymans shipping[9] and aviation interests as well as an automobile showroom for Holyman's automotive division.[10][11][12]
The building was designed to reflect the bold futuristic vision of the Holyman Company with the sleek curves, neon-lit spire and modern steel frame construction. Holyman House was most infamously the headquarters of Australian National Airways, an evolution of Holyman's Airways.[13]
After the fall of the Holyman's empire in the 1950s, it was sold to Ansett Australia and eventually divided into office spaces. Holyman House now houses a travel centre on the ground level corner allotment where the flight lounge used to be.
The building is on the Tasmanian Heritage Register.[14]
There is also a heritage listed building in Flinders Street, Melbourne, Victoria with the same name.[15][16]
Records
University of Tasmania special collections holds records of the operations of the Holyman businesses related to the building.[17]
Plans
The Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office in Hobart hold plans made for the construction of the building.[18][19][20][21]