Holyman House

Holyman House is an iconic Art Deco building in the central business district of Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

Holyman House
Holyman House from "The Avenue" on Brisbane Street
General information
Type	Commercial offices
Location	Launceston, Tasmania
Address	52-60 Brisbane Street
Coordinates	41.4360°S 147.1406°E / -41.4360; 147.1406
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]}

Gallery

Main entrance into with original red granite and chrome lettering. Door itself replaced in the late 1900s.

Main stairwell on level 2 showing the streamlined Art Deco design