Pran Central
Heritage listed building in Victoria, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pran Central is a heritage-listed seven storey Edwardian baroque architectural style former department store, built in 1915 as Read’s Store, comprising a shopping centre with apartments above. The building is located on the corner of Chapel Street and Commercial Road in the well-known retail precinct of Prahran, a suburb in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Retail shopping centre;
- Residential accommodation
| Pran Central | |
|---|---|
Pran Central, as viewed from Chapel Street | |
 Interactive map of the Pran Central area | |
| Former names | Read's Stores |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type |
|
| Architectural style | Edwardian baroque |
| Location | 325 Chapel Street, Prahran, Victoria, Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°50′51″S 144°59′37″E |
| Current tenants | Anchor tenants:
|
| Opened | 1915 |
| Renovated | 1978; 1999 |
| Renovation cost | A$60 million |
| Owner | Precision Group |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 7 |
| Floor area | 5,350 square metres (57,600 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Developer | Charles Moore & Company |
| Designations | National Trust of Australia (Victoria): Chapel Street Precinct |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | SJB Architects |
The shopping centre occupies the lower ground, ground floor and first floor mezzanine, with approximately 30 specialty stores along with a food court.[1][2]
History
The 1915 seven-storey building is notable for its Edwardian baroque architecture, parapets and dual domes.[1][3] The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) has listed the building as being of regional architectural, historical and social importance.[1][4]
The site was initially developed in 1886 by Jacob Read as a drapery business; the Charles Moore and Company took over the business in 1903.[5][6] Read had established a successful men’s clothing firm in the 1870s which had become one of Chapel Street’s largest businesses, lending its name to ‘Read’s corner’. Moore specialised in ladies fashions, some of which were made in the shop’s workroom. Moore retained the old name but expanded the business and built the current large building in 1915; designed by Sydney Smith & Ogg, only the north half was completed.[4]
The building housed what was reputed to be the largest suburban department store in Australia in 1956.[7][8] The lower storeys were converted into a shopping centre named Prahran Central in 1978 as part of a major redevelopment effort by John Gandel and Maurice Alter. It then became Pran Central after further redevelopment in 1999.[1][3]
Lang Walker acquired the property in 1999 for $22 million, and carried out a $60 million upgrade. The shopping centre was refurbished and the upper six floors converted from office space into luxury apartments, including two added floors under a curved roof.[1][7] SJB Architects won the 2004 City of Stonnington Urban Design Award for Best Heritage Design, Alterations and Additions/Restoration for the upgrade to the Pran Central Apartments.[9] In 2006 the shopping centre was purchased by Precision Group, from Lang Walker for $34.5 million.[2]
Gallery
The façade of the building, pictured in 2006.
The food court
The retail mall
The mezzanine level
Thel Kaya Health Club located within the building
