61 and 61a, Union Street

This is a building of circa 1840, originally one unit, located on Union Street. It is a three-storey structure with cement rendering, accentuated by incised panelled pilasters. A decorative band runs horizontally between the floors. The slate roof is hidden behind a high parapet, which features terminal piers and three panels aligned with the window bays, each topped with a small pediment. A triglyph frieze, incorporating guttae, runs along the top, below a moulded cornice. A recessed bay on the south side has a cornice and similar banding, although it has a lower parapet. The building originally had three windows. The second-floor recessed sash window retains later glazing bars and architrave surrounds extending up to the frieze, with block sills. The central window on this floor is lower than the others. The first floor features a central recessed window without an architrave surround; to either side are flat-fronted bows of three lights, with sash windows and some glazing bars in the side lights. Doric pilasters, frieze, and cornice project slightly forward, with an apron to the right-hand window. Modern shop fronts now occupy the ground floor, but one rusticated pilaster remains. The recessed blind bay’s ground floor has a round-headed plank door with a cast iron gate, flanked by Doric pilasters and an architrave arch. Above the door is an incised panel, with the lower part curving to match the doorhead. The building forms a group with the Royal Victoria Arcade and numbers 58 to 62.