Dr William Alfred Verco creates Adelaide's first 'skyscraper' in 1912 in a throwback to builder origins of the family
The Verco Building (at left), Adelaide city's first "skyscraper" on North Terrace from 1912, developed by Dr William Alfred Verco.
The six-storey Verco building, opened on North Terrace in 1912, was hailed as Adelaide city’s “first skyscraper” and was its tallest building for 20 years.
William Alfred Verco, the building’s developer, was one of the first graduates of Adelaide University's new medical school in 1890 – adding to the famous Verco medical dynasty of Adelaide.
William was the nephew of Joseph Cooke Verco, who returned to Adelaide in 1878 from brilliance shown during his medical training in London and became a leading physician. His return coincided with the rise of the new Adelaide University. In 1885, along with Edward Charles Stirling, Joseph Cooke Verco helped start the university's medical school and was pivotal in setting up its dental school after World War I, acting as its dean 1920-28, while also dean of medicine.
William Alfred Verco’s ambitious move into building development on North Terrace, Adelaide city, was not a break with family heritage. The dynasty in South Australia had started in 1840 when young stonemason and builder James Crabb Verco arrived in Adelaide.
Wanting to pioneer large building construction in Adelaide, William Verco adopted reinforced concrete building by liaising with concrete specialists in Adelaide and in Melbourne. One of those engineers was John Monash, later the famous World War I general.
As the site for his building, William Verco bought the two-storey doctors' consulting rooms on the corner of North Terrace and Stephens Place, one block east of King William Street, from another eminent Adelaide medical identity, Dr Allan Campbell, in 1911.
The architect was Eric H. McMichael, who was married to Verco's niece Constance. This first architectural commission for McMichael led to his successful architectural career. The initial plans McMichael drew up were completed for Verco in two weeks and depicted a six-storey building with basement. Two weeks later, the plans were resubmitted to Verco with changes for a more friendly layout for tenants.
Architecturally, the building successfully interpreted classical styles through rusticated wings on the North Terrace façade that bound the bay windows. Over-sized keystones to link with cornices and support bay windows also attracted interest.
Verco was determined for the building to be fully complete by 1912, as he wanted to start other Adelaide projects. He brought more builders on site and extensive detail on some facades was reduced, with the seventh storey omitted. The first stage was completed in September 1912 and second stage in 1915. The estimated final cost was £30,250.
The building was extensively refurbished between 1980-81, with original windows replaced, every cornice removed and a new floor in a mansard roof. As part of the REMM Myer development in 1989, the building's interior was demolished with only the façade remaining. The façade was restored in 2006 to its original form and changes made in 1980-81 removed.
The building was listed on the South Australian heritage register in 1986.
