Godowns built on reclaimed land on Des Voeux Road West (in Shek Tong Tsui) between Hill Road and the area where the coastline turns southwards.
The godowns were owned by several companies and their construction dates are unknown. Possibly constructed in the 1920s [the 1925 Public Works Report: Completion of R.C.C. Godown on M.L. 178, Des Voeux Road, West.]. The Kam Ling Hotel on M.L. 183 opened in 1919.
A look into the Index of the streets, house numbers and lots of the city of Victoria… from 1938 gives entries at 430-452 Des Voeux Road West (M.L. 126 is not included).
We see four godowns on M.L. 182 and 181, likely one each on M.L. 180 and 179, and finally one (Godown No. 14) on M.L. 178 and 177.
The area and photos are (likely) shown in the collage below:
Kam Ling Hotel is on M.L. 183, next are three-storey godowns on M.L. 182 and 181. Next a two-gabled building with a central tower on M.L. 180 and 179 (owned by the China Provident Loan & Mortgage Co Ltd.), and finally a single-storey godown with a larger gable.
The 1945 map on Gwulo reports "China Loan and Mortgage Ltd, (destroyed).
After the war, the godowns were repaired/rebuilt. The 1955 map at hkmaps.hk gives for M.L. 182-179 China Provident Loan & Mortgage Co Ltd. as owner. On M.L. 178-177, Hong Kong Flour Mills Ltd [1954-????] opened in 1954. The other godowns were demolished latest in the early 1970s when Kwan Yick Building I [1974- ] were constructed.
Photos that show this Place
Comments
Godowns on M.L. 182 - 177 ?
Could the buildings on the right belong to Godowns on M.L. 182 - 177 in an earlier stage?
waterfront
Looking at the older maps, I don't think that part (ML 182-177) of the waterfront has changed shape much over the years. If it was there then I would expect to see the buildings in the left half of the image to be at an angle more directly facing the camera to reflect the change in angle to the east of ML 182-177. This whole waterfront seems to be facing in one direction, and judging by the hills in the background, perhaps slightly more to the east. Just an opinion though.
It wouldn't surprise me if one of these blocks relates to Kwan Yick phase 2
Re: waterfront
Phil, the four-storey building in the centre is the Four-Storey Building at 187-191 Connaught Road West [c.1906-c.1981], west of it is the Junction of Hill Road and Des Voeux Road West [????- ]. The next building I would expect is the Kam Ling Hotel [1919-1941], but it hadn't been built in the early 1910s. I would expect the buildings continuing to the west to be the Godowns on M.L. 182 - 177 (Shek Tong Tsui) [????-????].
location
right, yes, I can see that the buildings at the back are at a slightly different angle to the 4-storey one which I didn't notice before. Thanks for the explanation, Klaus.