The building was originally designed as a department store for the D. I. C. Limited and was constructed in three stages commencing in the early 1890's. It is of 3 storeys with a basement over part of the area. Walls are of brick masonry, and floors and roof are timber framed on steel beams and cast iron columns. The general layout of the structure
is shown in fig. 1. The building extends the full depth of the city block - some
101m - with width 21m (approx.) at
Cashel Street, and 37m (approx.) at Lichfield Street. Storey heights are 5.5m ground
 to first floor, 4.8m first to second and
 4.0m second floor to roof. Parapets
 are 1.2m high at side walls and up to 
3.0m high at the street frontages, The building was generally in sound condition, with no sign of any significant deterioration or movement in the main structural elements. Floor ties to the side walls could be observed externally
 at all levels, although the spacing at
the second floor and roof was sparse
 and irregular.