Low-rise (1-5 storeys)

Commonwealth Offices. 4 Treasury Place, East Melbourne

At the turn of the century, Melbourne served for a period as the national capital until a permanent capital was created in Canberra.

Offices were required for federal government and the Treasury Reserve, having been established in the 1850s for the purpose of consolidating Melbourne’s government administration functions was the ideal choice. The building was once the office of the Prime Minister, Post-Master General and Federal Treasurer and Governor-General and though these offices and most other federal government functions are now based in Canberra it continues to be used by the federal government.

Lutetia: 1-3 Bell Street, Armadale

Lutetia 1-3 Bell Street Armadale viewed from the south

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Lutetia is a prestige 5 apartment triple storey building that tries its best to revive the Tudor style in the 21st Century combining historical styles with modern living.   While there has been no shortage of revivals of this style since its origins the 15th Century and the postmodern era, most would be classified as being pastiche, included in that category are many other recent mansions near to Toorak.  This effort, while not historically accurate (the eclectic composition includes classical features) it is quite remarkable in its attention to detail.

Scots Church Hall: 99-101 Russell Street, Melbourne (demolished 2012)

Scots Church Hall: 99-101 Russell Street, Melbourne. Looking west from Russell Street median.

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The three storey hall was built neighbouring Scots Church in the interwar commercial palazzo style in rendered reinforced concrete.  It features a prominent piano nobile base with arched windows and keystones.  It is currently destined for demolition, so I thought I’d make an effort to document it before the swing of the wrecking ball so to speak.

Media House: 655 Collins Street, Docklands

Media House, opened October 28 2009 by Victorian premier John Brumby, is the latest purpose built headquarters of The Age newspaper, one of Melbourne’s longest running papers.  A major feature of the building is its giant digital media screen which faces and open plaza that steps and slopes down to the corner of Spencer and Collins Street.

Designed by Bates Smart1, and constructed by Grocon for Fairfax media group at a cost of $110 million2 it was designed to be a contemporary replacement for the dated old Age offices further down Spencer Street.

  1. Media House project profile – Bates Smart http://www.batessmart.com.au/projects/office-buildings/media-house-docklands
  2. Dobbin, Marika Media House opens, reviving interest in building over rail lines. The Age. October 28, 2009

Former Michaelis Hallenstein & Co: 441-445 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Former Michaelis Hallenstein & Co 441-445 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

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This fine four storey building with basement was built as the new offices for Hallenstein & Co, a tanners in 1924 to a Tompkins brothers design and built by FE Shillabeer & Sons.  The company purchased the property from Edwards Dunlop & Co in 1923.  The company had traded in Melbourne since the 1860s.12

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