Posts Tagged ‘palazzo’

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.

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.

Savoy Plaza Hotel: 630 Little Collins Street and 122-133 Spencer Street, Melbourne

Savoy Plaza Hotel: 630 Little Collins Street, Melbourne. Looking north east from western side of Swanston Street.

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Hotel Alexander (or Alexander’s Hotel) was opened in early 1927 and run by Alexander Hotel Pty Ltd.   At the time it was billed as “Melbourne’s most modern hotel” a fully licenced hotel with 200 rooms each with their own bathroom.  At eleven storeys it was one of Melbourne and Australia’s tallest and most prominent hotels at the time taking advantage of its proximity to Spencer Street railway station. 1  A 20th Century American style hotel it claimed to be one the first in Australia to offer modern  air-conditioning.

Swann House: 22-38 William Street, Melbourne

Swann House: 22-38 William Street, Melbourne

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Built for the State Electricity Commission in 1921 as an eleven storey office building, it has also been known in its history as Lyle House.  It was designed by the SEC chief architect and constructed by Hansen & Yuncken in reinforced concrete.

Former Melbourne Metropolitan Tramways Board Building: 616-618 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

616 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

Originally built for the former Melbourne Metropolitan Tramways Board this is a striking six storey building is a combination of styles with a main facade facing Little Collins Street and arranged in three palazzo along Godfrey Street.  It has elements of moderne, stripped classical and art deco architecture.

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