Commonwealth Offices Building, Melbourne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Commonwealth Offices Building |
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| Location | 4 Treasury Place, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Official name: Commonwealth Offices Building | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 22 June 2004 |
| Reference no. | 105453 |
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The Commonwealth Offices Building is a really old and important government building located at 4 Treasury Place in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was designed by John Smith Murdoch, who was the very first architect for the Australian government. It was built between 1911 and 1912. This special building was added to a list of important Australian places (Commonwealth Heritage List) on June 22, 2004.
Contents
A Look Back: The Building's History
Why Was It Built?
This building was constructed about ten years after Australia became a nation (Federation of Australia). At that time, Melbourne was the temporary capital city of Australia. The new Australian government needed its own offices. This building was the very first office space built especially for the Commonwealth government.
Before 1927, the Australian Parliament met in the Victorian Parliament House. The Governor-General, who represents the King or Queen, lived in the Victorian Government House.
A New Home for Government
When Australia became a federation, many government workers from Victoria joined the new federal public service. At first, they worked in rented buildings. But soon, more space was needed. So, the Commonwealth Offices were built in 1911-1912. They were placed right next to other Victorian State government buildings in Treasury Place.
In 1910, Andrew Fisher became the Prime Minister, leading the Labor Party. He chose a very interesting person named King O'Malley to be the Minister for Home Affairs. King O'Malley was in charge of planning the new capital city, Canberra. He also oversaw the building of these first Commonwealth Offices in Melbourne.
Building It the Commonwealth Way
In October 1910, an agreement was made to buy the land in Treasury Place for 7,000 pounds. Victoria sold the land to the Commonwealth.
Victoria first suggested a design for the building that would match the existing Victorian Department of Agriculture building next door. But King O'Malley thought the Commonwealth could build it faster and cheaper themselves. This was a big deal because it was one of the first times the Commonwealth designed its own building instead of having a State office do it.
Many people, including other politicians and building companies, watched the project closely. They were especially interested because O'Malley decided to use government workers directly. This meant they didn't hire a private company.
Construction Begins
In November 1910, plans from the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs were approved. The new building would have offices and a new Federal Treasury. It would look similar to the State's idea but be more decorative.
The basement was planned to have strong rooms. These were for the Note Issue Branch of the Treasury, where gold reserves and bank notes would be kept safe. Building started in April 1911.
During construction, there was a lot of rain. King O'Malley made a special decision to pay the workers for "wet weather time." This meant they still got paid even when it rained and they couldn't work. This was a new idea at the time!
The building's floors and structure were made from reinforced concrete. This was a modern choice for fire protection, especially important because of the strong rooms. The building was finished in August 1912.
Who Moved In?
Once completed, the building housed important government departments. These included the Prime Minister's Office, the Attorney General, the Treasurer's Department, and the Post Master General.
There's a special entrance for the Prime Minister in a corner of the building. It has bluestone steps and a fancy archway. A round tower with curved windows stands out on the side facing St. Andrew's Place.
What Does It Look Like?
Location and Style
The Commonwealth Offices Building is at 4 Treasury Place, on the corner of Lansdowne Street and St Andrews Place in East Melbourne. It's part of a beautiful group of old public buildings built from 1858 onwards.
The design of 4 Treasury Place fits in well with its neighbors. It matches their size and style. The building's style is called Edwardian Baroque. You can see this in its big, decorative keystones (the wedge-shaped stones at the top of an arch), round windows, and heavy decorative edges.
Inside the Building
The inside of the building is elegant but simple. The most decorative parts are in the main entry, the staircase, and the foyers (waiting areas) on each floor.
Three things inside are especially interesting:
- Marble Floors: The ground floor entry uses three different colors of marble from the Bruthen area of Gippsland. This creates a striking look.
- Woodwork: The wooden details in the entry and foyers are very special and different from the simpler woodwork elsewhere.
- Staircase: The curved concrete staircase in the South Block is amazing. It seems to float without visible support and is a main feature of the entry.
Inside, you can see the concrete columns and beams. The walls are set back a bit from these, making the structure stand out. This is a unique feature of architect John Smith Murdoch's work.
The building is in great shape and still looks much like it did when it was built. Any changes over the years haven't affected its main features.
Why Is It Important?
The Commonwealth Offices building is important for several reasons:
- Early Australian History: It's connected to the very beginning of the Commonwealth of Australia. It reminds us that Melbourne was the capital city until 1927.
- First Commonwealth Building: It was the first office building ever built by the Australian government.
- Prime Minister's Office: It has been used as the Melbourne office for the Prime Minister and other important government departments since 1912.
- King O'Malley's Influence: It shows how Minister King O'Malley introduced new ideas, like paying workers for "wet weather time."
- Architectural Style: It's a great example of the Edwardian Baroque style. It also shows the government's willingness to use new building methods, like reinforced concrete.
- Important Architect: It's a major work by a significant Australian architect, John Smith Murdoch.
- Streetscape: It fits perfectly with other important buildings in Melbourne's Treasury Place area, making the street look impressive.
