Old Treasury Building, Melbourne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Treasury Building |
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Old Treasury Building
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Public |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Location | Victoria |
| Address | 20 Spring Street, East Melbourne |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°48′47″S 144°58′27″E / 37.813153°S 144.974121°E |
| Construction started | 1858 |
| Completed | 1862 |
| Owner | Victoria State Government |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John James Clark |
| Official name | Old Treasury Building |
| Type | Historic |
| Designated | March 21, 1978 |
| Reference no. | 5210 |
| Official name | Treasury Reserve Precinct |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 20 August 1982 |
| Reference no. | H1526 |
| Heritage Overlay number | HO174 |
The Old Treasury Building is a grand building on Spring Street in Melbourne, Australia. It was built between 1858 and 1862. It was designed in a style called Renaissance Revival.
This building was made to hold the government's money department, called the Treasury Department. It also had offices for important government leaders. The basement vaults were meant to store gold from the Victorian gold rush. Today, the building is home to a museum about Melbourne's history, known as the Old Treasury Building Museum.
Contents
History of the Old Treasury Building
The Old Treasury Building was constructed from 1858 to 1862. It is seen as one of Australia's most beautiful Renaissance Revival buildings. One of its first jobs was to store gold from the gold rush in its basement vaults. However, by the time it was finished, the gold rush was slowing down. So, the vaults ended up storing government papers instead.
The building's main purpose was to provide offices for the Treasury Department. It also had rooms for key government officials. These included the Chief Secretary (like a Premier), the Treasurer (who handles money), and the Governor of Victoria. The Governor used a room here for official government business.
Designed by a Young Architect
A young architect named J. J. Clark designed the building. He was only 19 years old in 1857 when he started the design! Many of his original drawings are still on display in the building today. An expert on buildings, Miles Lewis, once called the Old Treasury the "finest public building exterior in Australia."
J. J. Clark had already designed other government buildings. He later designed many more in Victoria and other parts of Australia. Two other famous buildings he designed are the Old Mint in Melbourne and the grand Brisbane Treasury in Queensland.
Building Completion and Changes
While the main building was finished in 1862, the front area took longer. At first, there were separate wooden stairs leading to the three main front doors. In 1868, these were replaced with the grand stone forecourt and fancy cast iron lamps you see today.
The Old Treasury Building is a very important part of the government area known as the Treasury Reserve. It sits next to the Treasury Gardens. It also creates a beautiful view, marking the end of Collins Street, which is a major financial street in the city.
When the main treasury offices moved to a new building nearby in 1877-78, this building got its nickname, the 'Old Treasury'.
A Place for Public Events
Because of its important location and open space, the Old Treasury has been a place for many big celebrations. When Governors of Victoria arrived or left, people would gather here to show their support. In recent years, it has been the finish line for the Grand Final parade for Australian Rules Football players.
The building also played a special role when Melbourne was the temporary capital city of Australia. This happened after Australia became a federation of states. In 1899, state leaders met secretly here. They decided that Melbourne's Parliament House would be the temporary capital. This was until the official capital city, Canberra, was chosen.
Old Treasury Building Museum
In the 1970s, the government started thinking about creating more museums in Victoria. In 1981, a committee was set up to plan for museums. Later, in 1984, it was suggested that a new museum about social and political history should open at the Old Treasury Building.
Finally, after the building was restored, the Old Treasury Building Museum opened in 1994. It has exhibitions that tell the story of Melbourne's history. You can also learn about the Victorian gold rush and the history of the building itself. The museum has changed its name a few times over the years. Since 2011, it has worked with the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) to offer programs.
In the Media
The Old Treasury Building has been used as a place for filming movies. It appears in an important scene in the film Knowing (2009). That movie was set in Boston, Massachusetts. Melbourne and Boston are officially known as "sister cities."
Who Works Here Now?
The Old Treasury Building was built to house the Treasury Department and store gold. It also provided offices for the early leaders of the colony. These included the Governor, the Premier (then called Chief Secretary), and the Treasurer.
Today, the building is still used for important government meetings. The Governor of Victoria still holds weekly meetings of the Executive Council here. This council includes the Governor and at least two government Ministers. This meeting is where new laws are officially signed by the Governor. Other important decisions are also made here, based on advice from the Premier and the Parliament of Victoria.
Besides the museum, the Old Treasury Building is now home to other offices. These include the Office of the Victorian Government Architect and The Victorian Marriage Registry. It also has offices for most living former Premiers of Victoria.
See also
- Architecture of Melbourne
- List of heritage-listed buildings in Melbourne
- Victorian architecture
