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Robert Marsden Hope Building
Canberra Patent Office 1945.jpg
Canberra Patent Office, 1945
Former names
  • Patent Office Building (1940-1971)
  • Robert Garran Offices (1983-2009)
Etymology The Hon. Justice Robert Marsden Hope
General information
Status Complete
Type Office
Architectural style Art Deco
Address 2 National Circuit, Barton, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Country Australia
Coordinates 35°18′20″S 149°07′53″E / 35.3056231°S 149.1312991°E / -35.3056231; 149.1312991
Current tenants Office of National Intelligence
Groundbreaking 18 March 1939
Construction started 1 August 1939
Completed 12 August 1940
Opened 7 September 1940; 83 years ago (1940-09-07)
Renovated 2013
Cost £116,900
Renovation cost A$37 million (2011)
Client Department of the Interior
Owner Australian Government
Technical details
Material Concrete, sandstone cladding, marble, steel, and timber
Floor count 2-3
Design and construction
Architecture firm Cuthbert Claude Mortier Whitley
Main contractor Concrete Constructions
Renovating team
Architect Fender Katsilidis
Renovating firm ISPT
Awards and prizes ACT Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Development of the Year (2013)
Official name: Patent Office (former), Kings Av, Barton, ACT, Australia
Type: Listed place
Criteria: A., D., E., F.
Designated: 22 June 2004
Reference #: 105454

The Robert Marsden Hope Building (formerly the Patent Office Building and also formerly part of the Robert Garran Offices) is a heritage listed government office located on the edge of the Parliamentary Triangle in Canberra, Australia.

Overview

Constructed in 1939, it was built to house the patent office following its move from Melbourne in 1934. Prior to its completion, the patent office operated out of Hotel Acton. Like other government buildings constructed in Canberra around that period, it was designed in the Art Deco architectural style.

In addition to the patent office, occupying the building was the ACT Supreme Court, and the Commonwealth Security Services (CSS), a predecessor of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. Following their disbandment in December 1945, the CSS moved out with the Supreme Court following suit in 1963, leaving the Patent Office the sole occupant until they too moved in 1975. Replacing them was the Commonwealth Public Service Board, who occupied the building until 1983 when the building was merged into a larger complex housing the Attorney-General's Department. At that time, the building was renamed as part of the Robert Garran Offices.

Following major refurbishment, the building was renamed the Robert Marsden Hope Building on 5 December 2011, in honour of The Hon. Justice Robert Marsden Hope, a former Justice of the New South Wales Court of Appeal and three-time Royal Commissioner. The Office of National Intelligence has occupied the building since its refurbishment and renaming in 2011.

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