Russell Street Police Headquarters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Russell Street Police Headquarters |
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Russell St Police Headquarters
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| General information | |
| Type | Moderne skyscraper style |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Address | 336- 376 Russell Street |
| Town or city | Melbourne |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°48′30″S 144°57′58″E / 37.8082°S 144.9662°E |
| Construction started | 1940 |
| Opened | April 29, 1943 |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Reinforced concrete with face brick curtain walls on a plinth of Mt Difficult sandstone. |
| Floor count | 16 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Percy Edgar Everett |
The Russell Street Police Headquarters in Melbourne, Australia, was once the main home for the Victoria Police. It was often just called 'Russell Street'. This important building is on the corner of Russell and La Trobe Streets. It was a well-known symbol of the police in Victoria for many years.
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Building Design and History
The main part of the building is a tall tower. It looks like a Moderne skyscraper from New York City. This tower was designed by a special architect named Percy Edgar Everett. Construction started in 1940 and finished in 1943.
Parts of the Headquarters
The building complex included more than just the tower. There were also lower sections built in the 1940s. These parts included a Police Theatrette, which was also used as a ballroom. An older part of the police buildings, built in 1889, was also still there. Later, in 1970, a large brick building was added behind the main tower.
A Star on TV
The famous tower of the Russell Street Police Headquarters was shown in the opening of a popular TV show. This show was called Homicide. It was a drama about the police in Victoria. The show made the building even more famous.
Police and Justice Area
The Russell Street Police Headquarters was part of a bigger area for police and justice. Right across the street was the Old Melbourne Gaol. This was an old prison. There were also old City Police Station and City Courts buildings nearby. Today, these old buildings are used by RMIT University.
A Significant Event
The Russell Street Police Headquarters was the site of the Russell Street Bombing in 1986. This was a very serious event in the building's history.
What Happened Next
The Victoria Police moved out of the building in 1995. The building was empty for many years after that. People suggested different ideas for what to do with it. Some thought about turning it into student housing or a hotel.
New Life for the Building
Finally, in 2004, the building got a new purpose. The 1970s building and part of the 1940s section were replaced. A new 27-story apartment building was built there. The old Art Deco tower and the lower parts were also changed into apartments. The whole complex is now called "Concept Blue".
Gallery
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Russell St Police Headquarters
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The control room for Air Raid Precautions services during World War II were located at the Russell Street police headquarters
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Control room during World War II.
Images for kids
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The Police building as seen from La Trobe St.
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The resident entrance in the Deco Tower within the Concept Blue Apartments redevelopment of the Police HQ.
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The resident lobby in the Deco Tower within the Concept Blue Apartments redevelopment of the Police HQ.
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A statue of the tower itself within the resident lobby entrance in the Deco Tower.
