Torrens Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Torrens Building |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Former names | Government Offices |
| General information | |
| Type | Office, Education |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance, Palladian |
| Location | Adelaide, Australia |
| Address | 220 Victoria Square/Tarndanyangga |
| Construction started | 1879 |
| Completed | 8 April 1881 |
| Renovated | 1997 |
| Cost | approx. £60,000 |
| Owner | Government of South Australia |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 3,653 square metres (39,320 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Michael Egan (Melbourne) |
| Main contractor | James Shaw |
The Torrens Building is a very old and important building in Adelaide, South Australia. It is located on the corner of Victoria Square and Wakefield Street. This building is named after Sir Robert Richard Torrens. He was famous for creating a new way to record who owns land, called the Torrens title system.
The building is listed as a special heritage site in South Australia. This means it is protected because it is an important part of history. When it was first built, it was called the New Government Offices. Over the years, it had other names too, depending on which government groups were using it.
Building the Torrens Building caused a bit of a stir in 1880. People were surprised because the government planned to bring in special stone from Sydney. Many thought they should use stone from local quarries in South Australia instead.
The building was officially listed as a heritage site in 1978 and again in 1981. It had a big makeover in the 1990s. After the renovation, it was renamed the Torrens Building when it reopened in 1997.
Since 2006, the Torrens Building has been home to the Australian campus of Carnegie Mellon University. Torrens University also opened its first campus there in 2014. Other universities, like Cranfield University from the UK and University College London, also had campuses in the building for a few years.
Contents
History of the Building
.jpg)
The Torrens Building was finished in 1881. It was built to be offices for government workers. At first, it was known as the New Government Offices. As mentioned, there was some debate when it was being built. People wondered why stone was being brought from Sydney instead of using local stone.
For many years, the building was known by different names. These names often reflected the main groups working there. Some names included New Public Offices, the Lands Title Office, and the Engineering Supply Department.
In 1979, the building was officially named the Torrens Building. This was to honour Sir Robert Richard Torrens. It also recognised the special land ownership system he created, which is used all over the world.
After 112 years of being used by the government, the Torrens Building closed in 1993. It needed a lot of repair and updating. When it reopened in 1997, it started hosting campuses for well-known universities from other countries.
Renovation and Reopening
From 1991 or 1993, the building was closed for a major renovation. It had been used by the government for over 110 years without stopping.
The building officially reopened on September 19, 1997. The Premier of South Australia at the time, John Olsen, was there for the event. After its reopening, the building was used by many community groups. These included Amnesty International and the United Nations Association of Australia.
Universities in the Building
Starting in 2005, the Torrens Building became a hub for universities. The idea was to create a "University City Adelaide precinct." Carnegie Mellon University from the USA has had its Australian campus there since then.
The British Cranfield University also had a campus in the building from 2007 to 2010. University College London's School of Energy and Resources was there from 2009 until 2017.
Torrens University was the first new university in Australia in 20 years. It opened in the Torrens Building in 2013 and started teaching students in 2014. However, Torrens University later moved to a new campus on Wakefield Street in 2015.
In 2015, the Torrens Building was put up for sale by the Government of South Australia. But as of 2019, it had not been sold and seems to have been taken off the market.
Heritage Status
The Torrens Building is considered very important historically.
- On March 21, 1978, it was added to the Register of the National Estate. This register noted it as a great example of Italian Renaissance or Neo Classical style.
- On May 28, 1981, it was also listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. This means it is officially recognised and protected for its historical value.
Special Features
There is a special plaque on the outside wall of the building. This plaque celebrates 100 years of the Real Property Act 1858. This Act created the Torrens Title system for land registration. This system was developed in South Australia and is now used all over the world. The plaque was revealed on July 1, 1958, by Sir Mellis Napier, who was a high-ranking official at the time.
Inside the Torrens Building, there is also an honour board. This board lists the names of government employees from South Australia who died in World War I. It is a way to remember their sacrifice.
Past Important Groups
Over the years, many important government departments and universities have used the Torrens Building. Some of them include:
- Architect-in-Chief's Department (from 1881)
- Land Titles Office (from 1881)
- Public Works Department (from 1881)
- Cranfield University (2007–2010)
- University College London's School of Energy and Resources (2009 – December 2017)
34°55′42″S 138°36′03″E / 34.928368°S 138.600881°E
