Historical Buildings, Melbourne

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Melbourne has many historical buildings and the following are just a few.

Parliament House is the seat of the Victorian state parliament. It was built in stages between 1856 and 1929.

The Princess Theatre. This fine theatre was completed in 1886 and boasts a magnificent marble staircase.

In the same vicinity is the famous Hotel Windsor. It was built in 1883 is the only Grand Hotel remaining in Australia.

St Paul's Cathedral is located diagonally across from the iconic Flinders Street station. It also was built in the 1880's.

Coops Shot Tower is now part of Melbourne Central shopping complex. Built in 1890 it was still used until 1960.

The website below has information about many more historic sites and give details of a walking tour designed to see them.

It is touted as Australia’s finest public building – and I tend to agree with that sweeping statement. It is also said to be one of the finest Italian Renaissance Revival buildings in the world. Built 1858 – 62 and designed by nineteen-year-old architect JJ Clark, who designed many other buildings around Australia.

The building was originally designed as a repository for the vast amounts of gold dug up in the gold rush of the 1850’s and the gold vaults are still there and open for inspection – sadly minus the gold. I strongly recommend a visit and particularly if you have an interest in history as the interior contains an amazing collection of displays, including a “Ned Kelly” room (infamous bushranger), early Melbourne and so much more.

I love history stories with a twist and was so treated by a site guide at The Old Treasury. Seems Charles Nuttall the artist who painted - 'The Opening, Commonwealth Parliament', Exhibition Building, Melbourne, Victoria, 1901-1902 was not paid enough by The Commonwealth for his work and so “negotiated” to “move” images in the painting to better locals within the painting. Those who refused to “negotiate” were left a blur in the painting. (click onto the hyper link to see an image of the painting).

The building also houses an office for the governor of Victoria (not open to the public) and the Victorian Marriage Registry.

Entrance is free and the building is open 10am – 4pm Sunday to Friday. I would recommend allowing up to 6 hours to visit, depending on your love (or otherwise) of history.

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Now 160 years old and a mix of Australian Regency and classic Italianate architecture, Como House is, arguably, the gem of the historic houses within the city. As its website states,

'Boasting one of Melbourne’s finest gardens, an inspiring historic mansion and an impressive collection of antique furniture, the property provides a glimpse into the privileged lifestyle of its former owners, one of Australia’s wealthiest pioneer families.'

Built by Edward Eyre Williams and his wife Jessie in 1847, folklore is that Williams proposed to his wife at Lake Como in Italy, naming their Melbourne home in its memory. But it was a much simpler home under the Williams' - single storey, but with much larger grounds (includes the present day municipal park and oval) running down to the banks of the River Yarra.

The Williams' didn't stay long - selling it in 1852. It was onsold a year later to John and Helen Brown, responsible for the 5 acre garden that remains part of the property today, and added a second storey. But bankruptcy forced him to sell and Como House was bought, in 1864, by Charles and Caroline Armytage. The house was to remain in the family until 1959 when their descendants passed the house onto the Historic Houses Trust. It is the Armytages' who are primarily responsible for what we see today - both externally and internally - the house full of the family's furniture and possessions.

It's a fascinating place to wonder round - with the family having lived their until 1959, it's a mix of 19th century grandeur (check-out the wonderfully understated ballroom and games room) with mid-20th century living (providing an insight into a comfortable lifestyle, even if the ever increasing costs of the upkeep eventually forced the house to be donated to the country rather than see the land sold off and the house demolished - like so may other grand houses nearby in the wealthy suburb of South Yarra).

There's a well-regarded licensed restaurant on the grounds (Bursaria), the occasional live concert and family days - and pcinicking in the grounds is positively encouraged.

Opening times: 10am-4pm daily (except Christmas Day and Easter Friday)
Admission fees: House and gardens: $A12 (adults), $A9 (concessions), $A6.50 (child under 14), $A30 (family)
Gardens only: $A5, $A3, $A2, $A10
Website states that admission to house by tours only, although when I went (Sept 2009), I toured the house without the guide
Photography not allowed inside the house

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walking in melbourne is very different . Its not as old as Europe and not as new as Asia..thus there is a beautiful blend between the two . Here is a picture of gragoyle looking out from a building ....isnt it just so contrasting ?

Walk around Collin Street area or the Petit France ....

The Old Customs House makes a perfect location for the Immigration Museum celebrating the stories of those who have immigrated to Victoria. There are computer interactive programs, movies, and written logs of people that changed the way Victoria's population looks today.

General Admission
Adults $6.00
Children* and Concession Free.
Free admission to the ground floor.
Group bookings are also available.
Disabled access & facilities available.
* Children 3-16 years inclusive.

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Rippon Lea is the last of Australia's great privately owned 19th century suburban estates. It was designed and built in 1868 in the Romanesque style and is now managed by the Australian National Trust.

Its a grand dame of houses, and the gardens are of international significance, with a lake, 19th century orchards, a palm garden and lawns. Many local families gather on the lawns during the summer for picnics etc..

There are tours of the house every half an hour between 10am and 4pm (worthwhile and the only way to see the house itself). Its a grand place but without being overawing - this is 19th century Australia afterall, so no excesses of Baroque and Roccoco excesses! :)

A$11 entrance (house and garden) or A$6 for just the gardens.

Open 10am-6pm. Tuesday - Sunday

It was hard not to notice. Somewhat reminiscent of the market displays in European towns it came as no surprise to find out that it was an Italian brand (Bertolli) who were flogging their latest sauces in an open part of Federation Square.
As they were also giving away free samples (about 1 1/2 spoonfuls) of pasta, Rosemarie and I took advantage and dipped into the cuisine. I don't remember what it tasted like, just that I enjoyed watching the world go by opposite Flinders St. Station for ten minutes.

The extensive garden retains 14 of the original 45 acres, and features a lake, grotto, gardens, buildings and a magnificent fernery. The garden was preserved by the last owners Ben Nathan and his daughter Louisa Jones. Mrs Jones modified the interior of the house in the 1930s, adding a glamorous Hollywood-style swimming pool. Not only did it look glamorous but the people who came to the famous parties held there fitted the mould as well. Mrs Jones gave Rippon Lea to the Nation, in care of The National Trust in the 1970s.