Town Hall Administration Building: 100 Swanston Street, MELBOURNE

Building Profile

Location

Construction Details

Built in the Edwardian period in the Second Empire style

Notable features

Distinctly Second empire style featuring mannerist, baroque and classical elements in solid rusticated stone designed to be sympathetic to the neighbouring Town Hall. Cast iron crested square domes and dormer windows feature on the roofline, as well as emphatic semi-circular pediments on the main corners fronting Swanston Street giving the building a distincly Edwardian character. Classical giant order pillasters and aedicule give the building grand classical statements.

The east wing of the building takes on an almost separate character similar to the Australia club on Queen Street and gives the facade greater emphasis. One of the last grand statements of a city aspiring the be a world city.

History

The Administration Building was constructed in 1908-10 to accommodate the Councils growing administrative needs, and was the result of another competition. Grainger, Kennedy and Little won the competition and designed the interior, with the second prize won by JJ and EJ Clark who designed theexterior. This part of the building was to house the administrative staff, including the office of the Town Clerk, and also incorporated committee rooms and a new Council Chamber.On 2 February 1925 a fire in the Main Hall destroyed its interior including portraits of past mayors and the organ. The roof also collapsed. Stephenson and Meldrum designed a new hall, which was increased in size by extending it on to the site of the former Victoria Coffee Palace. The new organ was built by William Hill and Son. The decorations inside the hall include murals weredesigned by the artist Napier Waller

• Victorian Heritage Register (H0001) - Town Hall Administration Building is protected by state law

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