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Former Money Order Office
318 - 320 Little Bourke Street,, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 - Property No B5175
Former Money Order Office
318 - 320 Little Bourke Street,, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 - Property No B5175
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Statement of Significance
Public Works Department Assistant Architect, H.J. Kerr, prepared plans for this building as part of the General Post Office in 1889 under Chief Architect, Henry R. Bastow. The builder was James H. Sutherland and the contract signed in 1890. This five storey stuccoed masonry building housed a money order office and savings bank on the ground level, for which arcades were designed and offices on the upper levels. Known early as the Money Order Building, it became Commonwealth Offices after Federation and, from the 1930's, the Federal Members Rooms housing distinguished members such as R.G. Menzies and J. B. Chifley. The trabeated, four-storey facade possesses a progression of Corinthian, Ionic and Doric orders in pilaster form, set around a central pedimented bay rising three stories; the whole being adapted from Italian Renaissance architecture. The ground level entablature is enriched to provide an appropriately massive base for the elevation, whilst the intermediate placement of the pediment allows for the limited angle of vision from the narrow street. The deep bracketing of the attic storey window hoods also counters this problem. Despite the intrusive lift shaft overrun, added in 1932 under works Director Mackennal, the facade is a competent if conservative design, near to original, and the internal level arcading has survived. Its significance derives from this also, as one of the larger buildings constructed by the Victorian Colonial Government, and as the Melbourne office of Federal Parliamentarians.
Classified: 07/04/1983
Classified: 07/04/1983
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FORMER CARLTON AND UNITED BREWERYVictorian Heritage Register H0024
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ROSAVILLEVictorian Heritage Register H0408
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MEDLEY HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0409
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