MELBOURNE ATHENAEUM

184 - 192 COLLINS STREET MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register

THE ATHENAEUM BUILDING SOHE 2008

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    MELBOURNE ATHENAEUM - History

    History of Place:
    In August 1840 the Melbourne Mechanics Institution purchased 110 feet of frontage to Collins Street, running back to Little Collins Street, for 285 pounds. The first building was completed in December 1842, a two storey brick building known as the Hall of Arts. The Municipal Council occupied the ground floor until 1852. The Institute received an annual grant of 150 pounds from the government and in 1854 received 5000 pounds towards the cost of a new building. From 1857 it had to rely on its own resources. In 1851 there were 488 members. It was also the headquarters of the First Church of Christ, Scientist. In 1855 new the new building was begun, but only the front was completed. The hall to be built at the rear was to be to a design by Charles Webb, but financial problems meant that only alterations to the existing building were executed. The new hall was left until 1871 and finished in 1872. The architect was Alfred Smith, and the builders were Turnbull and Dick. The Institution renamed itself the Melbourne Athenaeum in 1873. Scots Church were the first occupiers whilst its own church was being rebuilt(?) The In 1877 membership had grown to 1681. The remodelled facade was finally completed in 1886. The statue of Minerva was from a gift of 100 guineas and was modelled by Mr Kretzschmar. The theatre at the rear was converted to a cinema in 1924 to the design of leading theatre architect H E White. It was subsequently converted back again. The verandah was erected in early 1920s but entailed destruction of trees to Collins Street.
    Associated People: Captain Lonsdale (first president)

    Permit Exemptions

    MELBOURNE ATHENAEUM - Permit Exemptions

    General Exemptions:

    General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

    Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

    Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

• Attachments
  • Audio file on Athenaeum's history provided by Melboune Athenaeum
    
• Location map
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