LAW COURTS, SUPREME AND FEDERAL
198-228 WILLIAM STREET MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY
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Statement of Significance
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LAW COURTS, SUPREME AND FEDERAL - History
Heritage Inventory History of Site: Date of first documented occupation, 1839Heritage Inventory Description
LAW COURTS, SUPREME AND FEDERAL - Heritage Inventory Description
Area in use for government purposes from first settlement, having accommodated Old Government House (1847), Colonial Secretary's Office, first Telegraph Office, Government Printing Office.1839 map - 'Reserve' & building shown on Lot 14 (Lonsdale Street) may be on this site.1840 maps - 'Hospital Reserve'.1850 - 'Government Buildings & Gardens'.1855 - Govt House & Govt Offices.1866 - Railway Offices. Current complex of Law Courts (Supreme and Federal) constructed from 1875-1884 also Crown Law Offices 1892-93.1888 & 1905 maps show detailed layout.
Heritage Inventory Significance: SOURCE: HISTORIC CONSERVATION AREA STUDY. MELDRUM BURROWS AND PARTNERS, SEPT.||'79. THIS AREA CONTAINS SEVERAL LARGE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS WHICH ARE OF PRIME HISTORIC AND ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE, INCLUDING THE LAW COURTS (1875-84), CROWN LAW OFFICES (1892-3), FORMER ROYAL MINT (1872), TITLES OFFICE (1875, 1888) AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BUILDING (1905). THEY REPRESENT ONE OF THE MOST CONSISTENT GROUPINGS OF MAJOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN VICTORIA AND COMPRISE THREE VERY IMPORTANT STREETSCAPES. THE ONLY INTRUSIVE BUILDINGS IN THE AREA ARE THE TALL OFFICE BUILDING AT NO. 456 LONSDALE STREET AND THE PETER MACCALLUM HOSPITAL BUILDING IN WILLIAM STREET. THE MELBOURNE LAW COURTS (1874-84) WERE DESIGNED BY SMITH AND JOHNSON IN ASSOCIATION WITH J.J. CLARK AND P. KERR OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE CONSTRUCTED IN BRICK ON BLUESTONE FOOTINGS AND FACED WITH TASMANIAN FREESTONE; THE COURT ROOMS ARE EXPRESSED ON THE FACADE BY ROWS OF DORIC PILASTERS AND EXHIBIT A VARIETY OF FINE QUALITY INTERIORS. THESE LAW COURTS ARE AMONG THE MOST FINELY DESIGNED AND EXECUTED BUILDINGS IN AUSTRALIA. RNE BUILDING CITATION; THE LAW COURTS (192-228 WILLIAM STREET) ARE PART OF A COMPLEX OF BUILDINGS WHICH, TOGETHER WITH THE SUPREME COURT LIBRARY, ARE KNOWN AS THE MELBOURNE LAW COURTS. SMITH AND JOHNSON WON A COMPETITION FOR THEIR DESIGN AND PREPARED THEWORKING DRAWINGS. J.J. CLARK AND P. KERR UNDERTOOK THE DETAIL DRAWINGS FOR THE P.W.D., WHO ALSO SUPERVISED THE WORKS. ERECTED IN 1874-84, THEY ARE CONSTRUCTED IN BRICK ON BLUESTONE FOOTINGS AND FACED WITH TASMANIAN FREESTONE.THE LAW COURTS EXUDE THE SOLEMN AND MAJESTIC ATMOSPHERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE LAW. THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST FINELY DESIGNED AND EXECUTED BUILDINGS IN AUSTRALIA. THE COURT ROOMS ARE EXPRESSED ON THE FACADE BY ROWS OF DORIC PILASTERS AND EXHIBIT A VARIETY OF FINE QUALITY INTERIORS WITH FINE LIGHT PILASTERWORK AND SUPERB DARK CEDAR FITTINGS. OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES INCLUDE THE CORNER VESTIBULES, THE ARCADE TO WILLIAM STREET, THE CARRIAGEWAY WITH ITS IRON LAMPS, THE COURTYARD AND VERANDAH AND THE STATUE OF JUSTICE. THE ORIGINAL PEDESTAL FOR THE STATUE OF JUSTICE OVER THE FRONT ENTRANCE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A SMALLER VERSION. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ADDITIONS TO THE BUILDING WHICH HAVE ENCROACHED UPON THE COURTYARD AND SPOILT THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURAL EFFECT.
Archeological Potential: Extant bldg Fabric,Site
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FORMER CARLTON AND UNITED BREWERYVictorian Heritage Register H0024
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FORMER ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS TRAINING DEPOTVictorian Heritage Register H0717
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MITRE TAVERNVictorian Heritage Register H0464
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