Old Treasury Building, Melbourne

The Old Treasury Building on Spring Street in Melbourne was built in 1858-62 in the grand Renaissance Revival style. It was designed to accommodate the Treasury Department, various government officials' offices including the Governor In Council, and basement vaults intended to house gold from the Victorian gold rush. It now houses a range of functions, including a museum of Melbourne history, known as Old Treasury Building Museum.

History

The Treasury Building was constructed between 1858–62,

The building was designed by young architect J. J. Clark^[6] who was just 19 years of age in 1857. The design developed over the next two years, and many of J J Clark's drawings are on display throughout the building. Architectural historian Miles Lewis once described The Old Treasury as the "finest public building exterior in Australia". Clark had already designed a few government buildings, including the Printing Office located behind the Treasury building, and later went on to design many government buildings both in Victoria and elsewhere, notably the Old Mint in Melbourne, considered to be another fine example in a classical style, and the grand Brisbane Treasury in Queensland.

While the building itself was completed in 1862, there was long delay in completing the forecourt, with individual timber staircases leading to the three main front doors. In 1868 these were replaced with the grand forecourt and cast iron lamps still standing today.^[4]

It is the cornerstone of the Treasury Reserve government precinct adjacent to the

When the official treasury offices were moved next door to 2 Treasury Place in 1877-78, the building was nicknamed the 'Old Treasury'.[7]

As a leading public building in Melbourne, located in a prominent position with open space around it, the Old Treasury has been the focus for many celebrations and major public events. The arrivals and departures of the Governors of Victoria were occasions for expressions of loyalty to the Crown and sometimes for political statements.^[8] In recent years it has been the destination for the Grand Final parade of AFL footballers.

The building is also notable for its role when Melbourne was the temporary capital city of Australia after Federation, with the National Executive Council meeting there.^[9] Previously in February 1899, a "secret" Premiers' conference was convened, when it was decided Melbourne's Parliament House would be the temporary capital until the location of the Australian National Capital was officially decided.

Establishment of a museum

During the 1970s, the

Finally in 1994 after restoration of the building, the Old Treasury Building Museum was opened with exhibitions detailing the history of Melbourne, the Victorian gold rush, and the history of the building.^[10] Operations of the buildings and the museum are vested in an Old Treasury Building Reserve Committee of Management, and is a registered charity. The Museum has changed name a number of times, becoming the Gold Treasury Museum, the City Museum at Old Treasury and then the Old Treasury Building Museum again. Since 2011 it has presented programs in partnership with Public Record Office Victoria (PROV).^[10]

In the media

The Old Treasury Building has been used as a filming location. It features in the climactic sequence of the film

.

Occupants

The Old Treasury was built to house the Treasury Department and store gold, but also provided offices for the leaders of the young colony, including the Governor, the Premier (at the time called Chief Secretary), the Treasurer, the Registrar-General, the Registrar of the Supreme Court and the Auditor General.

Premier and Parliament of Victoria

.

In addition to the museum, the Old Treasury Building is now home to the Office of the Victorian Government Architect, The Victorian Marriage Registry, and offices for most living former Premiers of Victoria.

See also

• Architecture of Melbourne
• List of heritage-listed buildings in Melbourne
• Victorian architecture

References

1. ^
   Government of Victoria
   . Retrieved 22 December 2023.
2. ^ the Old Treasury Building Archived 10 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine
3. ^ "Old Treasury Building". Victorian Heritage Database National Trust listing. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
4. ^ ^{a b} "Old Treasury Building Museum - Melbourne (Free Entry)". Old Treasury Building. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
5. ^ ^{a b} "Treasury Reserve Precinct". Victorian Heritage Database. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
6. ^ "JJ Clark- Young Architect of the Old Treasury Building". Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
7. ^ School of Historical Studies, Department of History. "Treasury Building - Entry - eMelbourne - The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online". www.emelbourne.net.au. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
8. ^ ^{a b} "Old Treasury Building". Culture Victoria. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
9. ^ "Melbourne as National Capital". Old Treasury Building. 4 May 2017. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
10. ^ ^{a b} "Celebrating a milestone at Old Treasury Building | PROV". prov.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.

• The Treasury Reserve. Frances O'Neil. Department of Infrastructure. 2000.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Old Treasury Building, Melbourne.

• Old Treasury Building
• Public Records Office Victoria
• A Submission for a Museum of Social and Political History at the Old Treasury Building to the Executive Committee of Victoria's 150th Anniversary Celebrations in July 1981