National Museum, 285-321 Russell Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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National Museum, 285-321 Russell Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
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BIF-CITY 109388 3
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2023:__________________________________________________DATE: 1900-1906, 1925-31;ASSOCIATIONS: Victorian Government;DESIGNERS: La Gerche and Gower (part Russell St); Irwin and Stevenson (Little Lonsdale);BUILDER: F. Lockington 1891?Style: Neo-Egyptian partPeriods: Edwardian and Inter-War____________________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H1497.STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIAAlso known as: STATE LIBRARY AND NATIONAL MUSEUM COMPLEXStatement of SignificanceKathleen Rowbottom 22 Mar 2022What is significant?The trustees for Melbourne's new public library were appointed in July 1853 and on 3 July the following year the foundation stone for the first section of building was laid. Opened in 1856, this building was the first of many constructed on the site to accommodate four institutions over a period of time. These included the Public Library, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Industrial and Technological Museum and the Natural History Museum.The Chairman of Trustees, lawyer Redmond Barry, was the prime founder of the institution and the aspiration of the trustees was to create one great centre of learning. Initially a competition was held for the design of the library and this was won by Joseph Reed. The first building constructed comprised an entrance hall and upstairs reading room. By 1865 wings had been added to the north and south of the original building, extending the Queen's Hall reading room on the first floor, and in 1870 the portico was added to the front facade.The National Gallery of Victoria began its association with the site in 1861 when a gallery was opened to display works of art in the south wing of the library. Various buildings and wings were added to display additional artworks in 1874 and again in 1887 and 1892. Despite the continual searching for another site, the National Gallery shared the library site until 1968 when it moved to the new gallery building in St Kilda Road.The 1866-67 Intercolonial Exhibition, held at the library site led to the opening of the Industrial and Technological Museum on this site in 1870, with many of the exhibits forming the core of the collection. In 1899 the contents of the National Museum, formerly the Natural History Museum, were transferred from the University of Melbourne to the library site. The Museum of Victoria remained at the site until its relocation c2000. At this time the library became the sole occupant of the seven acre site.Construction of buildings on the library site was almost continuous from 1854 until the construction of the La Trobe Library in the 1960s. Joseph Reed, or his subsequent firms and their descendents, was responsible for the design of a number of building phases, including the initial building, the international exhibition spaces in 1866, the portico in 1870, the various halls constructed for the museum and gallery from 1874 to 1906 and the domed reading room in 1913. Work undertaken in the 1920s-40s was undertaken by Irwin and Stevenson and later work by the Public Works Department.The main Swanston Street facade of the library is built of sandstone in an English Palladian manner, with central Corinthian portico and flanking wings which terminate in projecting pavilions. A giant order, supporting an entablature and balustrading, runs across the undulating, two storey facade. The classical character continues in the interior of the Queen's Hall reading room, which was designed with a central space encircled by galleried aisles, delineated by a giant Ionic order colonnade.The need for additional library space led to the construction of a large domed reading room, completedin 1913, to designs by Bates, Smart and Peebles, descendents of Joseph Reed's architectural firm. This octagonal building was built by J. W. and D. A. Swanson, using the English Truscon company for their structural detail. This included the first major local use of the Kahn Bar system of reinforcing. It resulted in the construction of the largest reinforced concrete dome in the world at the time, spanning 35.5 metres.Other significant additions on the site include the Baldwin Spencer Hall, Russell Street in 1906 to create additional museum space and designed by Reed, Smart and Tappin in a flat stripped classical style; Bindon Hall, Little Lonsdale Street, designed by Irwin and Stevenson in 1927, and the La Trobe Library designed by the Public Works Department in 1961 and completed in 1965, in a minimalist manner with direct reference to the original Swanston Street facade in its represented trabeated system.The first section of the library to be built was set well back from Swanston Street, forming a forecourt at the front of the building. Despite many alterations since the 1850s, particularly in 1939 when the diagonal entrances were added to the central stairs, the formality of the forecourt has been retained. Integral to the design of the forecourt are statues which have been added over time, including Sir Redmond Barry by 1887 (with gasoliers placed either side in 1891), St George and the Dragon, Joan of Arc and Driver and Wipers, which was relocated to the Shrine of Remembrance in 1998.Two murals by significant Australian artists were acquired by the library in the 1920s. War, by H. Septimus Power, was installed over the entrance to Queen's Hall in 1924 and Peace after Victory, by renowned artist Napier Waller, was installed over the old entrance to the domed reading room in 1929.Redevelopment of the State Library began in 1990 with the entire site being refurbished for library use.How is it significant?The State Library of Victoria buildings are of historical, architectural, scientific (technical) and aesthetic importance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The State Library of Victoria is of historical significance as the principal educational and cultural centre for the people of Victoria for more than 150 years. The early buildings are of significance as the first purpose built, free public library in Australia and one of the first in the world. Successive buildings are of importance as the first homes of the National Gallery of Victoria and the Museum of Victoria.The State Library of Victoria is of historical significance for its associations with its visionary founder, Sir Redmond Barry, who established one of the great library collections of the world before his death in 1880, and its associations with Bernard Hall, the influential Director of the National Gallery of Victoria from 1891-1934, and Sir Baldwin Spencer, the first Director of the Museum of Victoria.The State Library of Victoria is of architectural significance as the first major building by prolific Melbourne architect Joseph Reed, and as an early example of public architecture in Victoria. Queen's Hall is of particular note for its elaborate interior and as an early example in library design.The State Library of Victoria is of scientific (technical) significance for the early and innovative use of reinforced concrete construction used in the domed building to create the largest dome in the world at the time of construction.The State Library of Victoria is of aesthetic significance for its forecourt which provided the public setting to Melbourne's first cultural institution. Despite many alterations since its inception, it retains its formal approach to the building. The array of sculptures and plantings add to the aesthetic landscape.The State Library of Victoria is of aesthetic significance for its murals by H. Septimus Power, official war artist with the Australian Imperial Force from 1917, and Napier Waller, a leading neo-classical mural painter of the Inter-War period. The works are two of Melbourne's major murals and key works of Australian art of the 1920s.[Online Data Upgrade Project 2008]___________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM_______________________________________DARYL JACKSON EVAN WALKER ARCHITECTS PTY. LTD 1976 FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS PRESERVATION COUNCIL; MELBOURNE: THE AREA BOUNDED BY VICTORIA, SPRING, LONSDALE AND SWANSTON STS (source 77)Date Built 1890 (incorporating earlier buildings) 1931 (extended)Building Name: Science and National MuseumsAddress Russell StreetOriginal UseMuseumPresent UseMuseumReference D2HistoricalThe Science Museum, vlhlch has been known by a variety of names, first ,opened a, display in 1870 in the Rotunda (1), built in 1867 on the area now.occupied by the Reading Room. The Science Museum shared. theSwanston Street with the State Library until 1890/91 when the development of the east (Russell Street) end of the site was completed (2).The National Museum was initially housed at the Melbourne University and was transferred to the present site in 1899-1900 (3).The buildings were also shared by the National Gallery until the move to St. Kilda Road in 1967.At present the tvvo museums occupy most of the vvest wing (the original library) in addition to the south and east wings.2 .Architectural2.1 The major part of the building was built. in 1890/91 and incorporated several earlier buildings (the McCoy Hall, Latrobe and Stawell Gallerie's).F. Lockington wasthe contractor.and his price was 44,.208. .The complete scheme has never been realised, and toothed bluestone footings and brickwork still await the rest of the building. It is not apparent whetherthe work was planned. to be staged.The south wing, the McAllan building, was added in 1931.Footnotes(1.) 'E. W.. O. Perry; "The :Science Museum of Victoria", p6(2) ibid p30-1._______________________________________VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORY H7822-1080NATIONAL MUSEUM - Heritage Inventory Description1850 & 1855 Maps - Police Barracks compound on site.1866 Map - half site is vacant ground, cluster of small buildings towards Little Lonsdale and Russell Sts.Significance:REDMOND BARRY AND C. J LATROBE WERE PROMINENT AMONGST THOSE WHO HELPED ESTABLISH A STATE LIBRARY. JOSEPH REED WON THE COMPETITION AND PRIZE OF 150 POUNDS FOR THE DESIGN OF THE ORIGINAL SECTION. THE FOUNDATION STONE WAS LAID ON JULY 3RD, 1854 BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR. CHARLES HOTHAM. THE BUILDING WAS OPENED BY MAJOR GENERAL EDWARD MACARTHUR, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, ON FEBRUARY 11TH 1856. THE LIBRARY WAS EXTENDED IN STAGES, CULMINATING IN THE DOMED READING ROOM, ORIGINALLY SUGGESTED BY THE PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN, E.L. ARMSTRONG,IN 1905 AND OPENED BY THE GOVERNOR GENERAL, LORD DENMAN, ON NOVEMBER 14TH 1913.ARCHITECTURAL JOSEPH REED'S ORIGINAL COMPETITION WINNING DESIGN WAS BUILT IN SEVERAL STAGES. THE FIRST STAGE WAS THE CENTRAL SECTION OF THE SWANSTON STREET FRONTAGE. A TENDER FOR THE WORK WAS ACCEPTED FROM JAMES METCALFE IN JULY 1854 FOR THE AMOUNT OF 9650 POUNDS. THE BUILDING MEASURED ONLY 50' X 50' X 32' HIGH. THE COST FOR THIS STAGE EVENTUALLY ROSE TO 16,000 POUNDS. WORK ON THE REMAINING STAGES OF REED'S DESIGN (WINGS TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE ORIGINAL SECTION) CONTINUED AS MONEY WAS MADE AVAILABLE.THE ROTUNDA WAS BUILT BEHIND THE ORIGINAL SECTION IN 1867. THE ROTUNDA AND SEVERAL SMALLER BUILDINGS WERE DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE READING ROOM. IT WAS DESIGNED BY BATES PEEBLES AND SMART AND BUILT BY SWANSON BROS., WHOSE TENDER FOR THE WORK WAS 66,914 POUNDS. IN 1911 'BUILDING' ENTHUSED THAT " AUSTRALIA IS JUST ENTERING THE LIMELIGHT OF NATIONS AS 'THE LAND OF BIG THINGS...' THE MOST STRIKING INSTANCE OF OUR ENDEAVOURS IS THE GREAT DOME OVER THE MELBOURNE LIBRARY…""THERE ARE, HOWEVER, OTHER LARGER DOMES THAN THE MELBOURNE LIBRARY, ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE THE GREATEST REINFORCED CONCRETE DOME IN THE WORLD…"" THE CEILING OF THE DOME IS TO BE DIVIDED INTO COMPARTMENTS BY SIXTEEN MAIN RIBS AND THREE SUBSIDIARY RIBS, ALL HAVING PANELLED SOFFITS...HALF OF THESE COMPARTMENTS WILL BE OCCUPIED BY...SKYLIGHTS...'"THE READING ROOM IS TREATED WITH AN OPEN ARCADE EFFECT ON FOUR SIDES, HIGHLY ENRICHED IN FIBROUS PLASTER…""THE VENTILATION OF THE CHAMBER IS PROVIDED FOR BY ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN FANS.""THE HEATING IS TO BE PROVIDED FOR BY A SYSTEM OF HOT WATER INSTALLATIONS AND THE USE OF RADIATORS…""THE PRESENT VESTIBULE WILL, HOWEVER, BE ENTIRELY REMODELLED AND ARTISTICALLY TREATED WITH AUSTRALIAN MARBLE-CASED COLUMNS AND AN ORNATE FIBROUS PLASTER CEILING..." "THE ARCHITECTS, MESSRS. BATES, PEBBLE AND SMART WILL HOLD THE ATTENTION OF THEIR ARCHITECTURAL BRETHREN THE WORLD OVER IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS COLOSSAL EDIFICE, AND IT IS QUITE SAFE TO SAY THAT THE BUILDERS WHO ARE CARRYING OUT THE WORK, MESSRS. SWANSON BROTHERS, WILL WORTHILY UPHOLD THE REPUTATION THAT AUSTRALIAN MASTER BUILDERS HAVE AS BEING AMONGST THE FOREMOST CONSTRUCTORS ON EARTH."THE STATE LIBRARY HAS BEEN AN ESSENTIAL PART OF MELBOURNE'S CULTURAL LIFE SINCE ITS EARLIEST YEARS AND REFLECTS THE PRIDE AND OPTIMISM OF THE INFANT COLONY. REED'S ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS OBVIOUSLY WELL REGARDED AT THE TIME (HAVING WON THE COMPETITION) AND REMAINS AS ONE OF MELBOURNE'S FINEST PUBLIC BUILDINGS. THE READING ROOM WAS THE SUBJECT OF GREAT INTEREST, BOTH HERE AND OVERSEAS BOTH BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION AND REMAINS A SPECTACULAR SPACE. BOTH BUILDINGS ARE ESSENTIALLY INTACT, APART FROM ALTERATIONS TO THE SOUTH WING OF REED'S BUILDING AND THE CLOSING IN OF THE SKYLIGHTS AND MINOR ALTERATIONS TO THE READING ROOM._______________________________________NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)Statement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The trustees for Melbourne's new public library were appointed in July 1853 and on 3rd July the following year the foundation stone for the first section of building was laid. Opened in 1856, this building was the first of many constructed on the site to accommodate four institutions over a period of time. These included the Public Library, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Industrial and Technological Museum and the Natural History Museum.The Chairman of Trustees, lawyer Redmond Barry, was the prime founder of the institution and the aspiration of the trustees was to create one great centre of learning. Initially a competition was held for the design of the library and this was won by Joseph Reed. The first building constructed comprised an entrance hall and upstairs reading room. By 1865 wings had been added to the north and south of the original building, extending the Queen's Hall reading room on the first floor, and in 1870 the portico was added to the front facade.The National Gallery of Victoria began its association with the site in 1861 when a gallery was opened to display works of art in the south wing of the library. Various buildings and wings were added to display additional artworks in 1874 and again in 1887 and 1892. Despite the continual searching for another site, the National Gallery shared the library site until 1968 when it moved to the new gallery building in St Kilda Road.The 1866-67 Intercolonial Exhibition, held at the library site led to the opening of the Industrial and Technological Museum on this site in 1870, with many of the exhibits forming the core of the collection. In 1899 the contents of the National Museum, formerly the Natural History Museum, were transferred from the University of Melbourne to the library site. The Museum of Victoria remained at the site until its relocation c2000. At this time the library became the sole occupant of the seven acre site.Construction of buildings on the library site was almost continuous from 1854 until the construction of the La Trobe Library in the 1960s. Joseph Reed, or his subsequent firms and their descendents, was responsible for the design of a number of building phases, including the initial building, the international exhibition spaces in 1866, the portico in 1870, the various halls constructed for the museum and gallery from 1874 to 1906 and the domed reading room in 1913. Work undertaken in the 1920s-40s was undertaken by Irwin and Stevenson and later work by the Public Works Department.The main Swanston Street facade of the library is built of sandstone in an English Palladian manner, with central Corinthian portico and flanking wings which terminate in projecting pavilions. A giant order, supporting an entablature and balustrading, runs across the undulating, two storey facade. The classical character continues in the interior of the Queen's Hall reading room, which was designed with a central space encircled by galleried aisles, delineated by a giant Ionic order colonnade.The need for additional library space led to the construction of a large domed reading room, completed in 1913, to designs by Bates, Smart and Peebles, descendents of Joseph Reed's architectural firm. This octagonal building was built by J. W. and D. A. Swanson, using the English Truscon company for their structural detail. This included the first major local use of the Kahn Bar system of reinforcing. It resulted in the construction of the largest reinforced concrete dome in the world at the time, spanning 35.5 metres.Other significant additions on the site include the Baldwin Spencer Hall, Russell Street in 1906 to create additional museum space and designed by Reed, Smart and Tappin in a flat stripped classical style; Bindon Hall, Little Lonsdale Street, designed by Irwin and Stevenson in 1927, and the La Trobe Library designed by the Public Works Department in 1961 and completed in 1965, in a minimalist manner with direct reference to the original Swanston Street facade in its represented trabeated system. The first section of the library to be built was set well back from Swanston Street, forming a forecourt at the front of the building. Despite many alterations since the 1850s, particularly in 1939 when the diagonal entrances were added to the central stairs, the formality of the forecourt has been retained. Integral to the design of the forecourt are statues which have been added over time, including Sir Redmond Barry by 1887 (with gasoliers placed either side in 1891), St George and the Dragon, Joan of Arc and Driver and Wipers, which was relocated to the Shrine of Remembrance in 1998.Two murals by significant Australian artists were acquired by the library in the 1920s. War, by H. Septimus Power, was installed over the entrance to Queen's Hall in 1924 and Peace after Victory, by renowned artist Napier Waller, was installed over the old entrance to the domed reading room in 1929.Redevelopment of the State Library began in 1990 with the entire site being refurbished for library use.How is it significant?The State Library of Victoria buildings are of historical, architectural, scientific (technical) and aesthetic importance at the State level. The Domed Reading Room is of National aesthetic and technical significance.Why is it significant?The State Library of Victoria is of historical significance as the principal educational and cultural centre for the people of Victoria for more than 150 years. The early buildings are of significance as the first purpose built, free public library in Australia and one of the first in the world. Successive buildings are of importance as the first homes of the National Gallery of Victoria and the Museum of Victoria.The State Library of Victoria is of historical significance for its associations with its visionary founder, Sir Redmond Barry, who established one of the great library collections of the world before his death in 1880, and its associations with Bernard Hall, the influential Director of the National Gallery of Victoria from 1891-1934, and Sir Baldwin Spencer, the first Director of the Museum of Victoria.The State Library of Victoria is of architectural significance as the first major building by prolific Melbourne architect Joseph Reed, and as an early example of public architecture in Victoria. Queen's Hall is of particular note for its elaborate interior and as an early example in library design.The State Library of Victoria is of scientific (technical) significance for the early and innovative use of reinforced concrete construction used in the domed building to create the largest dome in the world at the time of construction.The State Library of Victoria is of aesthetic significance for its forecourt which provided the public setting to Melbourne's first cultural institution. Despite many alterations since its inception, it retains its formal approach to the building. The array of sculptures and plantings add to the aesthetic landscape.The State Library of Victoria is of aesthetic significance for its murals by H. Septimus Power, official war artist with the Australian Imperial Force from 1917, and Napier Waller, a leading neo-classical mural painter of the Inter-War period. The works are two of Melbourne's major murals and key works of Australian art of the 1920s.Classified: 07/03/1985_______________________________________WIKIPEDIA, THE FREE ENCYCLOPEDIA, 2023Significant events in the Museum's history include:1854 – Founding of the "Museum of Natural and Economic Geology" by William Blandowski and others; Blandowski oversees the museum1856 – Collections moved to the University of Melbourne in Parkville by Frederick McCoy1858 – McCoy appointed first "director" of the museum1862 – New building opens on University site, museum renamed "National Museum of Victoria"1869 – National Museum, embryotic Industrial & Technological (I&T) Museum, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and Public Library of Victoria merged into a single body1870 – I&T Museum opened on Swanston Street site (behind the Public Library)[6]1893 – I&T Museum opens new building on Russell St as part of Library complex1899 – National Museum moved to I&T Museum's building, and takes over its mineral collection; rest of I&T Museum put into storage1915 – I&T Museum reopens in Library's now surplus Queens Hall, thanks largely to George Swinburne and John Monash1927 – National Museum acquired the H. L. White Collection of Australian native bird eggs1944 – Museums organisationally re-separated from Library, NGV and each other; all remain in one building1945 – I&T Museum renamed Museum of Applied Science (MAS)1946 – MAS takes over Melbourne Observatory1969 – NGV moves to St Kilda Rd, MAS moves into its old buildings, Library gets back Queens Hall1961 – Museum of Applied Science renamed Institute of Applied Science1971 – Institute of Applied Science renamed Science Museum of Victoria1981 – Museum Station opened, providing train services1983 – National Museum of Victoria and Science Museum of Victoria amalgamated to form the Museum of Victoria (NMV)[7]1992 – Scienceworks opened in Spotswood1997 – Swanston Street campus closed1998 – Museum of Victoria renamed Museum Victoria; Immigration and Hellenic Antiquities Museum opened2000 – Melbourne Museum at Carlton Gardens opened2016 – Museum Victoria renamed Museums Victoriareference: Wilkinson, I. (1996), "The Battle for the Museum: Frederick McCoy and the Establishment of the National Museum of Victoria at the University of Melbourne", Historical Records of Australian Science, Vol.1, No.1, (January 1996), pp. 1–11______________________________________________STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIAMuseum VictoriaAfter the government allocated £2,000 for the establishment of a natural history museum in 1854, colonial naturalist William Blandowski was put in charge of a small zoological collection in the Crown Lands Office.In 1856 Sir Frederick McCoy transferred the collection to the University where it remained until 1899. In 1869 the Museum was brought under the control of the Trustees of the Public Library, Museums and National Gallery of Victoria.New buildings for the National Museum on the Russell Street frontage were opened in 1906. They included what became known as the Baldwin Spencer Hall.On 13 July 1997 the Museum of Victoria closed its Swanston Street site to prepare for its relocation. On 21 October 2000, the new Melbourne Museum was officially opened by Premier Steve Bracks, beside the historic Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens…sourcesPescott, R T M, 1954, Collections of a century: the history of the first hundred years of the National Museum of Victoria, National Museum of VictoriaCentennial history of the National Museum. Includes list of Museum staff.Pescott, R T M, 1949, Report of the Director, National Museum of Victoria, on his visit abroad during June to December, 1948 : together with recommendations for the future development of the National Museum of Victoria while it occupies its present site, National Museum of Victoria_______________________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1865https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/155028808History of National Museum.1899https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/138618431THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.For the purpose of rendering the natural history collection more available and more useful to the public it has been decided to remove it from the University grounds to the Public Library buildings...The plan adoptedis to carry down all the large animals on lorries. By means of wooden "struts," and judicious packing with cotton wool, stuffed specimens and skeletons are shielded from injury during transit. Every individual small specimen has either been screwed down in its place in one of the museum show-cases or into one of the several hundreds of packing-cases which are now reposing, and waiting to be unpacked, in thenew museum...The illustrations show two loads of specimens. One of them consists of ourangoutans and gorillas, the gorillas being specimens which Professor McCoy procured from the famous Du Chaillum expedition of 1865. In the other lot the most interesting is the last camel of the Burke and Wills expedition. This animal has the unique distinction of having carried the first explorers who traversed Australia from north to south…1900`…a National Museum was opened in Melbourne, as a sort of adjunct to the University… Persistent pressure was, however, brought to bear, with the result that provision was made for the removal of the collection from its old quarters to the building now containing the Public Library, Picture Gallery, etc., and a portion of the new premises were informally thrown open for inspection to-day. An addition, moreover, is being made to the building along this Russell street front age, and when this is completed, probably in about a year, the curator of the Museum will have at his disposal a sufficient space in which to do justice to the collection which has been so patiently and laboriously got together..1902NATIONAL museum.The'new Russell-street wing that has been added to the National Museum at the Public Library is full of new and interesting objects that will repay inspection by country visitors....1906https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242613865 detailed...The new building, that have just been completed for the collection of the National Museum are to be opened…work of settlng up new cases and arranging animal,' group, has been carried out under, the Dlrector Professor Baldwin Spencer, FRS, CMG, etc., and the able curator Mr James A. Kershaw, F.E.S …describes exhibits on ground, first and basement levels…`With the addition of the new buildings the National Museum now ranks with the best Institutions of Its kind In most great cities of the world, and some of Its special collections of Australian animals, such as Insects, are quite unrivalled..1909Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Wed 24 Feb 1909Page 15 MELBOURNE NATIONAL MUSEUMhttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/263579885 illust.MELBOURNE NATIONAL MUSEUM(See illustrations on page 26.)The illustrations in this issue give some idea of the excellent collections of natural history contained in the National Museum, Melbourne. The building is situated in the block occupied by the Public Library, Museum, and National Gallery, the Museum occupying the Russell- street frontage. The entrance hall from Rus- sell-street is devoted to the collection of Australian ethnology and the offices of the curator, library, etc. From this is approached the main exhibition hall, measuring some 154ft long by 119ft wide, with a broad gallery running all round.The first floor of the Russell-street frontage is devoted exclusively to the Australasian collections, and consists of a large hall 110ft long by 55ft broad, with a gallery traversing three sides, and splendidly lighted from above. A series of spacious, well-lighted rooms, containing the entomological and reference collections, occupies the basement while on the top floor are situated large workrooms for the staff. An electric lift connects with each floor and the workrooms.The general collections of zoology are exhibited the main hall on the ground floor, west of the entrance hall, the magnificent collection of mammals occupying the central portion. The larger species are artistically arranged on a series of high pyramids of rockwork, placed in such a manner that each animal can be easily seen, and, if desired, compared with its skeleton in a group close by. The birds, fishes, reptiles, etc., occupy cases under the gallery. The extensive collections of geology, palaeontology, and mineralogy are shown in the broad gallery extending all round the main hall.A special feature in the Museum is the Australasian collection, which is here kept apart from the general collection in a large, splendidly lighted hall, situated on the first floor of the Russell-street frontage. The grouping of the animals in this hall is especially attractive. The black swan, lyre-bird, and native companion, all typical Australian birds, are arranged, each group is a case of its own, in the natural surroundings of their respective native haunts. Other similar cases are de- voted to special groups of kangaroos, wallabies, phalangers or "possums," bandicoots, platypi, and other peculiarly Australian animals. A series of wall cases contains the smaller mammals, birds, etc.In the illustrations on page 26 the lower picture gives a general view of the ground floor of the main hall as seen from the east corner of the gallery. The central pictures show two of the special groups of animals mounted in pyramid form in the main hall. The upper picture is a view of one end of the large kangaroo case exhibited in the Australian Hall.1912https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241640654National Museum. It Is over 10 years since tho National Museum. -in Russell street was painted inside. Dark and sombre shades were then used, and with the elapse of time the building has become exceedingly cold and gloomy in appearance. It has now been decided to re-paint the building In much warmer and brighter colors. Some of the work has already been done, and a great Improvement Is apparent..1923https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1999625PUBLIC LIBRARY EXTENSIONS. £200,000 ASKED FOR.MR. LAWSON SYMPATHETIC.Promise of £50,000 This Year.Following upon an interview yesterday between the Premier (Mr. Lawson) and the trustees of the Public Library, Museum, and Art Gallery, the State Cabinet has decided to grant a sum, approximately ₤50,000, for building and alterations The lots will be restricted to the present financial year, but it is probable that the Ministry will decide upon additional expenditure, spread over a period of years The deputation asked that the Ministry should provide £200,000 for extensions to the buildings, involving the completion of the buildings facing Latrobe street, Russell street, and Little Lonsdale street …Mr Brittingham submitted the plans to Mr Lawson, who asked if £50 000 a year could be spent in buildings for several years, assuming that such a sum were available Mr Brittingham replied that it could...1925https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2113633`In the competition for the completion of the buildings for the Public Library, Museums, and National Gallery, first prize In Section A -Messrs. Irwin and Stevenson for the best design for the Little Lonsdale street facade (above), while Messrs. La Gerche and Gower, came first in Sections B to F for the main frontage to Latrobe street and Russell street ..'1930https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242934931 illust.Need For Public Lecture HallPlans Prepared, but Funds LackingProvislon has been made for a lecture hall In the Public Library and National Gallery Building scheme…In the plans prepared by the architects, Messrs Irwin and Stevenson, the proposed hall is shown adjoining the extensions now being made to the Public Library buildings, and completing the corner between the new buildings and those facing Russell Street front, where is situated the main entrance to the National Museum…1933https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204887271…When Professor McCoy died in 1899, Professor Spencer volunteered to act as honorary director.The collection was then completely housed in the Public Library buildings, but its growth in size and value necessitated it being placed in a separate building, and so, in 1906 the building which at present faces Russell-street was completed, and the National Museum collections had found a permanent home of their own. No important structural alterations have been made since, but, as the collections have continued to grow some of the exhibits have had to be placed in part of the Public Library building. The Children's room, for instance, is on the left-hand side of the main entrance (in Swanston-street) to the Public Library.1954https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205712076Victoria's National Museum is 100 years old.…._______________________________________Lovell Chen web site 2023State Library of Victoria Complex, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne: Conservation Management Plan: Vol 1 Conservation Analysis and PolicyLOVELL CHEN / FEBRUARY 2011 : CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLANState Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne: Conservation Management Plan: Vol 2 Physical Survey and Room Data SheetsLOVELL CHEN / FEBRUARY 2011 : CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLANState Library of Victoria, Swanston Street, Melbourne: Queen’s Hall Restoration and Reconstruction: Architectural Concept Design ReportANCHER/MORTLOCK/WOOLLEY, LOVELL CHEN / 2009 : DESIGN PROPOSALThe Queen’s Hall, State Library of Victoria: Report on the Decorative Treatments to the Interior of the Queen’s HallALLOM LOVELL & ASSOCIATES / FEBRUARY 2004 : DECORATIVE TREATMENTS REPORTState Library and Museum of Victoria Buildings: Conservation AnalysisALLOM LOVELL SANDERSON, VICTORIA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT / AUGUST 1985 : CONSERVATION ANALYSIS
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 109388 3 | 1 JPEG : 266 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |