Crown Law Offices, also Supreme Court Annexe, 459-469 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Crown Law Offices, also Supreme Court Annexe, 459-469 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105711
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
Part of:
Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
General notes:
RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Period; Late VictorianDATE: 1893;ASSOCIATIONS: Victorian Government;DESIGNER: Bastow, H R PWD Chief Architect;BUILDER: Swanson, D.A..VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H1478What is significant?The Court of Appeal, formerly the Supreme Court Annexe and the Crown Law Offices, was built in 1892-93 by the Public Works Department. It was designed by S E Bindley, the architect responsible for the Public Works Department central Melbourne area. The contractors were Swanson Brothers. The three storey plus basement brick structure is faced on the front and side elevations with Stawell stone. The floors are timber and the roof is clad in slate. The main facade is symmetrically arranged with three projecting bays, rising three storeys through a traditional arrangement of base, piano nobile and attic storey. The choice of the restrained Doric order of architecture lends some solemnity to the building. The interior includes a centrally placed octagonal hall which rises through all floors and is surmounted by a cupola and lantern light. Beneath the cupola is a circular gallery with cast iron balustrades. The building was renovated and restored in 1977 and was made an annexe to the Supreme Court to ease an accommodation crisis. The old library was removed and only the octagonal hall and staircase remain intact. A bridge connects the building with the Law Courts.How is it significant?The Court of Appeal is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Court of Appeal is architecturally significant as one of Melbourne's exceptional public buildings and it forms a close relationship with the neighbouring Law Courts. It is a fine example of the Public Works Department's work during the late Victorian period. The form and composition are typical of the principal public buildings erected in Victoria at that time, but the stone facades and elaborate roof gable motif are unusual and give the building extra quality and significance. The interior hall is notable for its fine quality finishes and cast iron balustrading.The Court of Appeal is historically significant as the home of the Crown Law Department and Attorney-General from 1893 to 1963. The department was headed by a succession of prominent lawyers and politicians. The building was also the home of the Licence Reduction Board from 1906. Since 1977 the building has been an annexe to the Supreme Court and continues to play an active role in the State's judicial system..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 80: 163REID, KEITH & JOHN R, 1976, MELBOURNE CBD STUDY AREA 7 (source 80)CROWN LAW OFFICES 459 Lonsdale StreetBUILT: 1892-3ARCHITECT : PWD Architects: H. R. Bastav (Chief Architect) . Design attributed to S. E. Brindley(District Architect) (3) Also clairred (18) by G. W. Watson of PWD.BUIIDER: D. A. Swanson.DESCRIPION:3 storey Law Offices in flanboyant Renaissance style with simple interior planned symmetrically around a 5 metre circular well capped by cupola.ALTERATIONS:Currently external facade being cleaned and interior being remodelled for courts and offices with cornices, skirtings and architraves rerroved, panelled doors being replaced and concealed cornice lighting installed. Also a brick high level link being constructed across to Law Courts on east.CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS:Freestone facade with rusticated bluestone base, brick wall structure, tinDer floors am slate roofing.CITYSCAPE RELATIONSHIP:'The Law Offices continues the strength and texture of the Law Courts with a touch of exuberance and perfonns an important streetscape and 8patial role in the Legal Precinct.(refer 4.6).RECOMMENDATION :Due to the architectural value of the facade and sirrple symretrical planning and to the important cityscape role of the building, it is recomrrended as essential for retention.City of Melbourne online mapsThe Supreme Court:Formerly the Crown Law Offices now the Supreme Court Annexe. A three storey brick with a sandstone facade on a bluestone base public building. Designed by SE Bindley and Henry Bastow of the Public Works Department in the Free Classical style and built by Swanson Brothers in 1893. Refurbished and restored in 1977 it is now connected to the Supreme Court.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H1478See VICTORIA HERITAGE DATABASE https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/775COURT OF APPEAL - HistoryHistory of Place:The Crown Law Department was created in 1851 upon the separation of Victoria from New South Wales. In 1851 a dual system of administration was established with the appointment of an Attoney-General and a Solicitor-General. Between 1861 and 1891 a third Minister, the Minister for Justice, also assisted the administration of the Law Department. In 1951 the passing of the Solicitor-General Act provided for the appointment of a Solicitor-General who was not a Minister of the Crown. Since then the Department has been administered solely by the Attorney-General.From 1906 the Law Offices were also the home of the Licences Reduction Board, instituted to reduce the number of liquor licences in the State, and to reduce the number of hotels to a statutory number.(K Gray, of Allom Lovell, 1997?)
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Research and reports
Record number:
1250661
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105711 | 1 PDF : 916 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |