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Bourke Street West Police Station, 621-629 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Scope and contents

The Bourke Street West Police Station of historically significant as the only remaining intact nineteenth century police station in inner Melbourne. It is a significant remnant of continuous government administration in this area of the western end of Melbourne dating back to 1837.

The Bourke Street West Police Station is architecturally significant for its main facade which demonstrates the varied sources of High Victorian eclectic architecture, including face red brick, Florentine arches, and decorative dressings derived from the work of Viollet-le-Duc.'

Record details

Title:

Bourke Street West Police Station, 621-629 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 101160

Level of description:

Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)

Type of materials:

Graphic materialsTextual material

Part of:

Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)

Access restrictions:

UnrestrictedOpen access.

Use restrictions:

UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.

General notes:

Style: Gothic RevivalPeriod: VictorianConstruction date: 1888Notable features: Carriage way and cells at the rear, give 3-dimentional worth. Stone dressings. Gothic streetscape with St. Augustine's.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSThe watchhouse was built in 1887 and the Police Station in 1888-89, both to designs by S E Bindley of the Public Works Department. The complex is important in illustrating 19th century police administration in the western half of the city and for its distinctive gothic revival architectural style.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTERNumber H0655Statement of Significance`What is significant?The Bourke Street West Police Station complex is comprised of a cell block and watch house, police barracks and station, sergeant's quarters and marshalling yard. The main barracks were erected in 1888-9 to the design of the Public Works Department. The drawings were executed by SC Brittingham and countersigned by SE Bindley, the district architect. The two storey building is constructed of face red brick on bluestone footings with Waurn Ponds limestone dressings, parapet and fleurons. The fleurons, foliated cornice and bowtell mouldings are all derived from the drawings of French architect Viollet-le-Duc, whose work was very influential in Victoria. The main facade is symmetrical except for the carriageway leading to the rear courtyard. The style is a restrained form of Gothic incorporating pointed Florentine arches on the first storey and stilted segmental arches on the ground floor. The axed bluestone cell block at the rear of the barracks was built to designs by Brittingham and Bindley in 1887. It is a simple rectangle in form with a hipped slate roof and louvred lantern along the ridge. The only elaboration is the segmental arch opening with smooth stone reveals contrasting to the surrounding wall faces.How is it significant?The Bourke Street West Police Station is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Bourke Street West Police Station of historically significant as the only remaining intact nineteenth century police station in inner Melbourne. It is a significant remnant of continuous government administration in this area of the western end of Melbourne dating back to 1837.The Bourke Street West Police Station is architecturally significant for its main facade which demonstrates the varied sources of High Victorian eclectic architecture, including face red brick, Florentine arches, and decorative dressings derived from the work of Viollet-le-Duc.'NEWSPAPERS:The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser Tue 20 May 1913 Page 2A HUNGRY YOUTH.Anxious to go to Gaol.An unkempt youth, wearing an expression of abject misery, walked into the Bourke-street West police station, Melbourne, last week, pushing a bicycle in front of him. He said, ' I stole this bicycle just now in Bourke-street because I wanted to be locked up. I'm hungry and can't get work, and it's too cold to wander the streets or sleep without covering in gardens at night.' The lockup keeper was at first dubious of the youth, but he persisted so strongly in his story, of having stole the bicycle that it was decided to lock him up. He gave the name of Frederick Harris, aged 18 years, and said that he arrived in Melbourne from Adelaide two months ago. He had no money in his pockets, and while he was eagerly devouring bread and tea, given him by the police, Henry Ginger, a carpenter, arrived and claimed the bicycle. '

Names:

City of Melbourne

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesMid-late Victorian period (1875-1900)Gothic (revival) architectureStone buildingsPolice stations1880-1889

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1188250