Police Headquarters, 354 Russell Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Police Headquarters, 354 Russell Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 108562 1
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:
RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________DATE: 1940-43;ASSOCIATIONS: Victorian Government;DESIGNER: Everett,Percy - Chief Architect Public Works Department;BUILDER: Dawson & Smith.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0913Statement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The former Police Headquarters Complex was built in stages between 1940 and 1943 to the design of Public Works Department architect Percy Everett. The construction is reinforced concrete with face brick curtain walls on a plinth of Mt Difficult sandstone. Mainly cream bricks were used with salt-glazed manganese brown bricks in spandrel panels below the windows. The windows are metal framed and their narrowness emphasises the vertical accent of the complex. The main facade is symmetrical, with central vehicle and side pedestrian entrances. The headquarters building comprises a four storey podium building. This was originally of three storeys but the extra storey was added in 1959. The thirteen storey tower is crowned by a metal radio mast. The ground floor entrances are surmounted by deep stone vertical fins. The multi-storey building at the rear of the main tower was added in 1970 and does not form part of the registration.How is it significant?The former Police Headquarters Complex is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The former Police Headquarters Complex is architecturally significant as a rare, surviving example of an early stepped geometric New York or Los Angeles style skyscraper, with brick-facing, in which the combination of radio mast and building form epitomises architectural design of the 1930s. The buildings are also significant for the relatively early moderne style of the ground floor foyer.The police headquarters are historically significant as the last major stage of law and order development in the Russell Street precinct. The headquarters building was for some time one of the tallest and most visible buildings in Melbourne and was readily identified by Victorians as symbolising the law and order within the state..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites 20th C. Register; source 77, page 50___________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTERPOLICE HEADQUARTERS COMPLEX - HistoryHistory of Place:The site was first occupied by the police in 1858. In 1889 new police offices fronting primarily onto Mackenzie Street were built with muster room and quarters on each floor. It is believed this building housed the detective branch from this time on. By the 1920s the buildings were too cramped and a Royal Commission into the police in 1924 recommended a program of improvements to police facilities, including upgrading the Russell Street site. Additions to the 1889 building were made in 1927.TheDuncan Report of 1936-37 precipitated complete redevelopment of the site in the 1940s. The final plans of 30 January 1940 did not allow for retention of any of the existing buildings. The site was to have ben entirely symmetrical. Wartime exigencies prevented the plans being completed so that a large part of the 1889 building survives.The builders were Dawson and Smith. The cost was 125,000 pounds.___________________________NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)Statement of SignificanceThe Police Headquarters Building was constructed in 1940-43 to the design of Percy Everett. It is of State significance historically and architecturally as Victoria's highest freestanding example of the moderne skyscraper style, as popularised in New York in the 1920s.With its distinctive communications tower and stepped form, it has become a landmark which, more than any other building, has strong associations with "D-24" and police activity in the state and is perhaps the most tangible result of the extensive police inquiry undertaken in 1937 by Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Alex Duncan. The complex contains some notable interiors such as the Police Theatrette and contributory elements such as the main stair and hall, lift lobby and lifts.Classified: 16/09/1992See also B0425 Former Police Barracks.Note: Police moved out in 1995, building converted to apartments with new tower behind in 2004, involving demolition of half of theatrette.___________________________Victorian Heritage Inventory H7822-2158Former Police Barracks, domestic before.1880 Panorama shows vacant area & small pair of terraces fronting MacKenzie Street.1905 - 2 storey buildings & police barracks compound.Statement of Significance: Built in three stages between 1940 and 1943, the police headquarters, constructed of reinforced concrete with curtain walls of brick, is architecturally significant as an outstanding example of the mini-skyscraper style. The police headquarters are also significant as a result of the relatively early moderne style of the ground floor foyer.The police headquarters are historically significant in being readily identified by Victorians as symbolising the police force, and law and order within the state.___________________________NEWSPAPERS:1940https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243235133Start Made With New Police Building In Russell St.....1941https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8224873PROTECTING POLICE HEADQUARTERSReinforced steel shutters are to be bolted to the walls of the new police building in Russell st. to protect 17 windows on the upper ground floor against possibility of damage in the event of air raids. Each shutter, constructed of 2 layers of in. steel slates, weighs 12cwt. Nine of the windows to be covered face Russell st. and 8 ore at the rear of the building. Cost of the shutters and bolting them into position will cost roughly £700.1942radio link with police headquartersDirect wireless oomtnuhication has been established between Russell street police headquarters and all major provincial police stations. including Shepparton. Simultaneous warning can be given of impending air raids..1943https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11801000COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IN NEW OFFICESOccupation of the southern wing of the new police headquarters in Russell st will be completed today, and the main door of the new section will be opened for the firsttime. After having been in the City Court buildings opposite for many years, the Police Commissioner's offices will now be on the third floor of the new wing. Mr A. M. Duncan, Commissioner, will occupy a suite at the Latrobe st end of the building, and Mr J. A. Evans, Police Department secretary, and Mr D. S. Ramage, Commissioner's secretary, will also occupy offices on that floor, together with the correspondence, accounts, pay, and personnel branches. Inspector A. Webster, who recently reorganised the police information bureau, will take charge of that branch, which will occupy the second floor with the fingerprint and scientific branches. The information section, previously controlled by the superintendent of the Melbourne police district, will now become part of the Chief Commissioner's office, and will be the public relations bureau for the whole of the State. The ground floor will be devoted to the Criminal Investigation Branch. Other branches of the force at present stationed distant from headquarters will occupy the old northern wing..https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11795329 illust.NEW SKYSCRAPER RECALLS OLD POLICE MEMORIESMelbourne's Constabulary Did Not Always Work in Refined Comfort....https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11332237NEW POLICE BLOCK OPENED ...The building was designed by Mr Percy Everett, chief Government architect. Mr Norman Mussen was the consulting engineer, and the builders were Messrs Dawson and Smith.
Related material link:
354-370,336-350 Russell Street, Melbourne (Butler14440\\)354-370 Russell Street, Melbourne (Butler14439\\)354 Russell Street, Melbourne (Butler16687\\)Police Headquarters also D24, 336-350 Russell Street, Melbourne (BIF-CITY 108562 2\\)Police Headquarters & former Police Barracks, 372-376 Russell Street & 47-61 MacKenzie Street, Melbourne (BIF-CITY 108562\\)
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Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1262499
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 108562 1 | 1 PDF : 3,272 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |