Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

History

An inner-city residential suburb, transport hub, industrial precinct, and world-famous sporting ground, Woolloongabba is many things rolled into one.

It has a long history of occupation and development, but is now poised for new prominence as an Olympic destination in 2032.

And to take advantage of the future infrastructure is Silk Lane, the apartment development that will rise high above The Gabba, the hub of the Olympic Ganes.

Woolloongabba however was not always the melting pot that it is today.

University of Queensland associate professor in history, Geoff Ginn, shares the history of the suburb.

<h2>A Meeting Place</h2>

Before the onset of British colonial development in the 1820s, the Aboriginal people of the Turrbal and Jagara clans knew the place as Woolloon Capemm meaning &lsquo;place of whirling water&rsquo;, a name that reflected the abundant waterholes, swamps and creeks in the area, said associate professor Geoff Ginn.

Ceremonial places included a bora ground on top of Woolloongabba Hill, at the site now occupied by Holy Trinity Church in Hawthorne Street, and two &lsquo;pullen pullen&rsquo; grounds for ceremonial fighting nearby.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107345 project_image_fid=172022]

&ldquo;In 1824, the founding of the Moreton Bay penal settlement heralded the beginning of the European presence in Queensland and the displacement of the First Australians in the area&rdquo;, Ginn continued.

In an attempt to achieve self-sufficiency, convicts in the fledgling settlement cleared and cultivated the south bank of the Brisbane River.

Known as &lsquo;One Mile Swamp&rsquo;, this area had isolated houses and farm dwellings in the 1840s through to the 1850s, when allotments were surveyed and sold.

<figure><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="375" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2021-08-26_at_12.54.37_am.png?itok=gP2p_Jns" title="Woolloongabba Fiveways traffic in 1955" width="580" />

<figcaption>Woolloongabba Fiveways traffic in 1955</figcaption>
</figure>

As the European settlement of Brisbane gathered pace in the 1860s-1880s, most of the southerly traffic from Ipswich Road and Logan Road converged at the site, at the intersection with Stanley Street and Main Street through Kangaroo Point to create the famous &lsquo;Gabba Fiveways&rsquo;.

&ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t until the 1870s that the name of Woolloongabba was officially used.&rdquo;

A tram service drawn by horses was active after 1885, with electric trams after 1897. After 1895, these brought crowds to football and cricket matches at the recreation reserve later named the Brisbane Cricket Ground.

A major railway station and goods yard appeared at the site and the surrounding industrial areas as streets rapidly filled up with workers cottages and small timber &lsquo;Queenslanders&rsquo;.

A few local landmarks from this period included Woolloongabba Post Office, the Princess Theatre and many hotels in prominent positions at road intersections.

&ldquo;There were also churches and other centres associated with distinct immigrant communities such as the Deutscher Turnverein (now German Club) established in the mid-1880s, the nearby Russian Orthodox Church&rdquo;, Ginn said.

<figure><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="377" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2021-08-26_at_12.54.44_am.png?itok=a71ZJC_1" title="International cricket match at the Gabba in 1931" width="580" />

<figcaption>International cricket match at the Gabba in 1931</figcaption>
</figure>

By this time, with vehicles, trams, and trains filling its streets and footpaths crowded with shoppers and workers, Woolloongabba had assumed its modern form.

<h2>Local Amenities</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107345 project_image_fid=172025]

Now an energetic place of work, transport, leisure and community, Silk Lane residents are offered convenient local amenities that dot the suburb.

The apartments are in close proximity to Queensland University of Technology and Torrens University, as well as secondary schools including Anglican Church Grammar School and St Laurence&rsquo;s College.

Other local amenities include the soon-to-be-completed Cross River Rail station, The Gabba, Gabba Central shopping centre, Deshon Street Park and Brisbane City Indoor Sports centre.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=107345]

University of Queensland associate professor in history, Geoff Ginn, shares the history of the Brisbane suburb

max.kwok_55688

The history of Woolloongabba: From isolated houses and farm dwellings to the home of the Olympic Games

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Such a simple idea that provides such an incisive look at Melbourne's history. Today's article is a shout-out to the increasing popular Past 2 Present which provides an impressive glimpse into Melbourne's past by comparing it to the present.

Covering metropolitan Melbourne, Past 2 Present generates a side by side compilation of dated and current images from the past two centuries. Buildings, significant places, infrastructure and day to day street level life are covered by creator Robert Smith via Facebook, flickr and tumblr.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/10275586_1075838669112035_2334594070966671575_o.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A Spencer Street comparison. Image courtesy Past 2 Present"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="196" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/10275586_1075838669112035_2334594070966671575_o.jpg?itok=_hn-X0M0" title="A Spencer Street comparison. Image courtesy Past 2 Present" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A Spencer Street comparison. Image courtesy Past 2 Present</figcaption></figure>A prime example is the snapshot of Southbank above dated 1930 featuring the Robur Tea Warehouse. Built during 1887-1888 and designed by Nahum Barnet, the building appears dominant over the Spencer Street Bridge but now the 19th century warehouse is little more than a footnote on contemporary Southbank.

Another below sees how much (or little) Melbourne has changed over a century. While many parts of the CBD have lost iconic structures, certain pockets still endure as seen by the State Library of Victoria's image in comparison to that of Robert Smith's.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/16479952268_4932fb9733_k.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Flinders Street over time. Image courtesy Past 2 Present"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="193" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/16479952268_4932fb9733_k.jpg?itok=bbg9FGRv" title="Flinders Street over time. Image courtesy Past 2 Present" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Flinders Street over time. Image courtesy Past 2 Present</figcaption></figure>As the adage states, "You don't know where you're going until you know where you've been."

It's well worth taking a few minutes to tour old Melbourne and gain a better appreciation for our city by visiting <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Past2Present1">Past 2 Present</a>.
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silvermb

Past 2 Present: a snapshot of Melbourne's history

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A website has surfaced in recent weeks which compares the Melbourne of today to that of 1945. The stark differences can be viewed at <a href="http://1945.melbourne/">Melbourne 1945</a> which provides contrasting aerial imagery using Department of Crown Lands and Survey photography mashed with current Mapbox capabilities.

<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/a-birdseye-view-of-melbournes-transformation-from-1945-to-2015-20150227-13pd5v">Recently highlighted</a> in The Age, Melbourne 1945 provides a tangible resource that charts Melbourne's immense growth over a sustained period. While providing a visual glimpse at Melbourne's past, it also points toward what lies ahead for Melbourne if the current path is maintained. That is further suburban sprawl with implications for both sustainability and the environment.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image92.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne's sports precinct then and now"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="353" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image92.jpg?itok=xjwRjrD5" title="Melbourne's sports precinct then and now" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne's sports precinct then and now</figcaption></figure>A description of Melbourne 1945 as provided by Nathan Jeffrey:

<blockquote>
The aerial map of Melbourne in 1945 was commissioned by the Department of crown Lands and Survey, and conducted by Adastra Airways. This is a snapshot of the city immediately following WWII, and preceding the suburban sprawl of the postwar period.

You'll notice that there are some missing portions in the 1945 map - notably the areas around Wantirna, Blackburn and Frankston. Unfortunately the original photos covering these areas seem to be lost to time.
<cite><a href="http://1945.melbourne/">Nathan Jeffrey, Melbourne, 1945</a></cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image93.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Only a fraction of our population recall Doncaster during 1945"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="329" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image93.jpg?itok=_Rp-_mcE" title="Only a fraction of our population recall Doncaster during 1945" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Only a fraction of our population recall Doncaster during 1945</figcaption></figure><h2>Comment</h2>

As the old adage goes, "You don't know where you're going until you know where you've been."

Melbourne 1945 is an intriguing glimpse into the past while also giving a fair indication as to how Melbourne has constantly expanded since the days of its founding during 1835. This in turn poses the question: will Melbourne continue its sprawl outward over the next 30, 50, 70 years or will suburban sprawl at some point be deemed counterproductive?

To think that Warburton is 72 kilometres from the CBD and still considered part of greater Melbourne is mind boggling! Will the greater Melbourne decades from now stretch beyond a 100-130 kilometre radius from the CBD? That sounds implausible, but I'm sure the equivalent was said during 1945 about locations we now consider middle and outer ring suburbs.

Replicating what has been done for the past 70 years by continually pushing Melbourne outwards is not the way forward, and the Melbourne 1945 website aides by providing an excellent visual representation of what has been. Build up in a responsible manner, not outwards!
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Melbourne: How you've changed in 70 years - but for the better?

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Flinders Street Station occupies the equivalent of two city blocks, occupying the site bordered by Flinders Street to the north and the Yarra River to the south. The site extends from Swanston Street on its eastern ground level border all the way to Queen Street in the west.

The first train station on the current Flinders Street Station site was called Melbourne Terminus. The original station was comprised of a collection of weatherboard sheds. Melbourne Terminus opened on the 12 of September 1854 and was the first steam railway station in Australia. Thousands of people attended the opening day to see not only Victoria’s, but also Australia’s, first public steam train, which travelled from Sandridge (now Port Melbourne) to the Melbourne Terminus station at Flinders Street.

In 1889 a worldwide design competition was held for a new railway station to be built. The new building, planned to replace the old sheds, was to be a grand edifice befitting marvelous Melbourne, which was then the largest city in Australia. Two Victorian Railway Officials, JW Fawcett and HPC Ashworth who entered under the syndicate name ‘Green Light’, were awarded the first prize of £500 in 1900. Their French renaissance style station included a large domed entrance and a clock tower.

Construction commenced in 1900, while the final design of station building was still in development. The foundations of the main building were completed in 1903. In 1904 the Railway Commissioners made changes to the original design, leading to the construction of individual roofs over each platform instead of a series of arched roofs over the concourse as originally planned. Additionally to increase office space, a fourth storey was added to the main building.

In 1905 work began on the massive station building itself, starting at the west end and progressing towards the grand entrance and dome at the south-west corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets. The grand edifice was designed to have a stone facade, however cost cutting led to use of red brick with cement render details (blood and bandage). Grey granite from Harcourt, Victoria was used on the Flinders Street side at ground level "in view of the importance of this great public work". Design changes that omitted the concourse roof as previously described, saw the southern facade of the main building above ground level constructed of a lightweight timber frame, clad with zinc sheets scored into large blocks and painted red, giving the appearance of large bricks to replace what would have been open balconies under the roof.

Work on the dome started in 1906. Eleven platforms were completed in 1907 with another two added (Platforms 12 and 13) east of Swanston Street in 1909. Completion and the official opening of the station took place in 1910.

The building is three storeys high at the higher concourse/Swanston Street end, and four at the lower Elizabeth Street/platform end.

A number of ticket windows were located at each entry point, with services such as a restaurant, a country booking office, lost luggage and a visitors help booth at concourse or platform level.

A number of shops and leasable spaces were provided. Some of these shops were on the concourse, and many were along the Flinders Street frontage, some were lower than street level and were accessible by stairs, creating a fifth/basement level. The basement store beside the main entrance has been occupied by a hat store since 1910, known as 'City Hatters', since 1933.

The top three storeys of the main building contain a large number of rooms, particularly along the Flinders Street frontage, with the majority designated for use by the railway, although some were leasable spaces. Most of the top floor of the station was purpose built and occupied by the Victorian Railway Institute. This area included a library, a gym and a lecture hall, which was later used as a ballroom. In recent times, these rooms have been abandoned and have been slowly decaying for decades.

Electric trains were introduced in 1919. By 1926 Flinders Street Station was the world's busiest suburban railway station and it still is in the southern hemisphere. Infrastructure such as the Degraves Street subway, which is part of Flinders Street Station, was extended to the north side of Flinders Street in 1954. In March 1966 platform one was extended to reach a length of 708 metres, making it the fourth longest railway station platform in the world.

Flinders Street Station has over time become Melbourne’s most recognizable landmark and perhaps Melbourne’s most definitive icon. Not surprisingly, it has been listed on the Victorian Heritage Act and by the National Trust.

In 2011 the former Victorian Liberal Government launched an <a href="/news/public-transport-architecture-seagull-on-a-hot-chip-thoughts-on-flinders-street-station-competition-entries">international design competition</a> to rejuvenate and restore this grand edifice. In 2013 architects HASSELL + Herzog &amp; de Meuron were chosen as the winners.

Let’s hope that the Melbourne catchphrase, ‘meet me under the clocks’ under the grand entrance at the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, continues for many more years, and that the station restoration and rejuvenation starts sooner rather than later.

<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/flinders-st-station-project-going-off-the-rails/story-fni0fit3-1227174184017?sv=d402b598f81dab90d9ba8480c074803c&amp;utm_source=Herald%20Sun&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=editorial&amp;net_sub_uid=6353763">The current situation (government assesses redevelopment).</a>

Peter Maltezos operates <a href="http://thecollectormm.com.au/">The Collector's Marvellous Melbourne</a>, a website dedicated to Melbourne's built environment which maintains a vast image collection of Melbourne, both past and present.
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thecollector

Flinders Street Station: Melbourne's most popular iconic landmark

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A small piece of Melbourne's history will begin disappearing in the days and weeks to come as Melbourne Airport's water tower continues to be engulfed by scaffolding and mesh in preparation for demolition.
A pronounced structure viewed by hundreds of millions of travellers yet never at the forefront of anyone's thoughts, the tower has stood the test of time since it began appearing on the horizon during 1969 as evidenced by the Melbourne Airport image below.  More recently the water tower became far more recognisable, gaining a lick of paint to closely resemble a Tiger Airways aircraft livery.
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/1384_19-11-2013_3817.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Airport's image of the water tower under construction during 1969"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="380" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/1384_19-11-2013_3817.jpg?itok=w69b9LT2" title="Melbourne Airport's image of the water tower under construction during 1969" width="580"></a>
According to Melbourne Airport, demolition will consist of  "A series of innovative cutting and propping techniques, regarded by engineering specialists as the safest procedure for a demolition of this scale."  In what will most likely resemble the demolition of the Lonsdale Street Power Station chimney some years ago, large horizontal rings will be cut with a diamond tipped cable mechanism and then repositioned by mobile crane to terra firma for recycling offsite.
The water tower is to make way for the new integrated ground transport hub with forms part of the larger precinct redevelopment of which <a href="http://www.leightoncontractors.com.au/" target="_blank">Leighton Contractors</a> is the chief builder.  As seen below works have commenced well back from the terminal precinct for associated infrastructure such as elevated roadways and the like.  Piling for the integrated ground transport hub and part of the terminal precinct are well advanced.
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Img_3625.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Early works with Melbourne's skyline in the distance"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_3625.jpg?itok=WMYbZ732" title="Early works with Melbourne's skyline in the distance" width="580"></a>
Visit Melbourne Airport's website <a href="http://melbourneairport.com.au/about-melbourne-airport/media/photo-gallery?gallery=historical-photos" target="_blank">here</a> to see a collection of images dating back to the early 1960's.  Further construction images of current works are provided in the link below.
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Tiger loses its tail!

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249 Bourke Street.
1901 William Pitt.
Before the Tivoli Theatre was built, the site it stood on what was home to a business consisting of a timber yard and stables in the mid 19th Century.  In the 1860's the Australian and New York Letting and Livery Stables replaced the older business and interestingly the business also included a hall on the upper level.  During 1866 the hall was known as The Varieties and then later as the Opera Comique; the first Australian performance of the Can Can was staged in The Varieties hall.
In 1872 it became The Prince of Wales Opera House (or just The Opera House) and a syndicate calling themselves the Opera House Company presented a wide variety of popular entertainment, including the first Melbourne performance of The Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore.
Some years later in 1894, the walls of the building were leaning and The Opera House was described as the most dangerous theatre in Melbourne.  The building which housed a capacity audience of 2127 people, was deemed a fire risk and a health hazard.
A year later an English singer and comedian named Harry Rickards took a three-year lease on the risky theatre.  On the 22nd of August 1896, the magician Carl Hertz projected the first motion pictures to be seen by the Australian public.  In 1897, the city council objected to the theatre still being used.  Harry, who still had 3 years left on his lease, asked for a delay in the closure and finally during 1899, a month after the lease expired, the city council closed the theatre.
The optimistic Harry Rickards then negotiated a new 50-year lease with the owners that included the condition that the old theatre be demolished and replaced with a new one.
The New Opera House was completed on the 18th of May 1901 and was designed in a Moorish style by William Pitt who had also designed the Princess Theatre on Spring Street.  It was made of red brick with marble columns and embellished with coloured tiles and ornate cast-iron work with the roof featuring a huge illuminated globe.
Inside two highly decorated corridors led from the street to the main foyer, which included a rockery with palms, ferns and a water feature while a marble stairways swept you up to the dress circle.  A three level auditorium, with its décor dominated by red and gold colours throughout, had a capacity of 1539, and the three tiers of seating created an intimate relationship between the performer(s) and the audience.  The Tivoli Theatre underwent renovations over the years and was rebuilt significantly in 1956.
In 1912, the New Opera House was renamed the Tivoli Theatre by Harry Rickards’ successor, Hugh D. McIntosh.  The Tivoli was the home of Melbourne vaudeville for 65 years until it closed on the 2nd of April 1966.  During its 65 years as a theatre it hosted stars like the escapologist Houdini, comedian W.C. Fields, illusionist Chung Ling Soo, entertainer George Formby, actor and singer Tommy Steele, singer Shirley Bassey and comedian Chico Marx amongst many others.
Lavish revues were introduced in the 1930's and became the Tivoli's standard fare, with pantomimes at Christmas and in the later years, the occasional musical. In the early 1950s the Folies Bergere Revue encouraged controversy about the amount of bare flesh on show for publicity.  In truth, what was on show was only a little more than a typical Tivoli show, but the audience ‘bought it’ and the revue ran for nearly fifteen consecutive months.  English actor and comedian Jimmy Edwards starred in the final live show in 1966.
A month after the closure of the theatre, the Tivoli Cinema opened, although round midnight on the 4th of April 1967, a fierce fire badly damaged the Tivoli.  What was left of the theatre/cinema was demolished and a new office building with the aptly named Tivoli Arcade on the ground level was built on the site, which is now home to the RMIT University's Business School.
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The Titillating Tivoli Theatre

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Melbourne in the late 1840s through to the 1860s was affected by a coinage crisis. The crisis mainly related to a shortage of small change in circulation. At this time, British coinage was in use, however not enough coins were being supplied for Melbourne’s booming population and economy.
Out of necessity, savvy entrepreneurial businesses of the day began issuing trade tokens. These tokens, which were mainly made of copper, were most often the size of a penny or a half penny. The tokens promoted the businesses that produced them, thus providing free advertising and helped to create awareness of their business names within the community.
Like the British pennies circulating in Melbourne, tokens often showed the figure of Britannia or symbols of Australia and Melbourne on the reverse side. These unofficial coins proudly promoted the various businesses, such as grocers, drapers and hoteliers, which issued them. While other businesses and clients alike happily accepted them, they were barely tolerated by the government of the day, even though they provided a practical solution to the coinage crisis.
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Token6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="One penny token, minted in 1862. Issued by Fenwick Brothers, Importers &amp; Clothiers. It features Observatory House and the Flagstaff in Flagstaff Gardens, giving prospective customers an idea of where to find the store. In November 1852 Orlando Fenwick arrived in Melbourne, he brought goods out from England with him to found a drapery business. In 1857, Orlando was joined by his brother Pascoe and had his store located in King Street. "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Token6.jpg?itok=MXRE0spj" title="One penny token, minted in 1862. Issued by Fenwick Brothers, Importers &amp; Clothiers. It features Observatory House and the Flagstaff in Flagstaff Gardens, giving prospective customers an idea of where to find the store. In November 1852 Orlando Fenwick arrived in Melbourne, he brought goods out from England with him to found a drapery business. In 1857, Orlando was joined by his brother Pascoe and had his store located in King Street. " typeof="Image"></a>
The first tokens that circulated in Melbourne and throughout Australia were imported from Birmingham, England in 1849 by the Collins Street business, Annand, Smith &amp; Co. Family Grocers. The importation of a coinage press and blank pennies in 1854 enabled other businesses to also issue tokens. By the late 1860s after enough British pennies had been imported for circulation in Melbourne, tokens were declared illegal in Victoria, but continued to be used elsewhere in Australia.
The most prolific issuer and maker of tokens in Melbourne and Australia wide was Thomas Stoke. He was an apprenticed diesinker from Birmingham who arrived in Melbourne in 1854. In the 1860s, his company Thomas Stokes was based at 100 Collins Street East. The business became a proprietary company under the name Stokes &amp; Son Pty Ltd in 1911. In 1962 Stokes became a public company, renamed Stokes (Australasia) Pty Ltd, with offices in Ringwood and throughout Australasia. Today the business is still thriving, making medals/tokens and has become Australia’s major manufacturer of electrical elements and a distributor of appliance spare parts.
About twenty years ago, I came across my first Melbourne traders’ token and have been fascinated with these little windows of history ever since. Often I find myself trying to locate addresses on tokens, (difficult since the street numbering has changed in the city), to see what has replaced the savvy little businesses that once issued tokens.
The enhanced photos in this article are of my own collection of Melbourne tokens - click for a larger view.
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Melbourne Traders Tokens - History in your palm

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280-318 William Street (south east-corner of William and Latrobe Streets)
1871-1872 John James Clarke
Commenced in 1871 and completed in 1872, on the site of the first Melbourne Exhibition Building, the former Royal Mint is considered one of the finest renaissance revival buildings in Australia. Design work by JJ Clarke of the administration building, which remains today, began in 1869 when Victoria was given permission by the Royal British Mint to establish a Melbourne branch office. The design was based on Raphael’s Palazzo Vidoni-Caffarelli in Rome (1515) and before cost cutting took place, a much grander structure was designed that was three storeys and 55 metres wide, contrasting somewhat from the two storeys, 31 metres wide building that was finally built.
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/RoyalMint1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Royal Melbourne Mint (2005)"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/RoyalMint1.jpg?itok=17fZ69LT" title="The Royal Melbourne Mint (2005)" typeof="Image"></a>
The Mint complex with the main freestanding administration building, residence, two corner guardhouses, palisading and tall perimeter wall, originally also contained additional buildings. These were a coining hall, a melting department and an assay department that were demolished in 1968.
The Royal Melbourne Mint was authorized from the start to strike full British gold sovereign and half sovereign denominations, with the mintmark M to designate their Melbourne mintage. The first gold coins were struck in Melbourne in 1872 and were minted until 1931.
Australian coins were minted from 1916 with the first coins being the silver threepences, sixpences, shillings and florins. This was followed in 1919 by bronze pennies, bronze halfpennies in 1923, silver crowns in 1937, and finally copper one and two cent pieces in 1966. Production of coins ceased in 1967.
It is important to note that the architect JJ Clarke also designed, or had a hand in designing other noteworthy buildings such as the old Treasury Building, the original Richmond Town Hall, the City Baths and Government House.
The Former Royal Melbourne Mint is now home to a number of private enterprises. These include Melbourne Mint Pty Ltd who deal in gold and silver bullion. It also houses the cultural institution the Hellenic Museum, founded in 2007 and established with the aim to promote understanding and appreciation for the rich cultural traditions of ancient and contemporary Greece.
 
The website:
http://www.hellenic.org.au/
Click an image for a larger view of the gallery.
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Former Royal Melbourne Mint - A rich history

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299 Bourke Street (second store and current street number) opened in 1883

Collins Street extension in 1906

Closed in 1929

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27728]

Edward William Cole opened his first book arcade near the former Eastern Market in 1873. On the 27 January 1883 he opened his famous second store on the site of the current David Jones Men’s Store, on what is now called the Bourke Street Mall.

With around two million books on its shelves, the extraordinary Cole’s Book Arcade, also known as the Palace of Intellect, was reputedly the largest bookstore in the world. It was one of the iconic ‘must visit’ Melbourne stores in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In fact, it was so well known, that both Rudyard Kipling and Mark Twain visited it during their travels to Australia.

In 1906, the Coles’ Book Arcade was extended all the way through to Collins Street alongside Howey Place.  E. W. Cole paved and built a beautiful glass and iron ornamental roof for Howey Place, at his own cost, which still stands proudly today. When the Cole’s Book Arcade was two-block lengths in size, it was spacious enough to include a menagerie featuring a monkey house, a fernery, a toyland, a stationary department, a second-hand book department, a glass and china department, a refreshment room, and a confectionery department.  If that wasn’t enough, customers of all ages were also enticed with a string band, a symphonion powered by a clockwork mechanism and other mechanical devices, such as a hen that clucked and laid tin eggs containing either a sweet or a toy, when a penny was dropped into a slot. There were also comfortable chairs to sit in and read books, people were encouraged to do so by a sign that read: Read As Long As You Like – Nobody Asked To Buy.

E. W. Cole was an idealist. He believed passionately in the power of education to deliver a peaceful united (federated) world without borders before the year 2000. He expounded his views in pamphlets, books and medallions.  E. W. Coles’ most famous book was the self-produced publication, Cole’s Funny Picture Book, which had many reprints and sold over a million copies, making it perhaps one of the most popular children’s books ever published in Australia.

E. W. Cole issued medallions that were either sold for three pence each or given as change, to be spent on other arcade purchases up to their 3d value. While many people kept them as souvenirs, others also had them pierced to wear on a necklace.  Around 300,000 medallions were minted and 97 different types were issued. They were usually made of copper, brass or aluminium and were often gilded, silvered or bronzed. Creating highly desirable and valued collectibles was a great marketing idea then, as it is today.

While E. W. Cole passed away in 1918, the business continued after his death. In 1929, the executors of his will decided to wind down the business and sell the land on which it stood, which was at that time, as now, highly desired and valuable real estate. A family member purchased the goodwill and a shop, bearing the name Cole’s Book Arcade, was opened at the new address of 255 Swanston Street. The new venture lasted for an additional 10 years, but failed to survive the 1930s depression.

The Melbourne Museum has a Cole’s Book Arcade collection acquired over many decades. Items such as a mechanical hen, the symphonion and many of the variety of medallions issued can be seen there.

See them on the museum website:

http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/themes/1900/cole-s-book-arcade-collection
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The incredible Cole's Book Arcade

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304–328 Swanston Street, Melbourne
 
1854-1856 Joseph Reed; 1870 Reed and Barnes; 1906–11 Bates, Peebles and Smart;
1951 Percy Everett, Public Works Department; 1990-98 Ancher, Mortlock and Woolley
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Library2pc.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The State Library of Victoria as it looked soon after the completion of the Domed Reading Room."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Library2pc.jpg?itok=MDoy1B8c" title="The State Library of Victoria as it looked soon after the completion of the Domed Reading Room." typeof="Image"></a>
The decision to build a state library for Victoria was made in 1853 by Lieutenant-Governor Charles La Trobe and Mr Justice Redmond Barry. An architectural competition was held and a local architect, Joseph Reed was declared the winner with his submission of an academic classical design.
 
The foundation stone was laid in 1854 and in 1856 the library was officially opened with a collection of 3,800 books chosen by Mr Justice Redmond Barry.
 
In 1859 the first reading room, the barrel-vaulted Queen’s Reading Room (now Queen’s Hall) was opened.  Additional temporary structures were built in the rear facing Russell Street in 1866 for the Inter-colonial Exhibition and were in use until 1909.
 
Construction of the landmark Domed Reading Room begun in 1906 and was completed in 1911. The dome sits on a classically composed polygonal drum that rises over four levels and is punctuated by arched entrances/exits. It was designed by Bates, Peebles and Smart, and a for a short time after its completion, the Domed Reading Room was the world’s largest reinforced concrete dome. In 1959 the Domed Reading Room’s skylights were modified and covered in copper to stop water leaking into the room.
 
The library’s original grand plans made provision for inclusion of a museum and an art gallery. A museum of grand proportions was to be built facing Russell Street, however due to funding shortages a scaled back version was gradually built over the interwar years in a more austere restrained classical style. In the 1990s, the museum was moved to the Carlton Gardens in a new purpose built structure.  The State Library complex was also home to the National Gallery of Victoria until it was moved to its St Kilda Road address in the late 1960s.
 
Between 1990 and 2004 the State Library underwent a $200 million major refurbishment and redevelopment. The most notable of these refurbishments was the restoration of the Domed Reading Room, to allow the return of natural light into the space. It was renamed the La Trobe Reading Room when it was completed in 2003. Other developments included the construction of exhibition rooms and spaces that are used to house permanent and temporary exhibitions. The permanent exhibitions include, The Mirror of the World: Books and Ideas and The Changing Face of Victoria, both of which are on display in the upper level galleries of the La Trobe Reading Room. Other permanent exhibition rooms are the Cowen Gallery, along with the Stawell Gallery rooms on level 2a, which house a collection of oil paintings and portrait sculptures drawn from the Library’s Pictures Collection. Temporary exhibitions are held in the Keith Murdoch Gallery, which is entered from the foyer of the main entry on Swanston Street and like the Cowen and Stawell Galleries, used to be a former museum space. The construction of these exhibition spaces has made the Victorian State Library one of the largest exhibiting libraries in the world.
 
The library has moved into the twenty first century with the inclusion of exciting new visitor facilities. This includes Mr Tulk Café, named after the first librarian, Augustus H. Tulk, with its main entrance on La Trobe Street. A Readings Bookshop, is situated next to the library foyer and in 2010, the Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas, was set up, with its entrance on Little Lonsdale Street. The Wheeler Centre was named after the Lonely Planet founders, Tony and Maureen Wheeler, who donated funds for its establishment.
 
The State Library of Victoria was the first public library in Australia and one of the first in the world. The library currently holds over two million books, hundreds of thousands of pictures, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts, and has also amassed a large collection of audio, video and digital material. These collections reflect the culture of Victoria over the past 160 years, making the State Library of Victoria one of Melbourne’s greatest cultural icons! 
 
The website:
http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/
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