Melbourne’s Secret Buildings: Historical Significance of Everyday Structures
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Melbourne’s Secret Buildings: Historical Significance of Everyday Structures
Clip title: Seven ‘secret’ buildings in Melbourne (Part 1) Author / channel: Philip Mallis URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVUWdkwVwkQ
Summary
This video embarks on a fascinating journey through Melbourne, revealing the hidden histories of everyday buildings often overlooked by passersby. The host seeks out “secret buildings” not because they are difficult to find, but because they hold compelling stories and historical significance that are not immediately apparent. The video aims to uncover seven such structures within the heart of Melbourne, showcasing how the city’s past is interwoven with its present architecture.
The tour begins with the MCCES Substation on Therry Street, a seemingly ordinary brick building near the Queen Victoria Market. Built in 1928, it was part of the Melbourne City Council’s early electricity network, playing a crucial role in converting the city’s power supply from direct current to the more efficient three-phase system. Next, the former Bourke Street West Police Station, active from 1889 to 1976, is highlighted. Despite its dilapidated state prior to closure, it was spared demolition and now functions as the Royal Melbourne Hotel, where former officers even hold reunions. Its location near the docks and Spencer Street Station made it a busy hub, involved in numerous cases concerning sailors, ships, and railways, and it stands as the last intact 19th-century police station in inner Melbourne.
Continuing the historical exploration, the video features the former Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Company (MTOC) Building on Bourke Street. This magnificent Gothic Revival structure, built in 1891, housed the company that operated Melbourne’s cable trams until 1916. Its grand interior and original directory board offer a glimpse into the city’s early public transport administration. In Chinatown, the Num Pon Soon Society building, dating back to 1861, is presented as Victoria’s oldest surviving Chinese community building. It served as a clubhouse for Chinese immigrants, many of whom were gold miners, and exemplifies cross-cultural exchange through its unique blend of Chinese and Renaissance architectural styles.
The journey then shifts to the modern BHP House on William Street, a 41-story skyscraper built between 1969 and 1972. This impressive building was Melbourne’s first to exceed 150 meters and was Australia’s second tallest at the time, notable for its self-sufficient power generation using BHP’s natural gas. It was built on the site of the luxurious Menzies Hotel, a former haunt for the rich and famous. Finally, the video explores the former ‘Georges’ Store on Collins Street, a grand Georgian-style building that housed the iconic high-end department store from 1908 to 1995. Known for its quality and design, it survived major historical events but eventually closed, though its grand interior and exterior details remain. The tour concludes by highlighting Zander’s Store and the former Government Bond Store on Highlander Lane, rare surviving 19th-century bluestone and brick warehouses that underscore the area’s past as a bustling warehousing and industrial zone, deeply connected to Melbourne’s port and railway systems.
In conclusion, the video successfully uncovers the rich, often untold stories behind Melbourne’s seemingly ordinary buildings. It emphasizes that history is not just found in grand monuments but in the everyday structures that have witnessed significant transformations and played vital roles in the city’s development. The host encourages viewers to look closer at their surroundings and appreciate the layers of history embedded in the urban landscape, inviting them to share any other lesser-known buildings with intriguing tales.
Video Description & Links
Description
There are thousands of buildings in Melbourne’s CBD, each with their own story and history. Some are more obvious than others, and in this video we look at some of the lesser-known ones.
These are buildings you may walk past every day but have never noticed their real significance. Watch on to find out more!
00:00 Intro 00:31 MCCES Substation 02:00 Former Bourke Street West Police Station 04:11 Former Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Company Building 05:20 Num Pon Soon Society Building 07:01 BHP House 08:29 Former Georges Department Store 10:40 Zander’s Store
MORE INFORMATION
Marcus Wong’s post on municipal electricity supply: https://wongm.com/2011/07/melbourne-municipal-electricity-undertakings/
Miles Pierce paper on Melbourne City Council’s electricity supply: http://www.ipenz.org.nz/heritage/conference/papers/Pierce_M.pdf
Supporters Portal: https://members.philipmallis.com
My website: https://philipmallis.com
SOURCES
https://philam.github.io/videonotes/sevensecretbuildingsmelb1
I acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which this video was filmed, the Wurundjeri people. I pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and their extensive and continuing connection to land, water and country.
Tags
Local history, Melbourne history, Heritage, Melbourne heritage, Old Melbourne, Victorian history