Historic Sites - Inner Melbourne

Melbourne has many of the early buildings still standing, and there are many prepared walks through Melbourne to help visitors and inhabitants alike enjoy and appreciate our heritage.

Exhibits tracing Australia's banking history.

Open weekdays 9:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. excluding bank holidarys. Self-guided tours. Free
Ph 9273 5555

website

Vaulted stores, many tenanted by banana merchants and fruiters, lie beside Flinders Street station under viaduct built to link Spencer Street Station with Flinders Street Station. Designed by W. H. Greene. Behind the vaults is the Yarra River, and access to the footbridge to Southbank.
Opening hours.

Designed by J.J.Clark the original design provided separate men's and women's swimming pools and private baths. The building was restored in 1980 and houses a modern gymnasium, sauna and spa bath. The first Melbourne City Baths were opened in 1860.

Mon-thurs 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Fri 6 am - 8:30 p.m.; Sat & Sun 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Public holidays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day, New Years Day
Ph.: phone 9663 5888 Fax: 9639 2048

website

Yorkshire home of Captain James Cook's parents it has been rebuilt at the Fitzroy gardens.

Apr-Oct Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily
Nov-Mar 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily
Closed Christmas Day
Entry fees apply, includes a souvenir brochure

Ph: 9419 4677

website

Fire-related memorabilia and equipment, Tours of the original metropolitan fire brigade building, built in 1893. (see photo)

Fri 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sun 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

web site

Ph: 9499 2632

The site has been in use since 1854, (Architects JW Fawcett and HPC Ashworth). The building, and particularly it's 'clocks' are a popular landmark.

A 4,000 seat theatre with artificial sky, stars, clouds and neo-classic statuary designed by John Eberson and architects Bohringer, Taylor & Johnson.

The first Post Office was opened on the site in 1841, the present building was built in three stages. Designed by A.E. Johnson.
Extensive restoration work on the building was damaged by fire. The building is now a mall complex of shops and cafes.

map St Kilda Road; map Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Open: Tours of the state apartments are Mondays and Wednesdays, when available and by advance booking only.
Ph: 03 9656 9800 (+61 3 9656 9800) National Trust web site

The first building to be allowed to break the 132 foot building height limit in Melbourne. This is one of the first curtain wall buildings, and is an example of the international style office towers.

A house museum based on and around the Johnston Collection of Decorative and Fine Arts

Open weekdays by appointment only. Occasionally in the evening

Ph: 9416 2515

Late 19th century warehouse, significant being a multi-storey warehouse, a development influenced by the introduction of hydraulic lift in the mid 1880s.

Now a cafe.

Ph: na

Home of Victoria's first Lieutenant Governor Charles La Trobe, still containing some of its original furnishings

Open 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon., Wed, Sat & Sun, closed Christmas day
Ph: 9654 5528 or 9654 4711

Features of the Town Hall include the Prince Alfred clock tower, added in 1869 and the portico added in the 1880s. Features include the Town Hall Auditorium, the Town Hall Organ, and the Town Hall Clock.

Ph.: (03)9658 9658 (+61 3 9658 9658)
Town Hall retail website
City of Melbourne website

Originally the Melbourne Wool exchange (1891) the Winfield building today exists only as a facade. The Railto hotel was originally offices and warehouses designed by William Pitt in 1890-1. A cobbled laneway is incorporated into the design of the interior.
Opening hours.

Opening Hours see website
Ph 9663 7228 Fax 9639 0119
website

Russell St, Melbourne
Take City Circle tram to Russell Street, train to Melbourne Central Station or tram along Swanston St to State Library

Constructed in the early 1870s this is now the home of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria. Displays include the history of the Royal Mint, research library, photographic and document collection.
Tours Tues & Thurs 11 a.m.

Ph: 9670 1219

City circle tram

History of Melbourne from pre-European times towards the future.
Architect: J. J. Clark
Daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tours of Gold Vaults daily 1 p.m., 3 p.m.
Ph: 9651 2233

Open Mon - Fri 8:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with tours on non-sitting days

Ph.: 9652 8568

Restored iron barque Polly Woodside afloat and an onshore museum in historic 1930s cargo sheds.

Open daily 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closed Good Friday & Christmas

Ph 9699 9760 Fax 9696 6117

Set in the Carlton Gardens, this building was constructed for the International Exhibition. It is still used for exhibitions although it has been superceded as a venue by the new Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

The Melbourne Central Shopping Complex was built around the old shot tower.

Beautiful old library loaded with atmosphere. Features include the domed reading room constructed in 1913. The footpath outside is enlivened by a wonderful statue of a architectural fragment.

Mon 1 p.m. - 9 p.m., Tues 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
wed 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Thurs - Sun 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Ph: 9669 9888

Six terrace house designed by Charles Webb, they feature decorative plaster and cast iron, typical of Boom style terrace housing. The National Trust offices are now located here.

Gothic Revival Calvinist church.

Cricketer's Bar features some of the Melbourne Cricket Club's memorabilia. Also home to the Hard Rock Cafe.

Site of some of the adventures of fictional detective Phryne Fisher

Originally four stone stores. In 1908 Henry F. Young purchased the nude painting Chloe, which can be seen upstairs and is a part of Melbourne's history.