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2 Treasury Place
Peter Elliott with Curnow Freiverts Glover and the Building Services Agency
top Foyer and main staircase left View of the Treasury Place facade.
2 Treasury Place is an exceptional
Victorian example of Renaissance-revival
architecture, inspired by neo-classical
Italian pavilions. Built in
1875-76, it occupies a substantial part
of Melbourne’s Treasury Reserve,
overlooking the gardens. Originally
designed by Michael Egan, it had a third
floor added to the east and west wings
by Oakley and Parkes in 1933, and an
extension to the north end of the west
wing supervised by Percy Everett in
1949. The recent refurbishment, for the
Department of Education, includes a
new slate roof, reconstruction of the
west wing’s north facade, repairs to the
cement render, repainting, removal of
unsympathetic additions, reconstruction
of the main entry stair hall and other
key internal elements, then the
provision of flexible office facilities.
Jury Verdict 2 Treasury Place, a magnificent three-storey
building, has endured numerous
additions and alterations in the past,
leaving the architects with a
complicated conservation process.
Whilst many design decisions appear
economically driven, nowhere has this
diminished the success of the building
and its celebration of original intent.
This project reveals that the differing
conservation levels work successfully
side by side: from the faithful
reproduction of the facade removed in
the 1930s to the interpretation of the
main entry to replicate other original
entranceways in the building. The
project includes conservation work
related not just to the late 19th century
fabric, but also to the 1930s interiors.
An elegant, well-executed example of a
complex, multi-era conservation project.
A view of the Treasury Place facade.
Photography John Gollings
State Government Offices, 2 Treasury Place,
East Melbourne Design Architects Peter Elliott. Project Architects
Curnow Freiverts Glover. Project Managers,
Heritage Architects, Structural, Lift and Hydraulic
Engineers Building Services Agency. Owner
Department of Treasury and Finance. Tenant
Department of Education. Building Services
Umow Lai & Associates. Acoustics Watson Moss
Growcott. Quantity Surveyors Slattery Australia.
Contractors Kane Constructions (facade and
roof), Hooker Cockram (interiors).