Old Treasury Building, Melbourne

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The old Treasury Building, now the City Museum

The old Treasury Building, along Spring Street in Melbourne, was once home to the Victorian government Treasury department, but is now a museum of Melbourne history. Constructed between 1858-62, it is considered one of Australia's finest Renaissance Revival buildings, constructed in palazzo form and built from wealth accumulated during the Victorian Gold Rush to house the state gold vaults.

The building was designed by young architect J.J Clark at just 18 years of age. The oldest surviving designs for the building date back to 1857. Clark later went on to design the Brisbane Treasury in Queensland, considered to be one of the finest classical buildings in the state.

It is the cornerstone of the Treasury Reserve government precinct adjacent to the Treasury Gardens and creates an important vista terminating Collins Street, the financial spine of the city.

When the official treasury offices were moved in 1877-78, the building was nicknamed the Old Treasury.

Miles Lewis once described it as the "finest public building exterior in Australia".

The building is also notable as it was the unofficial first capital building of Australia. In February 1899, a "secret" Premiers' conference was convened, after which it was decided Melbourne's Parliament House would be the temporary capital until the location of the Australian National Capital was officially announced.