High Commission of Australia in London
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The High Commission of Australia in London is housed in Australia House, a building that also accommodates other Australian federal and state government agencies, including the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, part of King's College London.
A major landmark on Strand, London, construction on the building by the Dove Brothers commenced in 1913, but was delayed by the Great War. It was officially opened by King George V in August of 1918. The cost of the triangular shaped land was £379,756 and building and other associated costs brought total expenditure to about £1 million. It was designed by the Scottish architect Alexander Marshall Mackenzie and his son, who won a competition (Arthur Streeton and Bertram Mackennal were amongst the judges).
It was the first Australian diplomatic mission and one of the most prominent in London, although an Official Secretary was previously appointed to London as early as 1906, five years after Federation.
The building's grand interior was used in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as the site of "Gringott's Bank". The vaults shown were previously used by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia to store moneys interchanged between the British and Australian governments.
[edit] External links
 |
This article about an Australian building or structure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
