Old Treasury Building, Melbourne

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The old Treasury Building, now the City Museum

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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.

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The Treasury Reserve. Frances O'Neil. Department of Infrastructure. 2000.

The City Museum at Old Treasury opened in 2005. City Museum at Old Treasury is a not-for-profit organisation.

The Museum's permanent exhibition, Making Melbourne, presents a chronological narrative of the story of Melbourne, from first white settlement in 1835 to the present day. The exhibition touches upon specific themes such as the discovery of gold, Melbourne 1880s ‘Boomtown’, the city ‘at work’ and the city ‘at play’.

Making Melbourne is particularly inspired by the epic story of the Victorian gold discoveries from 1852 to 1862. In those ten years Melbourne was transformed from a struggling settlement town into a bustling city of international reputation. Making Melbourne traces this story through historical themes and explores the economic, cultural and recreational aspects of the city’s life, then and now.

Presented through a dynamic combination of significant artefacts, images and audio/visual technology, Making Melbourne brings Melbourne history to life. Included in the displays are highlights from the ‘Lonsdale Silver’– a collection of silverware presented to Captain William Lonsdale upon the conclusion of his appointment as the first Police Magistrate to the colony in 1839; a portable gramophone believed to have been owned by operatic superstar Dame Nellie Melba, and a fine selection of Melbourne tram and train memorabilia.

The City Museum at Old Treasury also offers a changing program of seasonal exhibitions. Each exhibition offers a unique insight into aspects of Melbourne's social fabric and built environment. For information on what's on, see www.citymuseummelbourne.org

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