Nauru House (also called 80 Collins Street[1]) is a landmark 52-story building located in the Melbourne CBD. The building was designed by architectural firm Perrott Lyon Timlock & Kesa.
History
The land the building sits on was bought in 1972 at a price of A$19 million by the government of the Republic of Nauru as an international investment.[2] Nauru, which had become incredibly wealthy thanks to the selling of phosphate, began the Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust (NPRT) to re-invest profits in international real-estate.[3]
Controversy was stirred when construction began in 1972, as the government of Nauru decided to raze two buildings with "high heritage value" in order to have the building face the desirable Collins Street, and thus, a Collins Street address. Even amid public outcry, the historic buildings were torn down to make way for construction.
Following decades of mismanagement, corruption, and spiralling loans to General Electric, estimated to amount to approximately A$227 million, the NPRT was forced to sell off its international assets to pay loans.[4][5] Nauru House is now owned by QIC after purchasing the building for A$140 million in December 2004.[6]
Facade
Between 1994 and 1996, the Nauru House went under a facelift to replace the former pebble-concrete facade of the building with new, matte-gray aluminium siding.
Records
Following the building's completion, it was the tallest building in Melbourne until 1980, when the nearby Collins Place complex was opened.
Facts
- Built: 1972 - 1977
- Address: 80 Collins Street
- Height to roof: 183 m
- Height to pinnacle: 190 m
- Number of floors : 52[7]
- Total floor space: 50,500 m2
See also
References
External links
