Victoria

Location: Victoria Car Park, Scots Church,

                  Cnr Russell St & Little Collins St, Melbourne

Threat:     Demolition

Plans have been released to demolish Victoria’s first multi-level car park and replace it with a monolithic office block well over the established height limit, rising up behind the Scots Church in central Melbourne.

While a car park is not normally considered a ‘heritage’ site, it demonstrates the impact of the motor car on the 20 century urban environment. The Victoria Car Park is particularly notable since it was the first such structure built in Victoria, probably Australia. Built in 1939, it indicates the growing need for off-street

car parking before the war.

Located just behind the behind Scots Church, it was intended perhaps to cater to those heading for the exclusive shopping and professional district of the ‘Paris End’ of Collins Street. Designed by noted architect Marcus Barlow (best known for the Manchester Unity building), it disguises its actual purpose with facades designed in a simplified Moderne style, fitting seamlessly into the low-rise streetscape.

In the 1980s, the central retail area was declared a low-rise district. The historic 132 ft (40m) height limit was re-instated, providing protection for numerous older buildings and streetscapes. The block of the Scots Church has no buildings built after WWII, and is protected by a special 30m height limit designed to safeguard the views to landmarks, such as the spire of the church.

Should the demolition and development proceed it would disturb the intimate streetscape of Little Collins Street, and threaten the integrity of one of inner Melbourne’s most interesting and intact districts.