Pre 1836
POST 1836 public land
The city of Melbourne was first surveyed in 1836 and at that time, the plot of land bordered by William and Queen Streets was set aside for public use. But, before it was developed, the open plot hosted Melbourne’s first cricket match! Military and civilian gentlemen gathered to play against each other in the November of 1838, near the corner of William and La Trobe Streets – where the Museum now stands.
SOURCE Celebrating 150 Years of the Melbourne Mint May 30, 2022 https://www.hellenic.org.au/post/celebrating-150-years-of-the-melbourne-mint
1839 Police Barracks [[ie police horse stables or open paddocks not sure]].
As city development increased, police barracks were constructed on this public land, on the block south of Little Lonsdale Street. In 1839 – shortly after the momentous cricket match – the grassy plot to the north of Little Lonsdale was designated an agistment for the mounted troop’s horses to rest and graze.
SOURCE Celebrating 150 Years of the Melbourne Mint May 30, 2022 https://www.hellenic.org.au/post/celebrating-150-years-of-the-melbourne-mint
Melbourne Exhibition Building 1854-1858
By 1854, Melbourne was booming and the plot was repurposed for Melbourne’s first Exhibition Building. In the wake of the Paris International Exhibition, space was needed to house Melbourne’s displays of art and industry. The building was hastily built from wood and iron, and designed as a minute model of London’s Crystal Palace.
SOURCE Celebrating 150 Years of the Melbourne Mint May 30, 2022 https://www.hellenic.org.au/post/celebrating-150-years-of-the-melbourne-mint
1858-Melbourne Exhibition Building to demolishment late 1860s [[fallen into disrepair]]
Four years later, in 1858, the building was renovated for concerts, balls, bazaars, flower shows and receptions. In the decade that followed it was home to many events including the 1861 Victorian Exhibition and Melbourne’s first civic fancy dress ball in 1863. It would come to be demolished in the late 1860s and was replaced by Carlton’s Royal Exhibition Building, which was constructed for the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition.
SOURCE Celebrating 150 Years of the Melbourne Mint May 30, 2022 https://www.hellenic.org.au/post/celebrating-150-years-of-the-melbourne-mint
1866 return fancy dress ball – research. including the newspaper dress.
1869-1872 Melbourne Mint construction commences
The Mint’s first decade of operation saw the minting and circulation of gold sovereigns and half sovereigns to the value of £15m. During this time, the Mint also produced coinage for India, New Guinea and Papua.
SOURCE Celebrating 150 Years of the Melbourne Mint May 30, 2022 https://www.hellenic.org.au/post/celebrating-150-years-of-the-melbourne-mint
Melbourne Mint 1872-1968
1968-2007
the surviving administration building was restored and repurposed. The ground floor would come to be shared by the Victorian Teachers Tribunal & the Registry Office, who used the old Bullion Room for the performance of civil marriages.
SOURCE Celebrating 150 Years of the Melbourne Mint May 30, 2022 https://www.hellenic.org.au/post/celebrating-150-years-of-the-melbourne-mint
current site
Today, only this administration building and its two guard houses survive. After the Mint ceased operations in 1968, the other structures were demolished. Remnants are thought to be cemented under the car park now in their place…
Today, the administration building and its adjoining structures are conserved by Working Heritage Victoria who are responsible for the caretaking of heritage buildings on Crown land. Their office is located in the Former Royal Mint’s southern gatehouse, beside the administration building which has been the home of the Hellenic Museum since 2007.
SOURCE Celebrating 150 Years of the Melbourne Mint May 30, 2022 https://www.hellenic.org.au/post/celebrating-150-years-of-the-melbourne-mint
IMAGES TO SOURCE locate hunt down etc
original postcard for exhib buildings williams st
-date? -source?
>1866 return fancy dress ball images
‘The Royal Mint, Melbourne’ postcard
Image source: City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection.
burrows & co 