Who would have thought that on the corner of Collins Street and Queen Street, right in the finnancial centre of Melbourne City is a group of buildings known as 'The Gothic Collection'.
For a person interested in architecture, interior design, gold history of Victoria, banking history and an appreciation of the results of master craftsmen at work this gem would appeal.
These buildings, the Gothic Bank, the Melbourne Stock Exchange and the Melbourne Safe Deposit were erected during the heady, speculative days of Melbourne's 1880s land boom.
The original banking chambers is spectacular under their rich decoration, the columns and backets are cast iron. Each column feature individual floral motifs worked in wrought copper. The ceiling was hand painted and gilded. In the centre of each panel is a shield bearing the coat-of-arms of England, Scotland, Australia. Also the bank and the major cities in which the bank then did business with. The roof bracket bolt heads and spandrel openings are picked out with gilding. The woodwork, furniture and 'linen-fold' panelled office fittings were mainly of Australian blackwood, made and carved by local craftmen.
The Cathedral Room - This magnificent room is 20m by 15m. In actual fact it is The Vestible but because of its six great columns of Harcourt granite, .6m in diameter. Their beautifully carved caps in white freestone, and a series of groined arches spring to the roof - we have a cathederal looking room.
Safe Deposit - Even this area has the victorian flair for decoration. The waiting room, fitted out in polished cedar with stained glass, mirrors and cushioned seat. The Vault was the work of the Milner Safe Company Liverpool, England. It contained 3,000 safes. The floor was concrete laid directly on rock. The walls a metre thick. The roof consisted of wrought iron plates with arches of solid concrete, three quarters of a metre thick. The strong room itself was raised from the ground, made of wrought iron boiler plate, lined with un-drillable steel.
Banking Museum -This is a fascinating collection. It tells the story of the Australian banking heritage. There is a wonderful display of goldmining and equipment, firearms, uniforms, money boxes and office machines.
Admission is free!
There is is, right in the heart of Melbourne. If one has the time, this is well worth a visit. A true Australian National Heritage and one of Melbourne's little known gems.
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