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Two tall office buildings stand side by side, with one branded
The lower section of a tall office building with grid-like windows is bordered by lush green plants, as pedestrians walk along the street in front.
A courtyard with a sculpture is in the foreground, with the facade of an office building casting shadows on its wall.
An interior view of an elevator lobby features red elevator doors, dark walls, illuminated overhead lighting, and people passing by.
A modern office space with glass walls, a conference table, and a staircase, has a large window showcasing a cityscape in the background.

Orica House

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Architect/Designer: Bates, Smart & McCutcheon 1958

Description

Completed in 1958, Orica House, or ICI House as it was originally known, is considered Australia's first skyscraper. The building was the first to break Melbourne’s height restrictions, setting a precedent within the city. The freestanding, fully-glazed curtain wall skyscraper, with its clearly demarcated lifts and services, is considered Bates, Smart & McCutcheon’s most refined building of the post-war era.

What's On

Visitors will be taken on a guided tour of Orica House by Bates Smart staff. During the tour, we will touch on modernist principles that contributed to the design of Orica House, along with the historical significance of building. Guests will then be taken into our studio where they will get a small insight into our practice. After the tour, everyone will enjoy a 10-minute video on the making of Orica House while enjoying views across the city.

Images: (1-4) Orica House. Photos: Tom Roe. (5) Bates Smart Studio. Photo: Gavin Green.

Important Details

Tour/event summary information

Saturday 25 July + Sunday 26 July
Open access 11am-3pm
Tours running every half hour starting at 11am. Last tour departs at 3pm
Running for 45 minutes in groups of 20

Bookings

No bookings required. Tour group capacity is limited and operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meeting Point

Meet in the garden courtyard, located off Nicholson Street

Accessibility

Ramp or level (step free) entry, Lift access to all public levels, Accessible bathrooms, All-gender bathrooms, Parent's Room, Level access tram stop, Assistance animals welcome

All bathrooms are located on level 6 – including male, female, unisex and parents' room – and these can be accessed via the lifts.

Location

1 Nicholson St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country

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Open House Melbourne acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters and skies where we work and program and pay respect to Elders past and present. Given our focus on the urban environment, we recognise and honour the knowledge, stories and care that have shaped these places for tens of thousands of years.

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