Victorian Archives Centre

Architect: Bates Smart 2000

City of Melbourne | C03

Building Description

The building uses a carefully climate-controlled and dust-free environment to help preserve the records. The building’s 14,000-square-metre roof collects 11 megalitres of rainwater on average per year. The rainwater is used in the Victorian Archives Centre’s sanitary system as well as by the City of Melbourne to irrigate street trees. Historic records on site include original building plans for some of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Pentridge Gaol and Parliament House. During Open House Melbourne a special tour of the archival collection will reveal some of the most precious public records related to buildings of Melbourne, as well as records of some of Melbourne’s most notorious criminals.

What's On

Guided tours include a walk through the public reading room, down the lifts, through the “get-smart” doors and into the repository where more than 100kms of historic records are kept and finishing up at the photographic exhibition. Additional staff from Public Record Office Victoria and the National Archives will also be on hand if visitors would like to learn more about accessing the archives after the tours. Public Record Office Victoria is excited to present an Auslan tour for the 10am time-slot.

Location