Spring Street, Melbourne
Encyclopedia
Spring Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
. It runs roughly north-south, and is the easternmost street in the Hoddle Grid
. The street travels from Flinders Street
in the south, to La Trobe Street
and the Carlton Gardens
in the north. Nicholson Street
branches northwards from Spring Street just to the south of Lonsdale Street
.
Spring Street is culturally important to Victoria and notable as it has been traditionally associated with the central spine of the administration of the Government of Victoria
, as well as being central to many of the state's major cultural institutions. The street's name
is frequently used as a metonym by the media to refer to the state's bureaucracy
. Spring Street is also notable for its Victorian architecture
including the landmarks Victorian Parliament House
, the Old Treasury Building
, the Windsor Hotel (also known as Duchess of Spring Street) and the Princess Theatre
.
Melbourne's first Hard Rock Cafe
was located on the corner of Spring and Bourke Streets, until closing its doors in late 2007.
style to complement into the overall style of the area. 1 Collins Street is an award winning building by Denton Corker Marshall
, and one of Melbourne's first post-modern buildings to be constructed to harmoniously incorporate heritage buildings. Casseldon Place (1992) is a tall office building which is home to government offices. Shell House (1988), on the corner of Spring and Flinders Street
is a notable granite clad modern office tower designed by Harry Seidler
in a similar style to his buildings in Sydney
and Brisbane
. The building's floor plates are in the shape of a shell, to fit the them of the original tenants, the Australian head office of Royal Dutch Shell
.
.
A small Chinese garden
, known as the Tianjin Garden, is located at the northern end of Spring Street. It is a symbol of Melbourne
's close friendship with its twin city, Tianjin
, China
.
. Parliament railway station, part of the underground City Loop, lies directly beneath and parallel to Spring Street.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It runs roughly north-south, and is the easternmost street in the Hoddle Grid
Hoddle Grid
The Hoddle Grid is the layout of the streets in the centre of the central business district of Melbourne. Named after its designer, Robert Hoddle, the Grid was laid out in 1837, and later extended...
. The street travels from Flinders Street
Flinders Street, Melbourne
Flinders Street is a notable street in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Running roughly parallel to the Yarra River, Flinders Street forms the southern edge of the Hoddle Grid. It is exactly one mile in length and one and half chains in width...
in the south, to La Trobe Street
La Trobe Street, Melbourne
La Trobe Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs roughly from east to west and forms the northern boundary of the CBD ....
and the Carlton Gardens
Carlton Gardens, Melbourne
The Carlton Gardens is a World Heritage Site located on the northeastern edge of the Central Business District in the suburb of Carlton, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
in the north. Nicholson Street
Nicholson Street, Melbourne
Nicholson Street is a street in inner Melbourne. It is named after William Nicholson, then member of the Legislative Council, and later Premier of Victoria from 1859 to 1860.-Geography:...
branches northwards from Spring Street just to the south of Lonsdale Street
Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Lonsdale Street is located in the centre of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, part of the Hoddle Grid, it runs roughly east-west. Lonsdale Street's eastern end intersects with Spring Street while its western end intersects with Spencer Street. It is home to multiple office buildings, courts,...
.
Spring Street is culturally important to Victoria and notable as it has been traditionally associated with the central spine of the administration of the Government of Victoria
Government of Victoria
The Government of Victoria, under the Constitution of Australia, ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to the Commonwealth, but retained complete independence in all other areas...
, as well as being central to many of the state's major cultural institutions. The street's name
Street name
A street name or odonym is an identifying name given to a street. The street name usually forms part of the address...
is frequently used as a metonym by the media to refer to the state's bureaucracy
Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution, and are occasionally characterized by officialism and red tape.-Weberian bureaucracy:...
. Spring Street is also notable for its Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
including the landmarks Victorian Parliament House
Parliament House, Melbourne
Parliament House in Melbourne, located at Spring Street in East Melbourne at the edge of the Melbourne city centre, has been the seat of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia, since 1855 .- History :In 1851, even before the colony of Victoria acquired full parliamentary self-government, Governor...
, the Old Treasury Building
Old Treasury Building, Melbourne
The Old Treasury Building on Spring Street in Melbourne, was once home to the Treasury Department of the Government of Victoria, but is now a museum of Melbourne history, known as the Old Treasury Building.-History:...
, the Windsor Hotel (also known as Duchess of Spring Street) and the Princess Theatre
Princess Theatre, Melbourne
The Princess Theatre is a 1488-seat theatre in Melbourne, Australia.It is listed by the National Trust of Australia and is on the Victorian Heritage Register.-History:...
.
Melbourne's first Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
was located on the corner of Spring and Bourke Streets, until closing its doors in late 2007.
Architecture
Spring Street also has a number of other architecturally notable buildings. Alcaston House (1929) is a notable early apartment building designed by A&K Henderson in the palazzoPalazzo
Palazzo, an Italian word meaning a large building , may refer to:-Buildings:*Palazzo, an Italian type of building**Palazzo style architecture, imitative of Italian palazzi...
style to complement into the overall style of the area. 1 Collins Street is an award winning building by Denton Corker Marshall
Denton Corker Marshall
Denton Corker Marshall is a major award-winning Australian architecture practice established in Melbourne in 1972. It was founded by architects John Denton, Bill Corker, and Barrie Marshall...
, and one of Melbourne's first post-modern buildings to be constructed to harmoniously incorporate heritage buildings. Casseldon Place (1992) is a tall office building which is home to government offices. Shell House (1988), on the corner of Spring and Flinders Street
Flinders Street, Melbourne
Flinders Street is a notable street in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Running roughly parallel to the Yarra River, Flinders Street forms the southern edge of the Hoddle Grid. It is exactly one mile in length and one and half chains in width...
is a notable granite clad modern office tower designed by Harry Seidler
Harry Seidler
Harry Seidler, AC OBE was an Austrian-born Australian architect who is considered to be one of the leading exponents of Modernism's methodology in Australia and the first architect to fully express the principles of the Bauhaus in Australia.Harry Seidler designed more than 180 buildings and he...
in a similar style to his buildings in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. The building's floor plates are in the shape of a shell, to fit the them of the original tenants, the Australian head office of Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
.
Parks and Gardens
Spring Street forms the western border of the Treasury GardensTreasury Gardens, Melbourne
The Treasury Gardens consist of 5.8 hectares on the south-eastern side of the Melbourne Central Business District, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The gardens are bounded by Wellington Parade, Spring Street, Treasury Place, and by the Fitzroy Gardens across Lansdowne street to the west...
.
A small Chinese garden
Chinese garden
The Chinese garden, also known as a Chinese classical garden, is a style of landscape garden which has evolved for more than three thousand years, and which is inspired by Chinese literature, Chinese painting and Chinese philosophy...
, known as the Tianjin Garden, is located at the northern end of Spring Street. It is a symbol of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
's close friendship with its twin city, Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Transport
A number of tram routes run along Spring Street, including the City CircleCity Circle (tram route)
The City Circle is a zero-fare tram running around the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. Aimed towards tourists the route passes many Melbourne attractions while running along the CBD's outermost thoroughfares, as well as the developing Docklands waterfront precinct.- History :The...
. Parliament railway station, part of the underground City Loop, lies directly beneath and parallel to Spring Street.