Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, Military barracks in Southbank, Melbourne, Australia

Victoria Barracks is a multi-storey stone complex on St Kilda Road whose oldest building, G Block, was built by soldiers of the 40th Regiment from 1856 to 1858 under a Royal Engineer officer, with the remaining bluestone blocks finished by civil contractors by 1872. Its dark grey ashlar facade is partly covered by climbing ivy, with rows of rectangular windows, a pitched roof and two small stone chimneys; a black iron lamp post and a short flight of steps stand at the front.

The barracks was established in 1856 and served as the Department of Defence headquarters from 1901 to 1953. During World War II, it played a central role in Australia's war operations and planning.

The buildings showcase 19th-century military design and reflect British colonial influence on Australian defense development. Their stone facades and ordered layout shape how locals and visitors understand this period of the city's past.

The site is managed by the Department of Defence and remains an active military facility with limited public access. Visitors should check in advance before attempting to explore the area.

During World War II, Prime Ministers Robert Menzies and John Curtin had offices in the A Block New Wing near the War Cabinet Room. This made the site a center of Australia's highest-level political decision-making during the war years.