Russell Street Police Headquarters

Russell Street Police Headquarters is a sixteen-floor structure featuring Streamline Moderne architecture with cream and manganese brown bricks across its exterior. The building rests on Mount Difficult sandstone foundations and is topped by a distinctive Art Deco tower that marks its roofline.

The building was constructed between 1940 and 1943 under architect Percy Everett, replacing earlier police operations that occupied the Russell Street site since 1858. This new structure reflected the modernized needs and technologies required for policing in the 1940s.

The building became well known through its appearance in the television series Homicide, where it represented Victoria Police operations during the late twentieth century. Many locals connect this place to that show and their memories of the city's past.

The building sits at the corner of Russell Street and La Trobe Street in Melbourne's central business district and is easily accessible by public transport. Though now divided into private apartments, visitors can appreciate its exterior design and distinctive tower from the street.

The building was abandoned by police in 1995 when operations moved elsewhere, then transformed into residential apartments. Its original architectural features, especially the Art Deco tower, were preserved while the interior was converted to modern living spaces.

Location: City of Melbourne

Location: Victoria

Inception: 1943

Architects: Percy Edgar Everett

Official opening: April 29, 1943

Architectural style: Streamline Moderne

Floors above the ground: 16

Address: 336–376 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

GPS coordinates: -37.80820,144.96620

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:44