Grosvenor Chambers

Grosvenor Chambers is a neoclassical building featuring three large arched windows on the first floor and decorative Stawell freestone pilasters across its facade. The upper floors contain five studio spaces topped with skylights and tall windows designed to flood the work areas with daylight.

The building was completed in 1888 as Australia's first purpose-built artists studio complex. Charles Stewart Paterson, an Edinburgh-born decorator, developed this structure to provide dedicated workspace for creative professionals.

Australian painters including Tom Roberts, Frederick McCubbin, and Emmanuel Phillips Fox worked in these studios during the late 1800s, making the building a hub for artistic activity. The space reflects the creative exchange that shaped Melbourne's art scene during that period.

The building is located on Collins Street, a historic arts district in central Melbourne with good public transport connections. Access to the studios is not always available as they remain active private workspaces.

The historic studios were later merged with a modern office tower at 1 Collins Street, creating an unusual mix of Classical and contemporary architecture. This combination shows how the city evolved while keeping the original structure visible.