Melbourne General Post Office, Neoclassical post office at Elizabeth and Bourke Streets, Melbourne, Australia
The Melbourne General Post Office is a neoclassical building located at the corner of Elizabeth and Bourke Street featuring classical columns arranged across three floors. The structure combines Tuscan, Ionic, and Corinthian architectural orders in each successive level.
Construction began in 1861 following a design competition with architects Arthur Ebdon Johnson and William Wardell creating the structure. During the 1907 completion phase, a grand arcaded façade was added using sandstone from the Grampians region.
The building serves as a central meeting point where Melburnians gather for important events and ceremonies. It marks the point from which all distances across Victoria are measured, making it symbolically important to the city.
The building now contains shops and restaurants after being transformed in 2004, making it a functional public space. Visitors can view the protected exterior features while exploring the ground floor commercial areas.
A grand arcaded façade along Elizabeth Street was added during the 1907 expansion, creating an impressive covered walkway. The sandstone used came from the Grampians, a region far from the city center.
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