Russell Street Police Headquarters in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metro ...
, on the north-eastern corner of
Russell and
La Trobe Streets, was well known as the headquarters of the
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of the Australian state of Victoria. It was formed in 1853 and currently operates under the ''Victoria Police Act 2013''.
, Victoria Police had over 22,300 staff, comprising over 16,700 ...
through the second half of the 20th century, and was often referred to simply as 'Russell Street'.
The main impressive New York skyscraper style tower, recognised as a symbol of the police in Victoria, was designed by Public Works Chief Architect
Percy Edgar Everett
Percy Edgar Everett, (born 26 June 1888, died 6 May 1967), was appointed chief architect of the Victorian Public Works Department in 1934 and is best known for the striking Modernist / Art Deco schools, hospitals, court houses, office buildings ...
and constructed 1940–43. The 1940s construction also included lower wings on the corner of Russell Street and Latrobe Street, incorporating the Police Theatrette / Ballroom, while an 1889 wing on Mackenzie Street remained of the earlier police buildings, and in 1970 a large brown brick building was added behind the tower.
The main tower was famously used in the opening titles of the long-running television series ''
Homicide'', a fictional police drama series dealing with the homicide squad of the Victoria Police, who were located in the building.
The building is located in what was a police and justice precinct; across the road on Russell Street is the
Old Melbourne Gaol, old City Police Station and City Courts buildings (both now occupied by the
RMIT University).
The Russell Street Police Headquarters was the site of the
Russell Street Bombing in 1986.
The Victoria Police vacated the building in 1995, leaving it empty for many years while several failed redevelopment proposals including conversion to student accommodation and to a hotel came and went. Finally, in 2004, the 1970s building and part of the 1940s Latrobe street wing were replaced by a new 27-storey apartment building designed by Bruce Henderson Architects. The Art Deco tower, the lower corner wing, and the 1889 wing were converted into apartments. The whole complex is now known as "Concept Blue".
Gallery
File:RussellStPolice.jpg, Russell St Police Headquarters
File:RussellStAirRaid1.jpg, The control room for Air Raid Precautions services during World War II were located at the Russell Street police headquarters
See also
*
Russell Street bombing
References
{{reflist
External links
Former Police Headquarters Victorian Heritage Database
Police Headquarters Complex Victorian Heritage Database
1943 establishments in Australia
Heritage-listed buildings in Melbourne
Law enforcement in Victoria (Australia)
Art Deco architecture in Melbourne
Police headquarters
Landmarks in Melbourne
Buildings and structures completed in 1943
Buildings and structures in Melbourne City Centre