Russell Street Police Headquarters

Russell Street Police Headquarters in Melbourne, on the north-eastern corner of Russell and La Trobe Streets, was well known as the headquarters of the Victoria Police 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 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
File:RussellStAirRaid2.jpg, Control room during World War II.
File:RussellStreetPoliceHQ.JPG, The Police building as seen from La Trobe St.
File:Russel St Police headquarters lobby entrance Mar 2022.jpg, The resident entrance in the Deco Tower within the Concept Blue Apartments redevelopment of the Police HQ.
File:Russel St Police headquarters lobby Mar 2022.jpg, The resident lobby in the Deco Tower within the Concept Blue Apartments redevelopment of the Police HQ.
File:Russel St Police headquarters Lobby Statue Mar 2022.jpg, A statue of the tower itself within the resident lobby entrance in the Deco Tower.

See also

*Russell Street bombing

References

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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