The Robert Marsden Hope Building (formerly the Patent Office Building and also formerly part of the Robert Garran Offices) is a heritage listed government building and the headquarters of the Office of National Intelligence, located on the edge of the

Parliamentary Triangle The National Triangle, also known as the Parliamentary Triangle, is the ceremonial precinct of Canberra, containing some of Australia's most significant buildings. The Triangle is formed by Commonwealth, Kings and Constitution Avenues. Buildin ...

Canberra Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...

, Australia.

Overview

Constructed in 1939, it was built to house the

patent office A patent office is a governmental or intergovernmental organization which controls the issue of patents. In other words, "patent offices are government bodies that may grant a patent or reject the patent application based on whether the applicati ...

following its move from

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

in 1934. Prior to its completion, the patent office operated out of Hotel Acton. Like other government buildings constructed in Canberra around that period, it was designed in the

Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...

architectural style. In addition to the patent office, occupying the building was the ACT Supreme Court, and the Commonwealth Security Services (CSS), a predecessor of the

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO ) is the Intelligence agency, domestic intelligence and national security agency of the Australian Government, responsible for protection from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign inte ...

. Following their disbandment in December 1945, the CSS moved out with the Supreme Court following suit in 1963, leaving the Patent Office the sole occupant until they too moved in 1975. Replacing them was the Commonwealth Public Service Board, who occupied the building until 1983 when the building was merged into a larger complex housing the Attorney-General's Department. At that time, the building was renamed as part of the Robert Garran Offices. Following major refurbishment, the building was renamed the Robert Marsden Hope Building on 5 December 2011, in honour of

Robert Marsden Hope Robert Marsden Hope, (24 July 1919 – 12 October 1999) was a Justice of the New South Wales Court of Appeal and Royal Commissioner on three separate occasions, most notably the Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security. As a judge Hope ...

, a former Justice of the

New South Wales Court of Appeal The New South Wales Court of Appeal, part of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, is the highest court for civil matters and has appellate jurisdiction in the Australian state of New South Wales. Jurisdiction The Court of Appeal operates pursu ...

and three-time Royal Commissioner. The Office of National Intelligence has occupied the building since its refurbishment and renaming in 2011.

References

Attribution

Bibliography

* * * * *{{cite book , title=Robert Garran Offices, formerly the Patent Office: 8/01/000/0333 , date=August 1995 , publisher=

Australian Heritage Commission The Australian Heritage Commission (AHC), was the Australian federal government authority established in 1975 by the ''Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975'' as the first body to manage natural and cultural heritage in Australia until its de ...

Office buildings in Canberra Landmarks in Canberra Commonwealth Heritage List places in the Australian Capital Territory Art Deco architecture in the Australian Capital Territory Buildings and structures completed in 1939 1939 establishments in Australia