Page 393 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

MELBOURNE  391

Separation Act of 1851, which when the Mint was relocated Charles Perry, the city’s first
established the Colony of to Canberra. Although the bishop, was enthroned here
Victoria, the city set up its Melbourne Mint building is in 1848. The cathedral is
own Supreme Court in 1852. now closed to the general still used for regular services.
The court moved to the present public, visitors can still take in A small museum contains
building, with a design inspired its imposing structure from photographs, historic documents
by the Four Courts of Dublin in the outside. and cathedral mementos.
Ireland, in 1884.
The Supreme Court is an
imposing building, with street 6Rialto Towers
façades on Lonsdale, William 525 Collins St (between King and
and Little Bourke streets. William sts). Map 1 B4. £ Southern
Its style is Classical, with Cross Station. v Collins St routes.
a projecting portico and a ojecting portico and a o
a pr Open 7am–7pm daily. & 7
a pr
double arcade with Doric ∑ rialto.com.au
and Ionic columns. Internally,
a labyrinthine plan is centred Rialto Towers is a member of the
on a beautiful domed library. World Federation of Great Towers.
The large bronze figure of It has 58 floors above street level
Justice, defying tradition, is and 8 below. From street level
not blindfolded: rumour has it up, it measures 253 m (830 ft).
that an early Melbourne judge The structure was built in
persuaded the authorities that 1986 by Australian developer
Justice should be “wide-eyed Bruno Grollo, who was also
if not innocently credulous”. St James’ Old Cathedral tower responsible for the Eureka Tower
The Supreme Court Library (see p407). The former observation
is now classified by the 5St James’ Old deck, on the 55th floor, is now
National Trust. Cathedral the setting for the Vue de
Monde restaurant including
Cnr King & Batman sts. Map 1 A2. the sophisticated Lui Bar. This
4Melbourne Tel (03) 9329 0903. £ Flagstaff. fine establishment is one of the
Mint v 30, 75. @ 220. Open 9am–3pm city’s most spectacular places
Mon–Fri; 10am service Sun.
280 William St. Map 1 B3. Tel (03) Closed public hols. 7 8 by to dine, with panoramic views
over Melbourne. The bar area
8602 5188. £ Flagstaff. v 24, 30. appointment. is also open to non-diners.
@ Lonsdale & Queen sts routes.
Closed to the public. St James’ was the first Anglican The lift travels from the
∑ melbournemint.com.au cathedral in the city, used until ground floor to the 55th
St Paul’s opened in 1891 (see floor in 38 seconds and is
This former Mint, built between p393). It was first built near the one of the fastest in the world.
1871 and 1872, contains two corner of Little Collins and
courts which were formerly William streets to replace a
used to cope with the overflow wooden hut, known as the
from the Supreme Court. “Pioneers’ Church”. It was
The building replaced relocated to its present
Melbourne’s first site between 1913 and
Exhibition Building, 1914. The stones were
erected in 1854 and numbered to ensure
subsequently that the original design
destroyed by fire. was replicated.
When the mint However, a few
opened in 1872 it Melbourne changes were made,
processed finds from the Mint crest such as a lower ceiling,
Victoria gold fields and was a shortening of the
a branch of the Royal sanctuary and a reshaping
Mint of London. The actual of the bell tower.
coining processes took place in St James’ was designed
an area now occupied by the in a colonial Georgian style.
car park. After the Common- The foundations are made of
wealth of Australia was founded bluestone and the main walls
in 1901 (see p60), new silver were constructed with local
coinage was designed, which sandstone. The cathedral
the mint produced from 1916 to was opened for worship on
the mid-1960s. The Melbourne 2 October 1842, but was not
site ceased production in 1967 consecrated until 1853. The mighty Rialto Towers