Events

Open House Melbourne at our Queen St campus

This event has already taken place.

Saturday 26 July 2014
Sunday 27 July 2014

Delve into the former life of the Victoria Law School (VLS) building at this year's Open House Melbourne.

The Victoria Law School will once again up the doors of the Former Records Office as a part of Open House Melbourne. Our building joins an impressive list of over 100 of Melbourne's most interesting and significant historic buildings open to the public.

Open House Melbourne is a not-for-profit association that runs annual events providing the public a free and rare opportunity to discover a hidden wealth of architectural, engineering and historic buildings nestled around the city.

Every 15 minutes, volunteers from the Dictum student society will take eager groups of 20 on short tours of the heritage listed building.

The building, constructed in 1900 was originally built to hold official records including births, deaths and marriages, as well as legal records and wills.

It was built in the French Second Empire style – fitting for an Antipodean colonial capital that nominated one end of Collins Street as "the Paris end" because of its architecture.

VU's Law students are surrounded on a daily basis by historical gems that are some of Melbourne's best-kept architectural secrets. The building has zinc gargoyles, a magnificent marble staircase, Corinthian columns and pilasters, marble and cast iron balustrades.

The magnificent main staircase of the building will be open over the Open House weekend, allowing access from the ground floor through the first floor to the second floor. Visitors then exit through the building, via the elevator, to the courtyard and out to Little Lonsdale Street.

The public have enjoyed our tours in past visits, with many visitors describing our building as the 'hidden treasure' of the event.

One couple who visited were extremely pleased the buildings were open - they were the second-last couple to have been married at the Records Office.

For more information on the event, visit the Open House Melbourne website.

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When?

This event has already taken place.

26 July 2014, 10:00am to 4:00pm
27 July 2014, 10:00am to 4:00pm

Get in touch

College of Law & Justice
College of Law and Justice Admin office
Phone: 
9919 1821