Now, take a look at that grand colonnaded front. It's like the parliament saying, "Hey, we're here, and we mean business!" You can't miss it when you're strolling up Bourke Street.
Did you know that construction of this building started way back in 1855? Yeah, they've been working on it for ages, but it's like they decided to keep it a bit mysterious by never completing it. They even had plans for a dome, but it remains one of Melbourne's most famous unbuilt features. I guess they wanted to keep us on our toes!
This place has seen some serious history too. Between 1901 and 1927, it was actually the meeting place of the Parliament of Australia, back when Melbourne was the temporary national capital. It's got quite the resume!
You see, the Victorian gold rush and population boom back in the day led to a demand for greater democracy. People wanted a space to voice their opinions and have political debates. So, Governor Charles La Trobe asked the Surveyor General Robert Hoddle to find the perfect spot for this new parliament. And guess where they picked? Here, on the eastern hill at the top of Bourke Street, with an amazing view of the whole city. Talk about a prime location!
But let me tell you, the journey to create this magnificent building was full of twists and turns. There were multiple architects and designs in the mix, and it seemed like they just couldn't settle on one. It's like they were playing a game of musical chairs, but with architecture.
One of the early designs by Henry Ginn appeared in 1851, but then they decided to have a competition. Smith & Pritchard won first prize, but their design got set aside too. It was a whole rollercoaster ride of choices and rejections.
Finally, Captain Pasley, the Chief Engineer, came up with a design that was published in 1854. It looked like a graceful Palladian building, similar to the State Library of Victoria. But surprise, surprise, they decided it wasn't quite right either. So, they brought in the dynamic duo, Knight & Kerr, who created a much grander design in 1855. They wanted to make a statement, and boy, did they succeed!
Construction began in December 1855, but hey, they didn't build the entire thing all at once. It's like they were playing a game of "Let's build it in stages because it's too massive and expensive." So, they started with the two chambers for the Victorian Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.
By November 1856, they were ready for business, and the first session of the Victorian Government took place in these new chambers. The excitement was off the charts!
But wait, there's more! Construction continued, and the Library and eastern wing were completed in 1860. They wanted this building to be a symbol of pride, so they carefully chose the stone for the exterior. Bluestone was too dark, granite was too expensive, even Carrara marble was considered. In the end, they settled on freestone from Bacchus Marsh.
And that's the story of Parliament House, Melbourne. Full of history, debates, and a touch of mystery. So, shall we move on to our next stop? Come on, let's keep this adventure rolling!
