A similar fate to Chelford House befell the old Independent Hall, part of the complex of buildings belonging to the Independent Church on the corner of Collins and Russell Streets. The Hall was leased to the Commonwealth Government from about 1905-1916 for the Department of Home Affairs, one of the first seven Departments of State to be established in 1901. The Department's responsibilities included: Public Works; Elections; Public Service; Old-Age pensions; Census and Statistics; Railways; Lands and Survey; Inter-State Commissions and the Federal Capital. The new Commonwealth Building at 4 Treasury Place was designed in the Works Branch of the department, and in 1912 became its new home.
Situated behind Joseph Reed's impressive Lombardic Romanesque Independent Church (1866-67), now St Michael's Uniting Church, the original Church College and Hall (1871-79) was constructed in a complementary style and also featured polychromatic brickwork. It later became Stott's Business College and was demolished in 1968. The site is now part of BHP Petroleum Plaza.