ST KILDA ROAD
The Department of Defence was one of the first departments of state created at Federation, the Commonwealth assuming control of naval and military matters from the States on 1 March 1901.
The Defence Department's central office was situated at Victoria Barracks for most of the period during which the department was based in Melbourne. For a short time in the early years however, it was listed at 49 Spring Street (later the Quarantine Service building). During the First World War, the War Cabinet met in the neighbouring buildings, which then included the Department of External Affairs (later Home and Territories) at 61 Spring Street. A separate Department of the Navy was created by Executive Council in 1915, and was housed along with the Naval Board at 460 Lonsdale Street until 1921, when it again became part of the Defence Department and returned to Victoria Barracks.
The Victoria Barracks complex is representative of 19th century military barracks design, incorporating axial planning, parade grounds enclosed by a perimeter wall and a formal, restrained architectural style. The earliest buildings were erected by the Victorian Public Works Department in the late 1850s to accommodate the British Imperial Army 40th Regiment. The British Army was responsible for land defence of Australian colonies until 1870. These severe, Georgian style structures in rock-faced basalt included barracks, an ordnance store and armoury, and a hospital, as well as a perimeter wall and crenellated Keep, which now stands alone without its flanking walls.
The principal building in the complex is A Block, fronting St Kilda Rd. A three storey, Renaissance Revival style barracks building also of rock-faced basalt with contrasting, fine-axed dressings, it was designed by Gustav Joachimi of the PWD in 1860. It comprises a central pavilion and dormitory wings to the north and south.
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| Victoria Barracks, from an early postcard. (Image: State Library of Victoria) |
After Federation, when Victoria Barracks became the headquarters for the Australian Commonwealth Government Defence Department, additional buildings were erected within the complex. A sympathetic extension of five storeys was added to the north of A Block by Commonwealth architect John Smith Murdoch in 1914-20. This wing, A1 Block, utilised similar materials and made references to the older structure by employing classically derived elements in its design. The new building included the conference room used by the War Cabinet during the Second World War.
The Department of Defence central administration remained at Victoria Barracks until 1960, well after most other central departmental offices had moved to Canberra.