Kate B

I loved the post on the restoration of Old Customs House – do you have any earlier images of the Old Customs House?

Stepping further back in time this post will look at images of Old Customs House from 1957-1969. Customs officers moved out of Old Customs House in 1965. The building was then used as the Melbourne offices for the Commonwealth Parliament and its local members. 

The following images sourced from the National Archives of Australia show the Old Customs House during this period.

Eastern View, Long Room 1957
Image: National Archives of Australia
Source: National Archives of Australia  

The chandeliers, clock and parquetry flooring are no longer a feature of the Long Room today. The restoration of the Long Room included researching the original flooring, and sourcing and laying a near exact copy of the original tiling.

Old Customs House, Eastern View, Long Room 1965
Image: National Archives of Australia
Source: National Archives of Australia  

Desks and partitions were installed to create a workspace for office staff.

Old Customs House, Western View, Ground Floor 1969
Image: National Archives of Australia
Source: National ARchives Australia  

In this image the lifts are directly opposite the grand staircase on the western side of the building.  The lift today is still on the western side but moved about three meters to the left. 

  South East View, Ground Floor Foyer 1969
Image: National Archives of Australia
Source: National Archives Australia  

One of the main differences here is the glass wall creating a vestibule from the street entrance. Other differences include the central desk and carpeted floor. 

  Old Customs House, First or Second Floor Corridor, 1965
Image: National Archives of Australia
Source: National Archives of Australia  

Cupboards, shelving and seating line the walls of the corridor and linoleum covers the original marbled flooring.

  South View, Rear Courtyard Old Customs House 1969
Image: National Archives of Australia
Source: National Archives Australia  

The rear courtyard area now features the Immigration Museum’s Tribute Garden. There is now also a glass atrium attached to the rear entrance of the building.

The Immigration Museum opened in the Old Customs House in 1998 and houses a number of exciting exhibitions exploring the history of immigration to Victoria, contemporary issues exploring identity, international and local community exhibitions and the history of The Old Customs House.

Immigration Museum is open daily from 10am - 5pm

Got a question? Ask us!

Your Question: Does the museum hold any images of the restoration of Old Customs House?

In 1998, the Immigration Museum opened in Old Customs House. Since its completion in 1876, considerable changes had been made to the building's interior. Customs officers vacated in 1965 and the building was used as Melbourne offices for the Commonwealth Parliament. Linoleum tiles had replaced original floors, office partitions disguised the original layout, plasterwork was cracked and paintwork peeling.

Customs House being renovated prior to housing Immmigration Museum
Source: Museum Victoria  

Much work was required to restore the building and to adapt the facilities so it could function as a contemporary museum. Consequently, many of the twentieth century additions were removed and architectural features such as tiled floors, moulded ceilings and timber details were restored.

Customs House being renovated prior to housing Immmigration Museum
Source: Museum Victoria  

Customs House renovation: Immigration Museum
Source: Museum Victoria  

The images from the Museum Victoria collection demonstrate some of this restoration process as well as the development of some of the Immigration Museum's original exhibits (many of which have now changed).

Old Customs House exterior being renovated
Source: Museum Victoria  

Old Customs House exterior being renovated
Source: Museum Victoria  

To see the Old Customs House as it looked as the offices for the Commonwealth Parliament, the National Archives of Australia have a series of images of the building during those years. You can search for these images on Picture Australia or on the National Archives website.

Customs House being renovated prior to housing Immmigration Museum. Long Room with finished tesselated flooring
Source: Museum Victoria  

Customs House being renovated prior to housing Immmigration Museum. Construction of The Boat in the Long Room
Source: Museum Victoria   

Links

Old Customs House

Your Question: What’s on in the Melbourne Museum Discovery Centre these school holidays?

The April School holidays are here and it’s time to come into the Melbourne Museum Discovery Centre to celebrate our great city Melbourne!

Flinders Street Station, Melbourne
Image: Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria  

Central Railway Station, Flinders Street, Melbourne, Victoria, circa 1910
Image: Unknown, Norm De Pomeroy Collection
Source: Museum Victoria  

A meeting between John Batman and a group of Aboriginal men in 1835 is regarded as Melbourne’s foundation point. Batman claimed to have signed a 'treaty' with Aboriginal leaders, giving him ownership of almost 250,000 hectares of land. Three months later a group, led by John Pascoe Fawkner, established the first permanent settlement. Governor Bourke in 1837 named the City Melbourne after the British Prime Minister of the day.

The discovery of gold brought wealth and an estimated half a million people to Victoria between 1850 and 1860, and the infant city struggled to absorb this influx.  By 1880 Melbourne was a city larger than most European capitals; money was poured into the lavish decoration of the city. By 1891 the economy crashed leading to Victoria’s worst depression. Banks collapsed, unemployment bit hard, and families were evicted from their homes.

Southwest View From Parliament House, Melbourne, Victoria, circa 1885
Image: Unknown, C. Nettleton Studio
Source: Museum Victoria  

In the decades following World War One, Melbourne was transformed by new opportunities and challenges. The “war to end all wars” was over, and few could yet see the shadow it cast into the future. It was time to enjoy life.

The post-war years brought enormous changes to Melbourne. The arrival of a million immigrants over a twenty year period ensured both a cultural and a physical transformation in the life of the city.

Immigrants from continental Europe brought their distinctive cultures to the city. New flavours were added to the arts. European-style cafes gave the city pockets of sophistication; the blueprint of today's Melbourne was in place.

The Discovery Centre has lots of great books on the history, architecture, laneways and culture of Melbourne. There research tables and a reading room with comfy bean bags to relax in.

Discovery Centre Reading Room
Image: Kate Brereton
Source: Museum Victoria  

We have a ‘name the toy’ activity for the kids from the Childhood and Youth collection, and some fabulous posters of historical Melbourne.

Discovery Centre Activity Table
Image: Kate Brereton
Source: Museum Victoria  

So come on in to the Discovery Centre these April School Holidays!

Got a question? Ask us!

Links 

Melbourne Story

Melbourne Story - Biggest Family Album

Marvellous Melbourne

Picture Australia 

Your Question: What was the Lloyd Triestino Trio?  

Austrian Lloyd was founded as an insurance company in 1833 and when Trieste became part of Italy in 1919 the company name was changed to Lloyd Triestino. A shipping section was established in 1936, and Lloyd Triestino became one of the world's biggest shipping companies.

After World War II Lloyd Triestino re-established its Australian service with existing ships and began a rebuilding programme ordering seven new liners. Of these new liners three were for the Australian service, launched in 1950 these three ships became known as the Treistino Trio.

Pamphlet Express Service Fares to Italy Australia, Oceania & Neptunia Lloyd Triestino Line Jun 1955 (HT 2610).
Image: Museum Victoria
Source: Museum Victoria  

The first to be built was the Australia launched on 21 May 1950, departing Trieste on 19 April 1951 and arriving in Melbourne on 17 May. The second ship Oceania launched on 30 July 1950, departed Genoa for its maiden voyage on 18 August 1951.The third, Neptunia, launched on 1 October 1950, departing on its maiden voyage on 14 September 1951 and arriving in Brisbane on 18 October.

In 1958 all three ships were withdrawn from service for a refit – air-conditioning was extended throughout the entire ship and accommodation altered to be suitable for 136 first class passengers and 536 tourist class passengers. From October 1960 Neptunia began operating as a single tourist-class ship; however the Australia and Oceania were not altered in this way.

Postcards - Lloyd Triestino Line, circa 1950s (HT1497).
Image: Museum Victoria
Source: Museum Victoria  

In 1960 Lloyd Triestino placed orders for two new liners which would be twice the size of the existing Australian fleet and were built to replace the Triestino trio. When these new ships entered the trade in 1963, Australia, Oceania and Neptunia were withdrawn from the Australian trade and transferred to the Italia line. The Australia was renamed the Donizetti, Oceania renamed Rossini and Neptunia renamed Verdi.

The Triestino Trio had all emerged from the same shipyard in the 1950s and spent their entire careers operating together; they ended their careers in La Spezia, Italy within months of each other. Donizetti and Rossini were laid up in late 1976 joined by Verdi in January of 1977. All three ships were offered for sale with Donizetti and Verdi purchased by shipbreakers in June 1977. Rossini was moved to another Italian company, Tirrenia, but with no use for her she was also sold to shipbreakers in September 1977.

Got a question? Ask us!

Links:

Triestino in MV Collections

Museum Victoria Migration Collection

Picture Australia

The Summer school holidays in the Melbourne Museum Discovery Centre are bursting with fun stuff for kids to do and learn. We have a variety of books about frogs and Aboriginal dreamtime stories for children and some comfy beanbags to relax in whilst reading.

The Reading Room in the Melbourne Museum Discovery Centre
Image: Kate Brereton
Source: Museum Victoria  

Our reading room has lots of great frog posters and some beautiful illustrations from the Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria. There are some colouring-in activities featuring Tiddalik the Frog, Kouark the Kookaburra and Narrot the Wombat.

And we some new additions to the Discovery Centre family - two Green Tree Frogs!

Green Tree Frogs Litoria caerulea are one of the largest Australian frogs. Their size can range up to 12cm and in their native habitat they are found in all states except Victoria and Tasmania. Green Tree Frogs live in urban areas, forests and woodlands and wetlands they sometimes sit beneath outside lights at night to catch insects that are attracted to the light. 

A Green Tree frog enjoying the holidays in the Melbourne Museum Discovery Centre
Image: Kate Brereton
Source: Museum Victoria  

Our tree frogs do not currently have names so if you have a suggestion pop into the Discovery Centre and let the staff know - we will be picking the best names soon.

If you looking to find out more about Victorian fauna we have two iPads where you can search the new Museum Victoria Field guide app. The app lets you discover interesting information Victorian animals including: diet, habitat, identification, biology, calls and conservation status.

Melbourne Museum Discovery Centre is open every day from 10am until 4.30pm - and we are free. So, do pop in for a visit!