Architecture

The Library’s Architecture Collection provides an overview of the work of architects in Victoria, and documents the changes in building styles from the late 19th century until recent times.

What's in the Architecture Collection?

This collection contains an extensive number of architectural drawings including plans, elevation and perspective renderings, sections through buildings, detail and design sketches. The collection also contains the written specifications and associated correspondence that often accompanies these materials as well as signed contract sets. The drawings in this collection cover a wide range of building types – from cottages, villas, mansions and apartments to commercial buildings, sporting facilities, churches, theatres and halls.

What's special about this collection?

One of the earliest known items in the collection, dated July 1839, is a measured drawing of a cottage in Lonsdale Street by Charles Frederick Leroux. Some of the most recent items are Anchor Mortlock & Woolley's presentation drawings for the redevelopment of the Library’s own building.

A number of major 20th century firms are also represented including the work of well-known church architect Louis Williams, hospital architects Stephenson & Turner and the firm Mockridge, Stahle Mitchell who specialised in schools. Some of the finest drawings of 19th and early 20th century architecture are contained in The Melbourne University Architectural Collection. Donated to the State Library by The University of Melbourne's Faculty of Architecture Building & Planning, this collection contains over 4000 architectural and measured drawings from some of Victoria's greatest architects including Nathaniel Billing, William Pitt, F. M. White, Joseph Reed, Leonard Terry, Walter Butler and Walter Burley Griffin. 

Another great strength of the Architecture Collection are the prize-winning entries from the Matthew Flinders Measured Drawings Competition. Dating from 1975 to 1992, architecture students who entered the competition were required to make measured drawings of historically significant buildings and structures in Victoria.

How do I view material in this collection?

The Library's collection of architectural drawings, correspondence files and specifications are held in storage and can only be viewed by appointment in the Heritage Collections Reading Room.