Spring Street, Melbourne

Spring Street, looking south from Little Bourke Street with Parliament House on the left

Spring Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs roughly north-south, and is the easternmost street in the Hoddle Grid. The street travels from Flinders Street in the south, to La Trobe Street and the Carlton Gardens in the north. Nicholson Street branches northwards from Spring Street just to the south of Lonsdale Street.

Spring Street is culturally important to Victoria and notable as it has been traditionally associated with the central spine of the administration of the Government of Victoria, as well as being central to many of the state's major cultural institutions. The street's name is frequently used as a metonym by the media to refer to the state's bureaucracy.^[1] Spring Street is also notable for its Victorian architecture including the landmarks Victorian Parliament House, the Old Treasury Building, the Windsor Hotel (also known as Duchess of Spring Street) and the Princess Theatre.

The Hotel Windsor viewed from Treasury Place

Melbourne's first Hard Rock Cafe was located on the corner of Spring and Bourke Streets, until closing its doors in late 2007.

Architecture

The Old Treasury Building at dusk

Spring Street also has a number of other architecturally notable buildings. Hotel Windsor (1885) is a five-star luxury hotel built in the 19th century and is a high class example of Victorian architecture. Alcaston House (1929) is a notable early apartment building designed by A&K Henderson in the palazzo style to complement into the overall style of the area. 1 Collins Street is an award winning building by Denton Corker Marshall, and one of Melbourne's first post-modern buildings to be constructed to harmoniously incorporate heritage buildings.

Casselden Place (1992) is a tall office building which is home to government offices. Shell House (1988), on the corner of Spring and Flinders Street is a notable granite clad modern office tower designed by Harry Seidler in a similar style to his buildings in Sydney and Brisbane. The building's floor plates are in the shape of a shell, to fit the theme of the original tenants, the Australian head office of Royal Dutch Shell.

Parks and gardens

Tram tracks, taxis and cars on Spring Street

Spring Street forms the western border of the Treasury Gardens.

A small Chinese garden, known as the Tianjin Garden, is located at the northern end of Spring Street. It is a symbol of Melbourne's close friendship with its twin city, Tianjin, China.

Transport

A number of tram routes run along Spring Street, including the City Circle. Parliament railway station, part of the underground City Loop, lies directly beneath and parallel to Spring Street.

See also

Australian roads portal

References

1. Michael Bachelard Feeling the heat The Age, 25 July 2010

Coordinates: 37°48′43″S 144°58′23″E / 37.8119°S 144.973°E