Working Men's College of Melbourne
Encyclopedia
The Working Men's College of Melbourne was an Australian college of further education
located in Melbourne
, Victoria
. It was founded in 1887 by a prominent Victorian parliamentarian
and philanthropist
, Francis Ormond
.
The college was the predecessor to the current-day Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University
). Today, the original building of the college is known as RMIT Building 1 (Francis Ormond Building).
, The Hon.
Francis Ormond
, who donated £5000 towards the establishment of the college. The Council of the Melbourne Trades Hall then matched Ormond's initial donation by rallying its members. On 4 June 1887, the college opened in its purpose-built building on the corners of Bowen Street and La Trobe Street
in Melbourne
, with a gala ceremony. It became the third official provider of higher education in the new Colony of Victoria
(the Melbourne Athenaeum was founded in 1839 and the University of Melbourne
in 1853).
.
Stage 1 of the building was the "Bowen Street Wing" - which included the main lecture hall, workshops, classrooms and caretaker’s quarters. It cost £10,600, which was paid by Ormond's initial donation and the further contribution of the Trades Hall Council.
The college building was constructed in two stages. The builder was "James Moore of Sandridge Road", South Melbourne.
Stage 2: construction contract dated 3 July 1890. Architect: Percy Oakden, Addison & Kemp.
The "La Trobe Street Wing" and the tower block were added in 1890, at a cost of £13,700. This addition was financed by the bequest of The Hon. Francis Ormond, who died the previous year, and some government funding. When completed in 1892, the La Trobe Street wing provided offices, College Council and instructors’ rooms, large classrooms, and laboratories for photography and practical chemistry on the top floor.
Adjoining the college in the 1890s were the Supreme Court of Victoria (later the Melbourne Magistrates' Court
) and the Melbourne Gaol - both which are now part of RMIT today.
21st Century refurbishment. Architect: Peter Elliot Architecture. Builder: Kane Constructions.
In 2008, 121 years after its opening, the building was registered with the Victorian Heritage Register
. It is also registered as a "notable building" with the Melbourne City Council.
New features of the building include: rainwater harvesting
, Solar water heating
, intelligent lighting controls and systems; glazed stairways and galleries, new lift and reintroduction of period features. The refurbishment also includes the creation of a new university lawn with underground rainwater tanks. It was completed in 2011.
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
located in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. It was founded in 1887 by a prominent Victorian parliamentarian
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, Francis Ormond
Francis Ormond
Francis Ormond was a Scottish-born Australian pastoralist, member of the Parliament of Victoria and philanthropist in the areas of education and religion....
.
The college was the predecessor to the current-day Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
). Today, the original building of the college is known as RMIT Building 1 (Francis Ormond Building).
History
The Working Men’s College was founded in 1881 by a prominent grazier and philanthropistPhilanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, The Hon.
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
Francis Ormond
Francis Ormond
Francis Ormond was a Scottish-born Australian pastoralist, member of the Parliament of Victoria and philanthropist in the areas of education and religion....
, who donated £5000 towards the establishment of the college. The Council of the Melbourne Trades Hall then matched Ormond's initial donation by rallying its members. On 4 June 1887, the college opened in its purpose-built building on the corners of Bowen Street and La Trobe Street
La Trobe Street, Melbourne
La Trobe Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs roughly from east to west and forms the northern boundary of the CBD ....
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, with a gala ceremony. It became the third official provider of higher education in the new Colony of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
(the Melbourne Athenaeum was founded in 1839 and the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
in 1853).
Building
Stage 1: building permit dated 23 April 1885. Architect: Terry & Oakden and Nahum BarnetNahum Barnet
Nahum Barnet was an architect working in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia during the Victorian and Edwardian periods....
.
Stage 1 of the building was the "Bowen Street Wing" - which included the main lecture hall, workshops, classrooms and caretaker’s quarters. It cost £10,600, which was paid by Ormond's initial donation and the further contribution of the Trades Hall Council.
The college building was constructed in two stages. The builder was "James Moore of Sandridge Road", South Melbourne.
Stage 2: construction contract dated 3 July 1890. Architect: Percy Oakden, Addison & Kemp.
The "La Trobe Street Wing" and the tower block were added in 1890, at a cost of £13,700. This addition was financed by the bequest of The Hon. Francis Ormond, who died the previous year, and some government funding. When completed in 1892, the La Trobe Street wing provided offices, College Council and instructors’ rooms, large classrooms, and laboratories for photography and practical chemistry on the top floor.
Adjoining the college in the 1890s were the Supreme Court of Victoria (later the Melbourne Magistrates' Court
Former Melbourne Magistrates' Court
The Former Melbourne Magistrates' Court building, located on the corner of La Trobe and Russell streets in the Melbourne CBD, was the original home of the City of Melbourne's City Court and District Court, and also housed an emergency court....
) and the Melbourne Gaol - both which are now part of RMIT today.
21st Century refurbishment. Architect: Peter Elliot Architecture. Builder: Kane Constructions.
In 2008, 121 years after its opening, the building was registered with the Victorian Heritage Register
Victorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register lists places of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 1995 which establishes Heritage Victoria as the permit authority...
. It is also registered as a "notable building" with the Melbourne City Council.
New features of the building include: rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is the accumulating and storing of rainwater for reuse before it reaches the aquifer. It has been used to provide drinking water, water for livestock, water for irrigation, as well as other typical uses. Rainwater collected from the roofs of houses and local institutions can...
, Solar water heating
Solar water heating
Solar water heating or solar hot water systems comprise several innovations and many mature renewable energy technologies that have been well established for many years...
, intelligent lighting controls and systems; glazed stairways and galleries, new lift and reintroduction of period features. The refurbishment also includes the creation of a new university lawn with underground rainwater tanks. It was completed in 2011.
See also
- RMIT UniversityRMIT UniversityRMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
- RMIT CityRMIT CityRMIT City is the original and flagship campus of the Australian public university and vocational education provider, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology ....
, campus of which the court building is now a part - Francis OrmondFrancis OrmondFrancis Ormond was a Scottish-born Australian pastoralist, member of the Parliament of Victoria and philanthropist in the areas of education and religion....
, founder