Torrens Building
| Torrens Building | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Former names | Government Offices |
| General information | |
| Type | Office, Education |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Palladian |
| Location | Adelaide, Australia |
| Address | 220 Victoria Square (Tarndanyangga) |
| Construction started | 1879 |
| Completed | 8 April 1881 |
| Renovated | 1995 |
| Cost | approx. £60,000 |
| Owner | Government of South Australia |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 3,653sqm |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Michael Egan (Melbourne) |
| Main contractor | James Shaw |
The Torrens Building, named after Sir Robert Richard Torrens, is a State Heritage listed building on the corner of Victoria Square and Wakefield Street in Adelaide, South Australia.[1] Originally known as the Government Offices, the Torrens Building has been home to a number of government departments for most of its existence.[2] Since 2005, it been the site of the University City Adelaide precinct, housing campuses of Carnegie Mellon University, Cranfield University, University College London and Torrens University.[3]
The building created some controversy in 1880 when it was reported that the Government of South Australia was going to import freestone for construction from Sydney, rather than use stone from local quarries.[4]
In 2015, the Torrens Building was offered for sale as part of the State Administration Centre precinct by the Government of South Australia,[5] previously having been excluded from the sale plans.[6]
Restoration and Renovation
Between 1991 and 1995, major refurbishment of the Torrens Building was undertaken.[2] Once completed, the building was used to accommodate a number of community groups and organisations including:
- Amnesty International (S.A. & N.T. Branch) Incorporated
- Amputee Association of South Australia Inc.
- Australian Association Of Social Workers
- Brain Injury Network Of SA Inc The
- National Council of Single Mothers & Their Children Inc
- SA Lebanese Women's Association
- Shelter SA
- United Nations Association of Australia - S.A. Division Inc
- Volunteering SA Incorporated
Following renovation, the building was reopened by then Premier of South Australia, John Olsen, on 19 September 1997.
Notable Features
A plaque on the Western wall exterior commemorates the centenary of the Real Property Act 1858, which provides for the Torrens Title system, developed in South Australia and adopted around the world. The plaque was unveiled on 1 July 1958 by then Lieutenant Governor of South Australia, Sir Mellis Napier.
The Torrens Building houses an honour board displaying the names of Government of South Australia employees killed in World War I.
Current Tenants
- Carnegie Mellon University Australia - H. John Heinz III College (since 2006)
- Torrens University (since 2014)[3]
- University College London Australia - School of Energy and Resources (since 2009)[7]
Previous Significant Tenants
- Architect-in-Chief's Department (1881-?)[8]
- Cranfield University (2007-2010)[9]
- Land Titles Office (1881-?)[8]
- Public Works Department (1881-?)[8]
References
- ↑ "Government Offices". Adelaide City Heritage. National Trust of South Australia. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- 1 2 "Government offices on Victoria Square, Adelaide". SA Memory. State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- 1 2 Martin, Sarah (19 October 2011). "Torrens University to open in Adelaide in 2013". News Corporation. The Advertiser. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ "Stone for the New Government Offices". South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail (Adelaide). 14 February 1880. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ↑ "State Administration Centre Precinct". RealCommercial. REA Group Ltd. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ Tauriello, Giuseppe (23 November 2014). "Plan to offload $250 million worth of State Government-owned CBD property". News Corporation. The Advertiser. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ "State Government admits discussions to keep Adelaide's University College London offshoot here beyond 2017". News Corporation. The Advertiser. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- 1 2 3 "The New Government Offices". South Australian Register (Adelaide). 24 December 1881. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ↑ "'Lauded' UK-based Cranfield University closes Adelaide base". News Corporation. AdelaideNow. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
34°55′42″S 138°36′03″E / 34.928368°S 138.600881°ECoordinates: 34°55′42″S 138°36′03″E / 34.928368°S 138.600881°E