I took a brief look at most of the buildings featured in this reading, noting the more interesting features. The Alumni Courtyard is a particularly interesting area as it has deep and somewhat disturbing historical roots. During investigation of the site artifacts such as glass and china were found, but also remains of humans and animals. Over 100 prisoners were executed and buried on the site up to 1924, which is a nice thought while you eat lunch at the new pop up cafes there now. The Magistrates’ Court – now Building 20 – is of course historically significant, and acting as an architectural landmark on the corner of Russell and LaTrobe Street. It acted as the Magistrates’ Court up until 1994, very recently. The building that now stands in it’s place was designed by George Austin, with a Romanesque design that echoed the solidity and power shown in Building 1 and the Gaol tucked away behind it, an attempt to continue the tradition of the strong looking British establishment.

Hibernian Hall – now Storey Hall, or Building 16 – seems to have some of the most colourful history. Beginning as ‘old fashioned’ when it was built in the late 19th century, it had it’s overhaul in the mid 20th Century, late 1950’s. In it’s original iteration it housed Melbourne’s Catholic community at first, but became a place for events such as the Australasian Wrestling Championships, a cinema, a Guild Hall, and the Women’s Political Association during World War I. It’s current iteration is host to a vibrant facade that references it’s historical roots; green for the Irish Catholics, and purple, green & grey for the Women’s Political Group.

Taking a look at Building 15, I must say I was a little underwhelmed by the coverage of it. It is a very simple building built for the simple purpose of supporting the war effort during the early 1940’s. The building housed workshops for aeronautical engineering, woodworking, dynamics testing laboratories (in regards to engines), and even a wind tunnel. Now however it houses research centres; offices and a modern stairwell hat leads to an access bridge to buildings on Bowen Street.