eHive Object Details

Name/TitleCollins Street (south side) looking east from Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, c. 1887

About this objectThis photograph of a coloured lithograph shows in detail the buildings along the south-side of Collins Street from the south-east corner of Elizabeth Street.

The busy intersection is shown in the foreground with the brightly coloured "Kew" tram on the right, two horse-drawn vehicles on the left, which look like a later addition to the image, and a pair of white horses crossing the street.

The elegant buildings of Collins Street stretch into the distance starting with the colonnaded bank building on the right. This building, built in the early 1880s on the site of the Clarence Hotel, was occupied by the City of Melbourne Bank. This enterprise ran into difficulties during the 1890s and the Royal Bank of Australia took over occupancy of the building in 1903 lending the name, Royal Bank Corner, to this location for many decades, even after the building was demolished in 1939.

The other buildings on this side of Collins Street are mainly more banks, building societies, insurances companies and accountants offices. The large grey steep roofs are atop the Victoria Buildings (c. 1888-1966) located on the south-east corner of Swanston Street.

Apart from the Town Hall clocktower, the only detail on the north-side of Collins Street is a banner advertising "George & George Universal Providers". The store occupied this building until 1889 when it was destroyed by fire. The Block Arcade was built on this site in 1891.

One of the many glass slides purchased from retailers or specifically made for illustrated lectures given by Isaac Selby between c. 1930 and c. 1955 to raise money for the Old Pioneers Memorial Fund.

Selby probably showed this slide during his many lectures on old or early Melbourne, given during the 1930s. "When Melbourne Takes Rank as a City", was given on 12th February, 1948, at the Assembly Hall, Collins Street.

For more information about this image contact Royal Historical Society of Victoria

Measurements8.2 x 8.2 cm

Period1880-1890

Object TypeGlass slide

Subject and Association KeywordsSelby, Isaac, 1859-1956

Subject and Association KeywordsCollins Street (Melbourne, Vic.)

Subject and Association KeywordsStreetscapes

Subject and Association KeywordsCable trams

Subject and Association KeywordsGeorges Department Store (Melbourne, Vic.)

Subject and Association KeywordsBanks and banking

Subject and Association KeywordsHoddle Grid

Subject and Association KeywordsMelbourne (Victoria.)

Named CollectionImages collection

Object numberGS-CS-26

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved