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EAST COLLINGWOOD RIFLES VOLUNTEER ORDERLY ROOM

Other Name DRILL HALL Location 172-188 POWLETT STREET EAST MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY File Number FOL/16/23092 Level Registered

[1/3] EAST COLLINGWOOD RIFLES [2/3] 1 east collingwood rifles [3/3] east collingwood rifles plan

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The timber East Collingwood Rifles Volunteer Orderly room was initially constructed in 1864 by builder William Radden with donations frommembers of the unit. The hall was at that time situated at the northwestcorner of a reserve which had been used as a cricket ground.Followingthe defence reforms of Sir Frederick Sargood in 1884 the EastCollingwood orderly room was one of the few metropolitan halls takenover by the government for the newly formed paid militia. In 1885additions were made in the form of attached offices, a new transversehall and a sergeant-major's quarters (since demolished). Theseadditionswere designed by Victorian Public Works Department architectSamuel Bindley and their detailing is typical of many other drill hallsof the period. In 1937 a brick addition was made to the north end of the1864 building in the moderne style and the 1864 hall was given a jarrahfloor to replace the former asphalt. The drill hall has been used by avariety of army units including infantry, artillery, ordnance andsurvey. The1864 hall still has an extensive shingle roof under itscorrugated iron.

How is it significant?
The East Collingwood Rifles Volunteer Orderly Room is architecturallyand historically important to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
The East Collingwood Rifles Volunteer Orderly Room is historicallyimportant as one of only two surviving timber orderly rooms from thevolunteer era of Victorian colonial defences, the other beingtheRichmond Rifles orderly room in Gipps Street Richmond. Its continualusefor defence training purposes since 1864 adds to its significance.The place is also historically significant for its associations with thevolunteer movement in Victoria, particularly the East CollingwoodRifles. The 1885 additions are an important manifestation of the defencereforms of the 1880s. The 1937 brick addition is of interest as amanifestation of the increased spending on defence after years ofdecline in the lead up to the Second World War.

The East Collingwood Rifles Volunteer Orderly Room is architecturallyimportant for the survival, almost intact within the later additions,ofthe now rare timber early colonial volunteer orderly room of 1864. Thesurvival of the timber shingle roof is a remarkable, rare and highlysignificant feature.