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Dallas Brooks Hall

Location

300 Albert Street,, EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002 - Property No B4421

File Number

B4421

Level

Demolished/Removed

Statement of Significance

Dallas Brooks Hall, designed by Godfrey and Spowers and opened in 1969, is of state level significance for historical, social, and architectural reasons.
Historically, the Dallas Brooks Hall, named after Sir Dallas Brooks, a top ranking Freemason and Victorian Governor, is significant as the headquarters of the Freemasons in Victoria, a secretive fraternal organization once reputed to have had a high level of influence in society. It has been Victoria's premier place of Freemasonry, which is one of the largest and oldest fraternal organizations in the world. There are no other Masonic Lodge buildings of this scale in the state.
Socially, the Dallas Brooks Hall, which could seat up to 2,300, has been a major venue for public events such as school speech nights, graduation ceremonies, concerts, public meetings and lectures since its construction and many Victorians have special memories of the place. It was also a major venue for musical events, especially pop music in the 1970s, with many notable local and overseas acts performing there.
Architecturally, the Dallas Brooks Hall is unusual for including numerous halls and meeting rooms in the one complex and the major concert hall built in Victoria in the post war period before the Arts Centre. It is also a rare example of the 1960s neo-classical revival, derived from a traditional columned temple from the Greek or Roman classical period. It is a landmark in Melbourne.
Classified: 06/08/2001

Group