Old Treasury Building

Melbourne

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The fine neoclassical architecture of the Old Treasury Building (1862), designed by 19-year old JJ Clarke, is a telling mix of hubris and functionality. The basement vaults were built to house the millions of pounds' worth of loot and gold bullion bars during Victoria's gold-rush era, and now feature multimedia displays telling those stories. Also downstairs is the 1920s caretaker’s flat and a reproduction of the 70kg 'Welcome Stranger' nugget, found in 1869.

Treasury Gardens, just south of the building, contains the John F Kennedy Memorial, a peaceful set of ponds with fountains and a waterfall.

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