RMIT BUILDING NO. 9
1-55 FRANKLIN STREET MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY

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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
RMIT Building No.9 was designed by the Public Works Department under the jurisdiction of Chief Architect Percy Everett. It was built in two stages, the first part of which was for the Electrical Trades School and was opened in 1938. This building housed the Radio School and the original tower antenna survived until 1996. The second, northern part of the building has a facade to Franklin Street and was completed in 1941. The building is constructed with a frame of concrete-encased steel and reinforced concrete with brick cladding. The horizontal emphasis of the building is accentuated by continuous bands of brick spandrel panels and windows. The curved corners further emphasise the streamline design. In contrast to the shining, salt-glazed manganese bricks used on the main body of the building, the entrance tower is constructed of paler, unglazed bricks. The entrance tower provides a vertical counterpoint to the building with overtones of neo-Gothicism given by the protruding vertical fins dividing the double height window. The basement was enlarged during the Second World War and used for defence training. The original multi-panelled, steel framed windows were replaced in 1983 with plainer reflective window panels, and a variety of lightweight structures have been added to the roof.
How is it significant?
RMIT Building No.9 is of architectural significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
RMIT Building No.9 is architecturally significant as one of the few large public building designed in the streamlined horizontal Moderne style. The style epitomises the architect Percy Everett’s design approach to technical schools and was considered appropriate as a modern and state-of-the-art idiom suitable to technical training. The construction is noteworthy for its unusual treatment of materials, favouring face brickwork clad over a concrete frame, which is in contrast to other architects’ preference for an overall concrete and cement finish to horizontal Moderne buildings.
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RMIT BUILDING NO. 9 - Permit Exemptions
General Exemptions:General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions. Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.
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FORMER CARLTON AND UNITED BREWERYVictorian Heritage Register H0024
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ROSAVILLEVictorian Heritage Register H0408
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MEDLEY HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0409
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"1890"Yarra City
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"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
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"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
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1 Fordham CourtYarra City
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10 Fordham CourtYarra City
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