Spring Street, Melbourne

Spring Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs roughly north-south, and is the easternmost street in the Hoddle Grid. The street travels from Flinders Street in the south, to La Trobe Street and the Carlton Gardens in the north. Nicholson Street branches northwards from Spring Street just to the south of Lonsdale Street.

Spring Street is notable as it has been traditionally associated with the central spine of the administration of the Government of Victoria, as well as being central to many of Victoria's major cultural institutions.

Landmarks

Notable landmarks on Spring Street include the Victorian Parliament House, (the street's name being used as a metonym by the media to refer to the Government of Victoria for this reason), the Old Treasury Building, the Windsor Hotel and the Princess Theatre.

Spring Street also has a number of architecturally notable buildings. "Alcaston House" (1929) is a notable early apartment building designed by A&K Henderson in the palazzo style to complement into the overall style of the area. "1 Collins Street" is an award winning building by Denton Corker Marshall, and one of Melbourne's first post-modern buildings to be constructed to harmoniously incorporate heritage buildings. "Casseldon Place" (1992) is a tall office building which is home to government offices. "Shell House" (1988), on the corner of Spring and Flinders Street is a notable granite clad modern office tower designed by Harry Seidler in a similar style to his buildings in Sydney and Brisbane. The building's floor plates are in the shape of a shell, to fit the them of the original tenants, the Australian head office of Royal Dutch Shell.

Spring Street forms the western border of the Treasury Gardens.

A small Chinese garden, known as the Tianjin Garden, is located at the northern end of Spring Street. It is a symbol of Melbourne's close friendship with its twin city, Tianjin, China.

Melbourne's first Hard Rock Cafe is located on the corner of Spring and Bourke Streets.

Transport

A number of tram routes run along Spring Street, including the City Circle. Parliament railway station, part of the underground City Loop, lies directly beneath and parallel to Spring Street.

Gallery