Original post 26 January 2019:
If you poke around, the interiors of the #ANAbuilding in Elizabeth Street near Flinders Lane has all these Australian animals here and there ! The #AustralianNativesAssociation was a #mutualsociety from the 19thC, providing insurance, sickness benefits etc for members. Being National by nature, they used ‘100% Australian timbers and marbles’ as well as depictions of native wildlife when they built themselves a new HQ, designed by #MarshandMichaelson, with offices to rent as well. The once great lobby has been a bit wrecked by plonking a cafe in it, a timber floor covering the marble one (!), but the stair is great ! With kookaburras and a thistle (not very native !). Upstairs there’s a pair of carved koalas by each lift 😊 . The board room (no photos) and rounded plywood reception desk on the 7th floor are still there too. (ANA were a bit political, and most famously known for sticking to the White Australia policy after everyone else gave up on it in the 70s).
27 November 2024
A collaboration with @melbourne.upstairs; which is to say pics 1-4 are theirs. First is a great pic of the stylish reception desk of the Consulate of Nepal, on the 7th floor of 28 Elizabeth St, which originally served the Australian Natives Association. They commissioned the building from Marsh & Michaelson, and it opened in 1937.
Their board room beyond is still intact too, as in pic 5 and 6 is from the Age. There’s cute Australian images elsewhere too, Koalas by the lift doors and Kookaburras in the stair balustrade, and more on the facade. The lobby is partly intact too, but cluttered with a cafe and a timber floor after my 2011 pics. #melbourne.upstairs.
15 July 2025
Im rather worried – this excellent Art Deco interior in the CBD is not protected and has just been sold – it’s the former boardroom, office and foyer of the Australian Natives Association, on the 7th floor of 28 Elizabeth Street. It was built in 1939, and designed by Marsh & Michaelson using different timbers from each state, including Tasmanian Blackwood, Putts pine and silver ash from Queensland and jarrah from WA. I like how they’ve panelled the entire ceiling, the clock built in to the mirror, and the curvy foyer counter. I just hope whoever bought it likes it as it is ! It should be listed by the City of Melbourne but they’ve put off doing interiors to some time in the future – but feel free to email Cr Olivia Ball who’s the only one that’s shown any interest. More of the building interior should be listed ultimately – the lift surrounds feature koalas (!), and the ground floor lobby is somewhat intact too, with NSW marble panelling, and great stairs up that feature Deco gumnut panels, and koalas higher up. The ANA were a mutual aid society, but are most known for supporting the White Australia Policy right into the 70s Pics 1-3 real estate, 4 mine from 2018.
Storey of Melbourne 