Multiplex Continues Restoration of World’s Oldest Active Trades Hall Building

Global construction company Multiplex has been appointed to deliver the third stage of the Victorian Trades Hall Living Heritage Project – a plan by the Trades Hall & Literary Institute to preserve the world’s oldest continually-active trade union building. The project is supported by the Victorian Government.

The appointment follows Multiplex’s completion of Stage Two of the project in 2021, which saw the refurbishment of the Victorian Trades Hall’s structure, roofing and interiors. Stage Three of the project is now being delivered under a $10 million investment from the State of Victoria’s Victorian Trades Hall Conservation Grant 2023-25 program.

The Victorian Trades Hall is located on the corner of Victoria and Lygon streets in Carlton. Led by architects and heritage consultants Lovell Chen, the third stage of remediation works is now underway, with Multiplex restoring the Trades Hall’s Victoria Street Wing and the original part of the building constructed in 1874.

As part of the Stage Three works, Multiplex will unveil more of the Trades Hall’s historic honour boards on the west and south walls of the Victoria Street ground-level foyer.

The honour boards were painted circa 1906 by artists Pierce and Land, and E Turnbull.  Between 1910 and 1911, they were extended by W. Dunstan before being painted over during the twentieth century. This overpainting will be removed and the boards revealed, in partnership with specialist consultants, International Conservation Services.

Multiplex will also strengthen the building’s structure to accommodate seismic loads, upgrade its fire systems and exit lighting, restore its bathrooms, and deliver additional painting and finish works throughout the Victoria Street Wing.

“We’re proud to continue the restoration of this iconic building, which represents a significant piece of Australian history and contemporary culture,” said Ross Snowball, Multiplex Regional Managing Director – Victoria and South Australia.

“The Victorian Trades Hall reflects our ability to deliver innovative solutions to complex projects of varying scale, combining our technical skills and problem-solving. It also speaks to our experience in heritage projects, having refurbished 472 Bourke Street (Equity Chambers), Medina Grand (formerly Adelaide Treasury), as well as the heritage facades of the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation Building in Melbourne,” he said.

Earmarked for completion by the end of September, the revitalised Trades Hall will be filled with immersive art, music and theatre during the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

The Victorian Trades Hall was constructed between 1874 and 1925. Its origins are linked to the Eight Hour Day Movement, which saw Melbourne stonemasons conduct a city-wide strike in 1856 – securing rights to one of the first eight-hour workdays in the world.

It was added to the Australia’s National Heritage List in 2023 and is currently being considered for a UNESCO World Heritage listing.

Multiplex is renowned for delivering some of Melbourne’s most complex and iconic developments. In recent years, these have included the award-winning ANMF House, the $600 million twin towers at 308 Exhibition Street, Monash University’s Monash College, and the $2 billion West Side Place.