East End in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Oceania

Alcaston House

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, May 5, 2026

1. Alcaston House Marker

Inscription. A significant early example of modern multi-storey apartment buildings, Alcaston House was designed by architects A & K Henderson in 1928 to provide residential apartments and office suites. The use of Classical detailing and Renaissance Revival design complements the earlier buildings in the area.

Erected by City of Melbourne and State Bank Victoria.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.

Location. 37° 48.782′ S, 144° 58.42′ E. Marker is in Melbourne, Victoria. It is in East End. It is at the intersection of Spring Street and Spring Street, on the left when traveling north on Spring Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Oceania,

in Australasia,

in the Pacific Ocean,

in South Pacific,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker:

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Charles George Gordon (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Treasury Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Scotch College (within shouting distance of this marker); Stanford Fountain (within shouting distance of this marker); Adam Lindsay Gordon 1932 (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Coaxial Cable - Sydney to Melbourne (about 120 meters away); The Windsor Hotel (about 120 meters away); Bourke Street c1900. (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melbourne.

Also see . . . Alcaston House. Victorian Heritage Database

Alcaston House was designed by the firm of architects, A. and K. Henderson and erected by T Donald and Co. in 1929-30. The building was erected for the trustees of Dr. EM James, whose home had previously occupied the site. Alcaston house is a seven-storey building with basement and is constructed of reinforced concrete columns, beams and floors with a freestone base and brick walls above, all rendered with a sand finish stucco. All the windows are steel-framed and those on the ground floor are double-glazed to prevent noise intrusion. The
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, May 5, 2026

2. Alcaston House
Marker is to the left of the door
building was designed with a rusticated base of two floors expressing the professional nature of Collins Street, with the upper floors in an "E"-plan, exposing the light wells on the Spring Street facade. The light wells are both a functional and expressive device, denoting the residential nature of the upper part of the building. This is further enhanced by the provision of balconettes to the French windows of each of the flats. Each of the towers is marked by deep cornices and the tall multiple-chimney stacks. The timber pergolas that shaded the roof garden and the urns on the parapet have since been removed. Prominent features of the lower facade are the semi-circular arched windows on the ground floor with stylised voussoirs and carved key-stones, the chevron string course and the cantilevered canopy over the Spring Street entrance.

(Submitted on May 10, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 10, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 10, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.