Central Business District in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Oceania

Bricks and spirit...

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 16, 2026

1. Bricks and spirit... Marker

Inscription. This building embraces a century of architectural, urban, medical and social history for generations of Victorians. Once part of a hospital complex filling the entire city block, its story includes:

One women's centre
Three hospitals
Thousands of women
Millions of patients

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Science & Medicine • Women.

Location. 37° 48.663′ S, 144° 57.952′ E. Marker is in Melbourne, Victoria. It is in the Central Business District. It is at the intersection of Lonsdale Street and Shilling Lane, on the left when traveling east on Lonsdale Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 216 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Oceania,

Australasia,

the Pacific Ocean,

South Pacific,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western World,

and 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: Sir Redmond Barry (about 180

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meters away, measured in a direct line); Charles Joseph La Trobe CB (about 210 meters away); Nicholas Hall (about 210 meters away); Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (about 210 meters away); Balit-dahn Balit-nganjin (Their Strength, Our Strength), 2021 (about 210 meters away); Wesley Church (about 210 meters away); Former Working Men's College (about 210 meters away); Former School House (about 240 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melbourne.

Also see . . . Feminist History of Queen Victoria Women's Centre. Queen Victoria Women's Centre

Melbourne’s medical women broke through gender barriers to study and practice medicine and open the Queen Victoria Hospital for women and children in 1899. The protected male only medical profession did not welcome the establishment of the world’s third hospital for women run exclusively by women doctors - Pro Feminis A Feminis - but the community did. The energy and inclusiveness of those medical women still inspires the day to day operation of the QVWC today.

Our heritage listed Lonsdale Street building has an extensive and rich history: built
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 16, 2026

2. Bricks and spirit... Marker
to the left of the Main Entrance behind the fence
by renowned Melbourne architect JJ Clark, it was the Royal Melbourne Hospital from 1913 to 1946 and then it became the second home of the Queen Victoria Hospital until 1987 when the hospital was decommissioned and relocated to the Monash Medical Centre.

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust Act (1994) was passed by the Victorian Parliament creating the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre (QVWC), preserving the last remaining tower on the site. In creating the Centre, the State Government dedicated the land and the building to services and facilities for women.

(Submitted on July 12, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.