Australia’s longest shed awaits. It’s the No. 2 Goods Shed. This massive railway freight shed stands in Melbourne. It used to be part of the Spencer Street rail yards. Let’s dive into its history.
The No. 2 Goods Shed dates back to 1889. Back then, it was simply called “A Goods Shed”. Imagine that. The longest building in the whole country. Its address is 733 Bourke Street, Docklands. This puts us right in the heart of Melbourne’s bustling history.
Look around. The No. 2 Goods Shed boasts polychromatic face brickwork. Notice the solid brick outside walls. Bluestone sills add a touch of elegance. The slate tiled gable roof rises above us. Three gabled roofs feature clerestories. These also have lanterns. Cast iron columns support everything. They are placed at nine-meter intervals. Angle iron trusses frame the roofs. The central trusses span 15 meters. Side spans reach nine meters. Terracotta lumber was used on the upper floor. This was for fire prevention. Smart thinking for its time.
Twenty-six arched doors line the east side. Twenty-eight are on the west. Loading platforms accommodated horse-drawn vehicles. Rail platforms served three internal tracks. The building stretches an impressive 370 meters. That is a long shed.
Take a look at the two-story office block. Find it at the southeast corner. A central tower rises above. Stucco decoration adorns the main door surround. Spot the VR insignia with a crown. It sits above the east facade. There is a pediment showing “1889”. That is the construction date. The clock face wasn’t part of the original plan. It was added later like the one at Ballarat.
The No. 2 Goods Shed replaced earlier structures. Those timber and corrugated iron sheds couldn’t handle the boom of the 1880s. The contract went to A.P. Tozer and Company. The price was £72,943 17s 5 1/2d. The office section expanded north in 1907. The No. 2 Goods Shed was part of a larger railway expansion. The Railways Headquarters Building was built around the same time. So were the Flinders Street Viaduct and Extension.
The Melbourne Docklands redevelopment changed the shed. It was cut in half to extend Collins Street. The northern part was redeveloped by Equiset Grollo Group. They added a tall black glass “Lantern” building. Elenberg Fraser designed the interior refurbishment. The southern half is now called The Goods Shed. Walker Corporation developed it. It has been restored into offices. Pearson Australia and Penguin Random House now occupy it.
The National Trust and the Victorian Heritage Register recognize its importance.
Today, the No. 2 Goods Shed stands as a reminder. It shows Melbourne’s rich railway history. It is a blend of old and new. It bridges the past and present.