Heritage listing for Shell House

Heritage listing for Shell House

Despite being less than 30 years old, Shell House has been included in the Victorian Heritage Register.

The Harry Seidler-designed building on the corner of Spring and Flinders streets is one of only a few post-1980 buildings to make the list.

Making the announcement, Heritage Council chair Stuart MacIntyre said: “Shell House has been loved by architects, designers and the general public for a long time.”

“It is the only high rise tower designed by Harry Seidler in Victoria. It is a fitting corner piece to the Hoddle Grid and a landmark CBD building,” Mr MacIntyre said.

Completed in 1989, it won a number of architectural awards soon after its completion.

Shell House is one of an important series of high-rise tower projects designed by Harry Seidler both in Australia and overseas from the 1960s to the 1990s. The registration states it is an outstanding example of a late modernist office building in Victoria.

The sculptural effect of the building – mainly its curved and interlocking shell like shape – are enhanced by large scale artworks on site such as the mural Bathers and Pulpit Rock by Arthur Boyd and Charles Perry’s sculpture, Shell Mace at the Spring St entrance. These artworks are also included in the building’s registration.

Once the headquarters for Shell, 1 Spring St is now a mixture of government and commercial offices.

Since Labor has been in power …

Since Labor has been in power …

March 20th, 2024 - Evan Mulholland
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