6. Lift lobby & elevators
Built in the inter-war period when Australia was facing deep depression, the Equity Chambers was one of the few large-scale edifices constructed in Melbourne at the time. Its completion featured prominently in the media, which saw it a symbol of optimism. In one of the most fervent commentaries, newspaper The Herald exclaimed the Equity Trustees Company “strikingly demonstrated its confidence in the country”.
Ground floor lift lobby,1930s
Source: Journal of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects, November 1931
The entry of Equity Chambers, 2015
Source: Archival Recording, Daniel Colombo
The building cemented its reputation as the tastemaker of the new era with the most advanced facilities of the time, including electric elevators, central heating with automatic oil-burning heaters, as well as a forced ventilation system.
Original lift decorations, 1930s
Source: Journal of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects, November 1931
A trip through the electric elevators would have been an extraordinary experience in the 1930s. A local architectural journal noted they were a significant visual improvement from their older counterparts. It remarked the richness of their wood-panelled interior, even going so far to compare them to the ambience of an ocean liner.
Heritage lift lobby and elevators
Photo by: Sean Fennessy
Heritage elevators
Photo by: Sean Fennessy
Now fully restored, the lift lobby and elevators are lauded by the Heritage Council of Victoria as one of the prettiest of the state. The polished stone from Stawell, Victoria sets an elegant tone for the space, while hinting at the state’s natural beauty at the same time. The cast iron mailbox and brass fire alarm panel, reproduced in period style, lend the space an additional dose of nostalgic charm.
Guests of Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street can take a trip back to the opulent yesteryear as they roam around the hotel through these exquisite vehicles.
Heritage lift lobby and elevators
Photo by: Sean Fennessy