Melbourne’s iconic Flinders Street Station dome has been rediscovered after being cleaned of approximately 10 tonnes of pigeon poo, in what has been a part of a $100 million restoration project aiming to restore the station to its former glory.
The station, which is a little over a century old, has had a remarkable history which the Victorian Government is aiming to do justice with the project’s goal of reinvigorating the culture behind the grand building.
The project also involves attempting to repaint the building, including the dome, to match the original colours, a task that was achieved through the science of investigating paint samples of chips that had fallen off. In addition, attention has been given to the Elizabeth Street clock tower with a thorough cleaning and repair works.
Amongst these upgrades, the Victorian Government has also announced improvements to be made on the station’s platforms and toilet facilities, in general aiming to improve the functionality of the station for Melburnian commuters.
Premier Daniel Andrews, the member spearheading the restoration project, spoke previously about fixing the underpasses and entrances where pedestrians walk as well as providing better displays for information.
The infamous derelict ballroom is also in talks, with a case for it being developed into a potential business venture in the future. Waterproofing and repair works have already been performed on the roof of the ballroom, which has become somewhat of a talking point for Melburnians as they propose the many functions it could be useful for.
The Andrews Government has also been in talks with institutions regarding turning the room into a public space such as a library.
Andrews expressed his sorrow regarding the building’s fall from grace, noting that what was once a fine piece of architecture had become an “embarrassment”. The Premier stated that there was not a problem with the design of the building, but rather with its maintenance.
“We’re going to fix it and make it better than it has been before,” Andrews said on behalf of the Andrews Government on the issue a couple years previously.
Andrews expressed not only cultural embarrassment, but also potential safety issues with poor lighting and the structure of the building being weak in certain areas. The Andrews Government also addressed repair works to be made to the station’s external structure.
The project is expected by the Government to be complete by the end of next year.