Nauru House
Nauru House (also called 80 Collins Street) is a landmark 52-story building located in the Melbourne CBD. The building was designed by architectural firm Perrott Lyon Timlock & Kesa.
The land the building sits on was bought in 1971 at a price of AU $5.3 million by the government of the Republic of Nauru as an international investment. Nauru, which had become incredibly wealthy thanks to the selling of phosphate, began the Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust (NPRT) to re-invest profits in international real-estate.
Controversy was stirred when construction began in 1972, as the government of Nauru decided to raze two buildings with "high heritage value" in order to have the building face the desirable Collins Street, and thus, a Collins Street address. Even amid public outcry, the buildings were torn down to make way for construction. Following decades of mismanagement, corruption, and spiraling loans to General Electric, estimated to amount to approximately AU $240 million, the NPRT was forced to sell off its international assets to pay loans. The Nauru House is now owned by the Queensland Investment Corporation.
Other Information
- Location : Melbourne, Australia
- Also known as : 80 Collins Street
- Status : Complete
- Constructed : 1977
- Use : office
- Height Antenna/Spire : 190m (623.46 ft)
- Roof : 183m (600.49 ft)
- Floor count : 52
- Floor area : 50,500 m²
- Architect : Perrott Lyon Timlock & Kesa
Links
Incoming search terms:
- nauru house architecture
- republic nauru 80 collins street