Torrens Building

Torrens Building
Former names	Government Offices
General information
Type	Office, Education
Architectural style	Renaissance Palladian
Location	Adelaide, Australia
Address	220 Victoria Square (Tarndanyangga)
Construction started	1879
Completed	8 April 1881
Renovated	1995
Cost	approx. £60,000
Owner	Government of South Australia
Technical details
Floor area	3,653sqm
Design and construction
Architect	Michael Egan (Melbourne)
Main contractor	James Shaw

The Torrens Building, named after Sir Robert Richard Torrens, is a State Heritage listed building on the corner of Victoria Square and Wakefield Street in Adelaide, South Australia. Originally known as the Government Offices, the Torrens Building has been home to a number of government departments for most of its existence. Since 2005, it been the site of the University City Adelaide precinct, housing campuses of Carnegie Mellon University, Cranfield University, University College London and Torrens University.

The building created some controversy in 1880 when it was reported that the Government of South Australia was going to import freestone for construction from Sydney, rather than use stone from local quarries.

In 2015, the Torrens Building was offered for sale as part of the State Administration Centre precinct by the Government of South Australia, previously having been excluded from the sale plans.

File:Torrens Building, Wakefield St, Adelaide.JPG

Torrens Building taken from Southern side of Wakefield Street

Restoration and Renovation

Between 1991 and 1995, major refurbishment of the Torrens Building was undertaken. Once completed, the building was used to accommodate a number of community groups and organisations including:

• Amnesty International (S.A. & N.T. Branch) Incorporated
• Amputee Association of South Australia Inc.
• Australian Association Of Social Workers
• Brain Injury Network Of SA Inc The
• National Council of Single Mothers & Their Children Inc
• SA Lebanese Women's Association
• Shelter SA
• United Nations Association of Australia - S.A. Division Inc
• Volunteering SA Incorporated

Following renovation, the building was reopened by then Premier of South Australia, John Olsen, on 19 September 1997.

Image of plaque commemorating the 1997 reopening of the Torrens Building, Adelaide, South Australia

Notable Features

File:Commemorative Plaque - Real Property Act.jpg

Image of plaque commemorating the centenary of the Real Property Act

A plaque on the Western wall exterior commemorates the centenary of the Real Property Act 1858, which provides for the Torrens Title system, developed in South Australia and adopted around the world. The plaque was unveiled on 1 July 1958 by then Lieutenant Governor of South Australia, Sir Mellis Napier.

The Torrens Building houses an honour board displaying the names of Government of South Australia employees killed in World War I.

Current Tenants

• Carnegie Mellon University Australia - H. John Heinz III College (since 2006)
• Torrens University (since 2014)
• University College London Australia - School of Energy and Resources (since 2009)

Previous Significant Tenants

• Architect-in-Chief's Department (1881-?)
• Cranfield University (2007-2010)
• Land Titles Office (1881-?)
• Public Works Department (1881-?)