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MELBOURNE’S CAPITOL THEATRE

by Graeme McBain

ocated at 109-117 Swanston Street, the Griffin (1876-1937) won an international 132 feet (40.2 metres) which was permitted at
Lsite was purchased in 1921 by Antony competition for the design of Canberra in the time. The architects were Walter Burley
Lucas, Herman Phillips and Raynes Dickson 1912 and came to Australia in April 1914. He Griffin and his wife Marion, in association
who were all businessmen. Antony Lucas was rented an office on the 7th floor at 395 Collins with the firm of Peck and Kempter. Little is
born Antonios Lekatsas in Greece in 1862 and Street in about 1915. Marion Lucy Mahony known about these two gentlemen, but I did
came to Australia in 1886. He opened the (1871-1961) was the first woman to become a manage to discover their full names. They
Town Hall Cafe in 1894 and later the Paris licensed architect in the US. They both were Solon Alonzo Peck (1870 - 1930) and
and Vienna Cafes. Lucas was instrumental in worked for Frank Lloyd Wright and were George Alfred Kempter (1887 - 1971).
securing the services of Walter Burley Griffin married in June 1911. Griffin wanted to be a
who had already done some architectural landscape architect, but there was no tuition The principal builder was John Monash and
work for him. for it at the time so he studied architecture the Reinforced Concrete and Monier Pipe
instead. Construction Company. Roy Lippincott also
worked with Griffin and was the husband of
The official plans for Capitol House and the Griffin's sister Genevieve.
theatre were
submitted for
approval on 21 Nov
1921, but were not
approved until 9 Feb
1923. Eric Milton
Nicholls (1902-
1965) commenced
his architectural
career in Melbourne
in 1916, joined
Griffin in 1921 and
continued working
for him until 1937.
The ten storey
building was
constructed of steel
and reinforced
concrete, rising to
Walter Burley Griffin and the maximum height
Marion Mahony Griffin c. 1930.

6 CINEMARECORD # 93