The design for the Federal Coffee Palace, Collins Street-West.

This spectacular hotel expressed the wealth and confidence of the city during its boom years.  The name 'coffee palace' was used to indicate that the hotel did not serve alcohol, as there were many in Victoria who belonged to anti-alcohol 'temperance societies'.  The Federal Coffee Palace survived until 1972, when it was demolished to make way for an office building.

 

Illustrated Australian News July 24, 1886.

 

Accession number: IAN24/07/86/117

 

From the State Library of Victoria's Pictures Collection

 

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