RMIT UNIVERSITY, CITY CAMPUS

RMIT University (officially the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) is an Australian public university located in Melbourne. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam.  RMIT was founded in 1887 by prominent grazier and philanthropist, The Hon. Francis Ormond.


It is the third-oldest higher education provider in the state of Victoria and the seventh-oldest in Australia. Its foundation campus "RMIT City" is located at the northern end of the Melbourne CBD. RMIT was awarded royal patronage in 1954, and is the only Australian university to have received the honour. According to the THES - QS World University Rankings in 2009, RMIT is ranked in the top 10 universities in Australia. It is included in the top 100 universities in the World for producing work-ready graduates, and is one of 20 institutes of technology that feature in the listing. It has an internationally recognised reputation for advertising, architecture, art, communication, design, engineering and technology.


RMIT pioneered the dual sector education system (Higher Education courses and Vocational Education & Training courses)  in Australia during the mid-20th century. It is now the largest institution of its type in the country, and offers every level of award available in the Australian Qualifications Framework.


This post is part of the Signs, Signs meme.

The main entrance of the University n Latrobe St and the statue of Francis Ormond

Stage 1: Building permit dated 23 April 1885. Architects Terry & Oakden and Nahum Barnet. Stage 1 of the building was the "Bowen Street Wing" - which included the main lecture hall, workshops, classrooms and caretaker’s quarters. It cost £10,600, which was paid by Ormond's initial donation and the further contribution of the Trades Hall Council.  The college building was constructed in two stages. The builder was "James Moore of Sandridge Road", South Melbourne

Stage 2: Construction contract dated 3 July 1890. Architect: Percy Oakden, Addison & Kemp. The "La Trobe Street Wing" and the tower block were added in 1890, at a cost of £13,700.[2] This addition was financed by the bequest of The Hon. Francis Ormond, who died the previous year, and some government funding. When completed in 1892, the La Trobe Street wing provided offices, College Council and instructors’ rooms, large classrooms, and laboratories for photography and practical chemistry on the top floor

View of Building 1 and the tower from Latrobe St

A gargoyle above the Building 1 entrance

View of Bowen Lane

In 1917-1918 Building 2 (Applied Art Building) was completed.  The College established classes in trade teaching for returned servicemen. At one stage five hundred men were being trained in twenty-eight classes. Over 1500 servicemen received post-war vocational training at the College

Adjoining the college in the 1890s were the Supreme Court of Victoria (later the Melbourne Magistrates' Court) and the Melbourne Gaol - both which are now part of RMIT today. 21st Century refurbishment was carried out by Peter Elliot Architecture and builders Kane Constructions. In 2008, 121 years after its opening, the building was registered with the Victorian Heritage Register. It is also registered as a "notable building" with the Melbourne City Council.