Baldwin Spencer Building

The Baldwin Spencer Building is located at the University of Melbourne and was named after the first Professor of Biology Walter Baldwin Spencer. Spencer submitted designs that were finalised by architects, Joseph Reed, Anketell Henderson and Francis Smart who formed a partnership known as Reed Henderson and Smart.It began construction in 1887 and was opened a year later as the Biology Building. The School of Biology was renamed Zoology in 1920 when W E Agar succeeded Baldwin Spencer. The building itself is a Gothic Revival structure with elements such as rough-hewn freestone coursed walls that can be compared with similar designs by the same architects for nearby buildings such as Ormond College and the earlier Medical building. The Baldwin Spencer Building is architecturally and historically significant to the State of Victoria.Historical significanceThe Baldwin Spencer Building is significant for its connection to Walter Baldwin Spencer, who introduced many of the successive additions early into the next century, these of which included a greenhouse and aquaria.Architecturally the Baldwin Spencer Building is significant in demonstrating the intricacies of the Gothic Revival Style, as well as demonstrating the University’s preference for this style to a number of its buildings.Historically this building is significant for showing the new era of science teaching and original research that revolutionised educational policy in Victoria during the late nineteenth century.DescriptionThe design intent of the original Baldwin Spencer Building portrays the identified requirements of Walter Baldwin Spencer for natural light and ventilation to enter a space containing the biology research department involving microscopic and dissecting work.