Old Pathology Building Melbourne University

Old Pathology Building is an educational building, part of Melbourne University’s city campus in Melbourne, Victoria. The building has since been renamed as Elisabeth Murdoch building. It is located on Spencer Road as building number 134, campus reference number F 20. Built in 1885 by architects Reed, Henderson & Smart. The Old Pathology Building is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria, due to its example of early English Gothic architecture and its continued use as a university building for over 100 years. Victorian Heritage Register (H0922) - Old Pathology Building (Melbourne University) is protected by state law.DescriptionBuilt during the Victorian period in the Neo-Gothic style, the old pathology building is a 2-storey education building at Melbourne University’s Parkville campus. A fine example of early English Gothic architecture characterised by the use of lancet arches and attached buttresses.The choice of a Gothic style came as a request from the university council’s desire that all buildings be built in a consistent architectural style.The building was originally designed as the new medical school along with the department of anatomy and pathology. The south wing of which was originally constructed in 1885, the building has seen many additions made over the following years.Classes at the University of Melbourne began in 1853 and in 1862 the university established Australia’s first medical school. Appointed as professor of anatomy and pathology at the university in 1882, HB Allen oversaw the design process of the new building. His first task was to create a large and efficient museum. Allen built up a collection of thousands of pathology specimens which form the core of the museum.