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That's Built · Building report

Centenary Hall

104-110 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Generated 8 November 2026
Commercial · Office
—height
6floors
1935completed
2businesses
10permits

Development milestones

Completed1935Centenary Hall completed: 6 floors

Building team

Architect
Hugh Philp
Architect
H. Geoffrey Bottoms
Developer
Victorian Protestant Hall Co.
Architect
Woods Bagot
Owner
Rolex Australia

Planning & subdivision

Zone
CCZ1
Overlays
DDO1, DDO10, HO1028, PO1
Strata plan
PP5514C · 1 lots
Scores
🚆 9 · ☕ 9 · 🌳 8 · ✨ 10

Timeline

10 May 2023Rolex opens Oceania headquarters in restored 1935 Centenary Hall
Rolex opened its Oceania headquarters in the refurbished 1935 Art Deco Centenary Hall, with the terrazzo foyer floor and its Orange Order star revived. Two floors house custom watchmaking facilities and a new watchmaking training program, designed in collaboration with architecture firm Woods Bagot.
20231 certificate
Largest: Stage 3 - Demolition Works, excluding demolition works relating to level 5 skylight & external facade along Exhibition and Little Collins St
2022Council census records it as office, 6 floors
Name recorded: Centenary Hall
20221 building permit and 8 certificates · about $24.4m of new works
Largest: Stage 5 - Architectural, booster and hydrant systems
20201 certificate · about $150k of new works
Largest: Level 1 - Proposed office fitout to existing tenancy
20191 building permit · about $152k of new works
Largest: RETAIL TENANCY FITOUT TO SHOP 2 at 104-110 Exhibition Street, Melbourne - 3000
29 Nov 2018Rolex revealed as buyer of Centenary Hall for $37.1 million
Luxury watch retailer Rolex was reported to have bought the Liberal Party's former headquarters at 104 Exhibition Street for $37.1 million. A later report confirmed the buyer and price.
3 Sep 2018Centenary Hall sold by Victorian Liberal Party for $37.1 million
Colliers International's city sales team reportedly sold the building for $37.1 million after more than 110 enquiries and 10 bids. The article describes the six-level building as dating from 1935 and says it was acquired by Vapold Pty Ltd, a Liberal Party vehicle, in 1976 for $576,000.
31 Aug 2018Victorian Liberal Party to sell Centenary Hall headquarters
The Victorian Liberal Party was reported to be selling its Exhibition Street headquarters, Centenary Hall, which had been bought in 1976 for $576,000. The sale was expected to fetch more than $25 million, with Colliers International reportedly appointed as agent.
20171 certificate · about $536k of new works
Largest: Proposed EOT & Bike Store to Basement
20161 building permit · about $80k of new works
Largest: Level 5 - Fitout
20151 building permit and 1 certificate · about $40k of new works
Largest: Shop 1 - Retail tenancy fitout
20131 certificate · about $10k of new works
Largest: Construction of Refurbishment & signage
2011Council census records it as office, 7 floors
Name recorded: Centenary Hall
20051 certificate · about $15k of new works
Largest: Office fitout to level 5.
2004Council census records it as office, 7 floors
Name recorded: CENTENARY HALL
20043 building permits · about $610k of new works
Largest: Alteration to existing building. Stage 1 Conditional Internal Works
2002First council census entry: unoccupied - under renovation, 7 floors
20011 building permit · about $2.0m of new works
Largest: Excludes fire services and structural. Refurbishment 104 Exhibition Street. Part of building - Basement, Ground, 1,2,3,4,5 & 6.
20001 building permit · about $190 of new works
Largest: Installation of alarm signalling equipment
1935Centenary Hall completed: 6 floors
Derived from City of Melbourne building census (CLUE) 2024

Building permits and certificates (23)

Each cost is the estimate on that record. Stages of a project often repeat its full value, so these don't add up to what was spent.

25 Nov 2023Stage 3 - Demolition Works, excluding demolition works relating to level 5 skylight & external facade along Exhibition and Little Collins Street$17.2m
23 Dec 2022Level 5 - Gallery space fitout works$947k
25 Nov 2022Stage 2 - External demolition, including internal fit out of levels B1 and ground floor (excluding mechanical and fire services).$1.3m
25 Nov 2022Stage 5 - Architectural, booster and hydrant systems$18.5m
09 Nov 2022Stage 1 - Refurbishment of the existing building and amenities with one additional storey added.$500k
09 Nov 2022Stage 4 - Structure and Services, Excluding works to booster assembly and fire hydrant system$17.2m
09 Nov 2022Stage 5 - Architectural, booster and hydrant systems$18.5m
24 Aug 2022Stage 2 - External demolition, including internal fit out of levels B1 and ground floor (excluding mechanical and fire services).$1.3m
24 Aug 2022Stage 4 - Structure and Services, Excluding works to booster assembly and fire hydrant system$17.2m
22 Mar 2022Ground Floor & Level 1 - Fitout and Refurbishment (Rolex Lobby)$3.2m
30 Oct 2020Level 1 - Proposed office fitout to existing tenancy$150k
26 July 2019RETAIL TENANCY FITOUT TO SHOP 2 at 104-110 Exhibition Street, Melbourne - 3000$152k
23 Aug 2017Proposed EOT & Bike Store to Basement$536k
22 Mar 2016Level 5 - Fitout$80k
07 May 2015Shop 1 - Retail tenancy fitout$40k
24 Apr 2015Stage 2- Flight Centre - Construction and display of external signage$5k
07 Jan 2013Construction of Refurbishment & signage$10k
16 Aug 2005Office fitout to level 5.$15k
10 June 2004Shop fitoutTenancy 3$70k
25 May 2004Retail tenancy fitout$90k
16 Mar 2004Alteration to existing building. Stage 1 Conditional Internal Works$450k
11 Dec 2001Excludes fire services and structural. Refurbishment 104 Exhibition Street. Part of building - Basement, Ground, 1,2,3,4,5 & 6.$2.0m
06 Mar 2000Installation of alarm signalling equipment$190

Questions and answers

Is Centenary Hall residential or commercial?
Centenary Hall is a commercial building. The City of Melbourne lists its main use as office.

When was Centenary Hall built?
Centenary Hall was completed in 1935.

How many floors does Centenary Hall have?
Centenary Hall has 6 floors above ground.

What businesses are in Centenary Hall?
The latest council census counted 2 businesses in Centenary Hall, including ROLEX AUSTRALIA PTY LTD and Tolarno Galleries.

Is there office or retail space for lease in Centenary Hall?
See the commercial listings on this page, or search this address on realcommercial.com.au and commercialrealestate.com.au.

Who designed and built Centenary Hall?
Victorian Protestant Hall Co. developed Centenary Hall and H. Geoffrey Bottoms designed it. The building team section has the sources.

What public transport is near Centenary Hall?
Parliament Railway Station is the nearest train station, about 3 minutes' walk. The nearest tram stop is 101 Collins St/Collins St #7, about 2 minutes' walk.

What is the planning zone for Centenary Hall?
The site is in the Capital City Zone - Schedule 1 (CCZ1). It's also under a Heritage Overlay (HO1028).

Does Centenary Hall have an owners corporation?
Plan of subdivision PP5514C has 1 lot.

Has any work been done on Centenary Hall recently?
The City of Melbourne has issued 10 building permits for Centenary Hall since 2000. The most recent was in March 2022.

Sources: City of Melbourne building permits (CC BY 4.0); CLUE building information (CC BY 4.0); CLUE business establishments (CC BY 4.0); Geocoded National Address File (G-NAF) (Open G-NAF EULA (CC BY 4.0 based)). General information from public records, not legal, financial or building advice.

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