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That's Built · Building report

Western House

77-89 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Generated 8 November 2026
Commercial · Office
—height
10floors
1939completed
6businesses
13permits

Development milestones

Completed1939Western House completed: 10 floors

Building team

Architect
Meldrum and Noad

Planning & subdivision

Zone
CCZ1
Overlays
DDO1, DDO10, HO753, PO1
Strata plan
PS431391 · 7 lots
Scores
🚆 7 · ☕ 9 · 🌳 8 · ✨ 8

Timeline

20251 certificate · about $878k of new works
Largest: Proposed Display Suite
2024Council census records it as office, 10 floors
Name recorded: Western House
20242 certificates · about $1.0m of new works
Largest: Strip out, structural and Rough - in services (exluding fire)
20231 building permit and 2 certificates · about $3.0m of new works
Largest: Stage 2 - Remainder of building works
2022Council census records it as unoccupied - unused, 10 floors
Name recorded: Western House
16 Oct 2019Street Architecture Medal
A Storey of Melbourne blog post says the National Bank Western House won the last Street Architecture Medal in 1942.
16 Oct 2019Collins House developers buy air rights above 1939 National Bank Western House
A Storey of Melbourne blog post says the developers of the Collins House high-rise bought the air rights above the 1939 National Bank Western House, which the post says protects the bank from future high-rise development above it. The post also describes the bank chamber as mostly intact.
20181 building permit · about $63k of new works
Largest: Level 2 - Office fit out
20171 building permit and 1 certificate · about $80k of new works
Largest: Fire Indicator Panel - EWIS Panel Replacement
20161 building permit · about $31k of new works
Largest: L7 - office fitout
20141 certificate
Largest: Office fitout Stage 1 Internal Demolition
20133 building permits · about $264k of new works
Largest: Stage 2: Office fitout to existing building - Level 1
2010Council census records it as office, 10 floors
Name recorded: Western House
20101 certificate · about $18k of new works
Largest: Alterations to office level 4
2008Council census records it as office, 10 floors
Name recorded: WESTERN HOUSE
20081 building permit · about $200k of new works
Largest: Office fitout to existing tenancy
2006Council census records it as unoccupied - unused, 10 floors
Name recorded: WESTERN HOUSE
20061 building permit and 1 certificate · about $125k of new works
Largest: Proposed office fitout at ground level and level 2.
20051 building permit · about $60k of new works
Largest: Proposed office fitout
2002First council census entry: office, 10 floors
20011 building permit · about $4k of new works
Largest: replacement of an atm machine into National Australia Bank.grnd fl
19972 building permits · about $109k of new works
Largest: Alterations on ground floor
1939Western House completed: 10 floors
Derived from City of Melbourne building census (CLUE) 2024

Building permits and certificates (22)

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.

08 Aug 2025Proposed Display Suite$878k
02 Oct 2024Level 7 - Internal Office Fitout$12k
30 July 2024Strip out, structural and Rough - in services (exluding fire)$1.0m
21 Dec 2023Stage 2 - Remainder of building works$2.5m
30 June 2023Internal Fit Out of an Office (Level 6)$500k
14 Mar 2023To allow the supply and installation of the new EWIS / FIP (ESM) inside of the existing building$47k
14 Mar 2018Level 2 - Office fit out$63k
07 June 2017Fire Indicator Panel - EWIS Panel Replacement$45k
03 Apr 2017Level 2 - Internal Alterations to Office$35k
01 Aug 2016L7 - office fitout$31k
18 Aug 2014Office fitout Stage 1 Internal Demolition$50k
27 Dec 2013Lvl 6, 460 Collins St Office alterations and fitout$50k
30 July 2013Internal alterations Level 2$14k
05 July 2013Stage 2: Office fitout to existing building - Level 1$200k
17 Dec 2010Alterations to office level 4$18k
05 Sept 2008Office fitout to existing tenancy$200k
22 Nov 2006Proposed office fitout at ground level and level 2.$105k
23 Feb 2006Sigh refurbishment; Bank alterations$20k
22 Dec 2005Proposed office fitout$60k
08 Jan 2001replacement of an atm machine into National Australia Bank.grnd fl$5k
13 Aug 1997Alterations on ground floor$59k
29 July 1997Alterations to existing office$50k

Questions and answers

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

When was Western House built?
Western House was completed in 1939.

How many floors does Western House have?
Western House has 10 floors above ground.

What businesses are in Western House?
The latest council census counted 6 businesses in Western House, including 460 DEGREES PTY LTD, Cosentino Pty Ltd and DTCH Lawyers.

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

Who designed and built Western House?
Meldrum and Noad designed Western House. The building team section has the sources.

What public transport is near Western House?
Southern Cross Railway Station is the nearest train station, about 7 minutes' walk. The nearest tram stop is Collins St/William St #4, about 1 minute's walk.

What is the planning zone for Western House?
The site is in the Capital City Zone - Schedule 1 (CCZ1). It's also under a Heritage Overlay (HO753).

Does Western House have an owners corporation?
Plan of subdivision PS431391 has 7 lots.

Has any work been done on Western House recently?
The City of Melbourne has issued 13 building permits for Western House since 1997. The most recent was in March 2023.

Sources: City of Melbourne building permits (CC BY 4.0); CLUE building information (CC BY 4.0); CLUE business establishments (CC BY 4.0); CLUE residential dwellings (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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