95-99 Railway Road, Blackburn, Victoria

THQ Buildings
National, Australasian, Australian and Australia Southern

With the Army established in Australia and spreading out from Adelaide, Major James Barker determined that the National Headquarters would be in Melbourne.

1. 20 IZETT STREET, PRAHRAN
In January 1883, Melbourne’s third Corps was started at Prahran, in a small building in Izett Street. “These premises also were used by Major James Barker as Australia’s first National Headquarters and training home.” [War Cry (London), 14/3/1883.]

2. 52 BOURKE STREET WEST (now 415 Bourke Street), MELBOURNE.
Also, early in 1883, the Army moved into rooms in a building grandly designated “Cardigan Chambers”, located at 52 Bourke Street. Majors James and Alice Barker used part of the premises as their quarters. This was in effect a “city office” for the Australasian Headquarters soon to be established.

3. 288 COVENTRY STREET, SOUTH MELBOURNE.
The first (proper) Australasian Headquarters was opened in July 1883 at Coventry Street, being leased by The Salvation Army for 5 years. Previously it was Mendes’ “Academy Theatre” and it also housed the Army’s Printing Works and Trade Department. There was a hall seating 1500, as well as a smaller hall suitable for officer-only meetings. It was registered as a place of worship. Training for Cadets was carried out in an adjoining house.

4. 75 EXHIBITION ST (later 159-161 Exhibition Street) MELBOURNE. (nb: called Stephen St before 1888)
To cater for the rapid growth through 1884, and the influx of staff heralded by the impending arrival of Colonel Ballington Booth and Major T Henry Howard, Major Barker secured the lease of two three-storied shops near the corner of Exhibition and Bourke Streets for use as the Australasian Headquarters. Previously it had been used for the sale of second-hand clothing. The Army occupied it for 3 years in conjunction with the Headquarters building in Coventry Street, which was also the premises for the South Melbourne Corps.

5. 122 EXHIBITION STREET, MELBOURNE. (nb: called Stephen St before 1888)
An ex-lodging house, this three-storied building in Exhibition Street was leased from 1888 to 1889 as the Australasian Headquarters. The rear of the building abutted two smaller buildings that opened into Little Collins Street, and served as an annex.

6. 187 LITTLE COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE.
In April 1890. a five year lease was secured for a newly completed building in Little Collins Street. The War Cry referred to it as the Inter-Colonial Headquarters and Publishing Offices for Australia and Tasmania. The following year, with the expansion of operations, number 185 Liile Collins Street was also taken..

7. 69 BOURKE STREET, MELBOURNE.
The YMCA built the 69 Bourke Street premises in 1891, however due to the land and bank crash in 1892, the consequent depression forced the building onto the market, where it was quickly grabbed by Commissioner Coombs in 1894, the become the Headquarters for Australasia. The YMCA was pleased that the premises would continue to be used for Christian work, and to pay for the purchase, Commissioner Coombs put a levy on every Officer and Soldier in the Territory. In 1912 it changed from the Australasian Territorial Headquarters to the Australian Territorial Headquarters; and then in 1921 became the Australia Southern Territory Headquarters. When THQ moved to Park Street in 1884, the Melbourne Central Division Headquarters remained, until its relocation at the end of 2006. It is of note that every General of The Salvation Army, except the present incumbent, has preached from the platform of The City Temple, which forms a major part of this building.

8. 39 PARK STREET, SOUTH MELBOURNE.
In 1983, 100 years after the opening of the first Australasian Headquarters, the Army purchased a premises not too distant from the original 1883 one in South Melbourne. The new Australia Southern Territory Headquarters was officially opened in April 1884. Some ten years later, in September 1993, a decision to relocate was made, as Park Street was considered inadequate in size and potential. Due to the recession, a most attractive opportunity to purchase another premises presented itself at Mont Albert. In June 1994 Park Street was auctioned.

9. 5 HAMILTON STREET, MONT ALBERT
The new Australia Southern Territory Headquarters building at Mont Albert was a 3 level retail/office building constructed in the late 1980s. It was officially opened on 6 August 1994. Room for expansion again became a problem, with some THQ Departments unable to be accommodated in the same building. THQ moved from Mont Albert to Blackburn in March 2008.

10. 95-99 RAILWAY PARADE, BLACKBURN.

Hallelujah!

Psalms 127:1 (NIV)
1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.