The Grattan Street Drill Hall

In 1860, a large wooden building was constructed in Grattan St between Lygon and Drummond streets for use as a drill hall by a local troop of part-time soldiers known as the Carlton Volunteer Rifles. 

Today, 165 years later, the site is still owned and used by the military, as a training facility run by the Melbourne University Regiment.

When constructed in 1860, the drill hall stood on an empty block with vacant land all around it and plenty of room for parades and drilling. It was such a large and commodious space that it was used by the local community as well as the military – for public meetings, lectures and other events.

Among the groups that used it was the Carlton Football Club that for a number of years held its annual meetings in the Grattan Street Drill Hall.

In September 1889, after nearly 30 years of use, the old drill hall was demolished and replaced by a new and grander one. According to a newspaper account at the time, the opening of the new building was celebrated by a ball attended by 500 or 600 people, with music provided by a military band.

The 1888 plans for the new building indicate that it was constructed with weatherboard walls, wooden floor and a galvanised iron roof. The main drill room was an ample one measuring 38 metres by 18 metres.

Running down one side of this room were the caretaker’s quarters, which were complete with a lounge room, bedrooms and kitchen. Viewed from the street, the caretaker’s quarters looked like a small weatherboard cottage with veranda attached to the side of the drill hall.

Attached to and running down the other side of the main hall were an officers’ room, a non-commissioned officers’ room, Regimental Sergeant-Major’s office, reading room, armoury and storeroom.

Over the years, the drill hall was used by a number of different militia units. In the 1930s it was occupied by the 6th Battalion (Royal Melbourne Regiment) who used it for their regular military training as well as ceremonial parades and the occasional regimental dance.

In September 1932 for example, The Argus newspaper reported that parents and friends of the battalion were entertained at a ceremonial parade at the drill hall, in which the commanding officer took the salute in a march past, and demonstration were given of Vickers and Lewis guns and a detachment of signallers engaged in signal work.

By the 1960s the old wooden building was over 70 years old, and in 1963 it in turn was demolished and replaced by a three-storey office block currently used by the Melbourne University Regiment. •