Royal Arcade, Elizabeth Street, C.1870
The land on which the arcade was built was prime land when first settled. It was the first land purchase by Mr Joseph Moore in 1837 for the princely sum of £20. In 1855 it was purchased for £650 by Mr Simon Staughton. Construction of the Royal Arcade began in June of 1869 and was completed by May, 1870 and was officially opened by Lord Mayor Charles Amess. In 1868, a major competition was held for the design of the Royal Arcade. The winning entry was by Mr Charles Webb, a 19th Century architect from Suffolk, England. His successful design was in the Italianate style, drawing on influential French and English models demonstrating essential qualities of those traditional styles. The City is blessed with several of Charles Webb’s buildings including Melbourne Grammar School, Tasma Terrace, South Melbourne Town Hall, The Church of Christ, Banks and Co. Warehouse, and the renowned Windsor Hotel