The Jolimont Centre is a commercial building in Canberra, Australia. It is also the city's long-distance coach station.

Jolimont Centre
Jolimont Centre in January 2014
Map
General information
LocationNorthbourne Avenue, Civic, Australian Capital Territory
Coordinates35°16′39″S 149°07′45″E / 35.277585°S 149.129050°E / -35.277585; 149.129050
Opening5 May 1983
OwnerAMP
Technical details
Floor count6
Floor area12,400 square metres
Design and construction
Architect(s)Godfrey and Spowers
DeveloperLend Lease Development
Main contractorCivil & Civic
Website
Public Transport Victoria

History

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In the late 1920s, a timber building named the Jolimont Building was erected in Civic, on a block bounded by Northbourne Avenue, Alinga, Moore, and Rudd Streets. The building had originally been manufactured in England in 1899 for use at Jolimont railway station in Melbourne.[1] It was partially damaged by fire in 1969, and was demolished in 1977.

In 1978, approval was granted for the construction of a hotel complex and a long-distance coach terminal.[2] After the project had not commenced in 1981, Lend Lease Development began work on a six-storey commercial and office complex, which was initially tenanted by the Department of Resources and Energy, the Canberra Tourist Bureau, Prime Television, Trans Australia Airlines, and radio station 2CA.[1][3][4]

During the construction phase, the building was sold to AMP.[5] A two-storey General Post Office was also built.[6] It opened on 5 May 1983, with Ansett Pioneer and Greyhound using the coach terminal for services to Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.[7][8] Later, CountryLink, Deluxe Coachlines, McCafferty's, Murrays, Transborder Express, Trans City and V/Line began using the terminal.[9][10][11][12]

The 1993 Jolimont Centre siege saw the centre rammed by a vehicle rigged with petrol and gas canisters.[13][14][15] The commercial space has since been converted to a Novotel hotel.[16]

Coach operators

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References

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  1. ^ a b At last, a plan to develop the Jolimont site Canberra Times 13 October 1981 page 2
  2. ^ Jolimont site to be used for tourist complex Canberra Times 24 October 1978 page 1
  3. ^ Topping-Off Ceremony Canberra Times 16 September 1982
  4. ^ $20m Jolimont Centre opens Canberra Times 6 May 1983
  5. ^ AMP Society buys $18m Jolimont Centre project Canberra Times 16 December 1981
  6. ^ Canberra GPO Canberra Times 10 April 1983 page 12
  7. ^ "Jolimont tourist centre" Canberra Times 5 February 1985 page 6
  8. ^ New Greyhound terminal Canberra Times 5 May 1983 page 21
  9. ^ Travel times Canberra Times 30 May 1986
  10. ^ Run across the Nullabor marks the beginning Canberra Times 30 November 1986
  11. ^ Countrylink in Canberra Canberra Times 28 September 1994
  12. ^ Sydney to Melbourne McCafferty's
  13. ^ Announcers tell of escape Canberra Times 30 November 1993 page 6
  14. ^ Siege Man Sent Note, Flowers Sydney Morning Herald 1 December 1993
  15. ^ Jolimont IR workers take early holidays Canberra Times 8 December 1993 page 3
  16. ^ Novotel Canberra Novotel
  17. ^ Timetables Murrays
  18. ^ Canberra - Melbourne via Bairnsdale Public Transport Victoria