Mission to Seamen

The mission provided an opportunity for some response, letter writing, playing of games, a chance to attend a religious service, or resting whilst in port.  Although the organisation no longer is as large as it once was, there has been a continuity of operations for nearly 100 years in this part of Melbourne.

While the Mission continues to welcome visiting sailors, it now also accommodates community activities.  

Along with a preceding Master Plan in 2002 and a Conservation Management Plan in 2003, RBA oversaw external restoration works to the roof and façades including radical concrete cancer mitigation treatments.  The Mission building features a dome to its west end – a radical feat of reinforced concrete engineering at the time of construction. This unique structure was rescued through the application of several unusual remedial treatments to its concrete and reinforced steel substrate. An extraordinary space internally, built to house a gymnasium, the dome now operates as a temporary exhibition space and occasional recording studio.