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	ABOUT BCL Purposes History Sponsors GOVERNANCE Management & Staff NEWS Past News CHAMBERS Tenancy Terms Board Policies Rent Payments Insurance Tenant Benefits Vacancies Owen Dixon East Douglas Menzies Owen Dixon West Isaacs Joan Rosanove Aickin Web Application PHONE DIRECTORY Links Emergency Phone Features INTERNET NETWORK About the Network Joining Charges Internet Network FAQs Email FAQs Remote Access Help Network Status Links PUBLICATIONS CONTACT History Milestones in the Bar's Chambers history 1881 A predecessor company to BCL, 'Barristers Chambers Company Limited' was formed to provide accommodation to barristers on a site in Chancery Lane. 1882 Selbourne Chambers was established on leased premises. 1923 Selbourne Chambers Limited was incorporated by the Bar and purchased Selbourne Chambers. 1930's Brougham Chambers and Maxwell Chambers were established in Chancery Lane, Equity Chambers later in that decade. 1959 BCL was incorporated and purchased the land at 205 William Street. 1960-61 Owen Dixon Chambers was built and officially opened by Sir Robert Menzies on 16 October 1961 in the presence of the Premier and Sir Owen Dixon. 1964 A further 4 floors were added to the existing 9 floors of Owen Dixon Chambers. 1968 BCL purchased Tait Chambers. 1972 The whole of the accommodation provided by BCL for barristers was fully occupied. There were 300 barrister tenants in Owen Dixon Chambers, 35 in Tait Chambers, 35 in the Hooker building and others in Equity Chambers. In that year the Board of BCL adopted a policy of members subscribing for debentures in BCL. 1973 BCL sold Tait Chambers for $475,000, realising a capital profit of some $255,000 over the price paid in 1968. 1977 504 barrister tenants - BCL took up 2 further floors in Four Courts and a large section of a further floor in Equity. BCL took one floor in the new National Bank building in Bourke Street which provided chambers for 40 barristers. 1979 BCL bought from CML the building then occupied by the ABC in Lonsdale Street immediately across Guests Lane from Owen Dixon Chambers. The company did this after a general meeting of the Bar at which the purchase was approved. 1981 After "a flurry of meetings, resolutions and an exciting referendum" the Bar voted to require practising barristers to take up a further unsecured note of $2,000 to enable the company to pay off the bills with which it had financed the acquisition of the ABC building. 1982 To meet continuing accommodation requirements, BCL leased 5 floors in ACI House 200 Queen Street. 1984 In September, BCL entered into a contract with Leightons to demolish the building on the ABC site and to design and to construct a new building for the Bar. The building was scheduled for completion within two years. The members of the Bar voted to retain the rule requiring counsel to lease chambers from BCL. 1986 Owen Dixon Chambers West became available and floors 16 to 21 of Aickin Chambers, Stawell Chambers and ANZ Chambers were closed. 1989 BCL purchased the car park land at 544 Little Bourke Street with a permit for a 16 storey office building. 1992 BCL purchased Four Courts Chambers (180 William Street) and began refurbishing it as the new Douglas Menzies Chambers. 1995 BCL sold its interest in the land on which Owen Dixon Chambers West is built (525 Lonsdale Street) to Schroders Lonsdale Management Pty Ltd. 1996 Douglas Menzies Chambers was opened after completion of the refurbishment of the premises. 1999 The Bar and BCL established the 'Vicbar' internet network for members. 2000 Joan Rosanove Chambers was established. 2001 BCL completed the renovations of the ground floor of Owen Dixon Chambers East.   BACK TO TOP      Disclaimer | Privacy | Sitemap | Contacts © Vic Bar Inc - Reg. No. A00343046     Site designed by Icon Inc