Jun 23, 2026

This year marks an extraordinary milestone for one of Melbourne’s most treasured cultural landmarks: the Nicholas Building celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Standing proudly on Swanston Street since 1926, the Nicholas Building has become far more than a historic landmark. For generations, it has been home to artists, designers, craftspeople, and independent businesses, quietly shaping Melbourne’s creative identity from behind its iconic façade. As the city has evolved around it, the building has remained a rare constant. A place where creativity, craftsmanship, and community continue to flourish.

A Home for Independent Makers
For perfumer Samantha Schrader, founder of Perfume Playground, choosing the Nicholas Building as her studio was almost instinctive.
Drawn by its reputation as a sanctuary for independent makers, she imagined working alongside jewelers, shoemakers, fashion designers, and artists; all connected through a shared commitment to their craft.
Two years ago, she moved into a fourth-floor studio and has never looked back. To Schrader, the Nicholas Building is much more than a workplace. It’s a place where creative disciplines naturally intersect, collaborations emerge unexpectedly, and making – whether by hand or by heart – is genuinely celebrated. Simply put, it felt like exactly where she belonged.

A Building Rich in History
Designed by renowned architect Harry Norris for the Nicholas pharmaceutical family, the Nicholas Building was considered one of Melbourne’s most modern commercial buildings when it opened in 1926.
Its striking Chicago-style architecture, elegant neoclassical arcade, Queensland maple interiors, tiled corridors, and bustling G.J. Coles variety store set a new benchmark for Swanston Street.
A century later, much of that original character remains beautifully intact.
Walking through its hallways today feels like stepping into another era. Sunlight streams through opening windows, original timber details remain untouched, and every floor tells stories of artists, designers, galleries, and makers who have passed through its doors.

A Community Built on Creativity
The Nicholas Building has always been defined by the people who inhabit it.
Long-term tenants speak of decades of collaboration, spontaneous conversations in the corridors, and creative partnerships that began simply by being neighbours. Graphic designers create exhibition invitations for galleries, photographers collaborate with fashion labels, and artists inspire one another through everyday encounters.
The building has also welcomed remarkable figures throughout its history, including celebrated artist Vali Myers and author Gregory David Roberts, who worked on his novel Shantaram within its walls.
These stories have become part of the building’s living legacy—one that continues to grow with every new creative who calls it home.

More Than a Workspace
Despite increasing rents and the ever-changing landscape of Melbourne’s CBD, many tenants continue to choose the Nicholas Building over conventional office spaces.
Its appeal extends beyond its beautiful architecture.
The generous natural light, soaring ceilings, opening windows, and heritage features create an environment unlike any other. More importantly, the building nurtures something increasingly rare: a genuine sense of community.
It is a place where independence is valued, creativity is encouraged, and artistic practice is supported simply by being surrounded by others who share the same passion.

A Partnership Rooted in Community
This partnership holds particular significance for us at West End Art Space. Gallery owner and artist Anna Prifti also serves as Chair of City Precinct. A role that reflects her ongoing commitment to supporting local businesses, creative practitioners, and the cultural fabric of the city. Her leadership and advocacy make this celebration especially meaningful, reinforcing the deep connection between the Nicholas Building, City Precinct, and our own community.

Anna describes the building as both peaceful and deeply inspiring. Having visited for years before moving in, she reflects on its unique atmosphere – a place that feels almost suspended in time, where like-minded individuals gather and create. As Melbourne continues to evolve, the Nicholas Building remains a rare and vital constant – a living archive of the city’s creative spirit, and a testament to the enduring power of artistic community.

Celebrating a Century
To honour this remarkable milestone, a special centenary celebration was held in collaboration with City Precinct, whose generous sponsorship helped bring the event to life.
The evening was not simply a reflection on the building’s remarkable past, but a celebration of its future and the creative community it continues to support.
Guests embraced the glamour of the era in vintage-inspired attire, enjoyed classic Bee’s Knees cocktails, and gathered to the sounds of live jazz beneath the building’s historic ceilings. Past and present tenants came together to celebrate a place that has inspired generations of artists and makers for the past 100 years.
One hundred years on, the Nicholas Building remains exactly what it has always been; a place where creativity thrives, communities are built, and Melbourne’s artistic spirit continues to find a home.

A Night to Remember
The centenary celebration was held at Flinders Lane Gallery, owned by Claire Harris, an esteemed figure within Melbourne’s contemporary art scene. The gallery provided the perfect setting for an evening that paid homage to both the Nicholas Building’s remarkable history and the artistic innovation it continues to inspire.
In keeping with the building’s origins, the event embraced a Roaring Twenties theme as a fitting tribute to the era in which the Nicholas Building first opened its doors in 1926. Guests arrived in dazzling period-inspired attire, echoing the glamour and optimism of the decade, while the venue came alive with Bee’s Knees cocktails, live jazz, and an atmosphere that celebrated a century of creativity.

The evening brought together artists, curators, collectors, business owners, and supporters of the arts; a vibrant cross-section of the community that continues to give the Nicholas Building its enduring spirit. More than a celebration of architecture, it was a celebration of the people, practices, and creative connections that have sustained the building’s legacy for the past 100 years.
Adding to the significance of the occasion, the celebration received widespread media recognition, featuring as a double-page spread in The Saturday Age. The coverage highlighted the cultural importance of the Nicholas Building and reaffirmed its place at the heart of Melbourne’s artistic landscape.

As the Nicholas Building enters its second century, this milestone serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving creative spaces within our city. It celebrates not only a rich and enduring history, but also the generations of artists, makers, and independent businesses who will continue to shape its future.
You can read The Saturday Age feature here:
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/cheers-my-dears-tenants-celebrate-nicholasbuilding-s-centenary-20260304-p5o7lc.html
Photography from the evening by @fotobycaro.