VPRS 19411 Princes Gate Development Borehole Plans, Bore Logs, and Soil Sections

This series contains records relating to the construction of the Princes Gate Complex on Flinders Street, which was built between 1963 and 1967. Princes Gate – also known as the Gas and Fuel Towers – was comprised of two 18-storey modernist structures with a shopping arcade and plaza, built by Lend Lease with architects Leslie M. Perrot and Partners. Once built, the towers proved to be extremely unpopular. They were unappealing to the public and blocked sight lines across Princes Bridge into Melbourne’s CBD and St Paul’s Cathedral and overshadowed the Yarra River. They were replaced by Federation Square in 2002. The records within this series include plans and sections showing positions of bores in relation to their surrounds and the particulars of layers of soil drilled. They were drawn in October 1963 and include a borehole plan and bore log, showing bores 1-5 and A-O, in relation to Flinders Street, Russell Street, and Princes Bridge Station; soil sections (in longitudinal sections) showing positions of bores, existing train platforms, new track levels, surrounding streets, details of soil levels; and soil sections (cross sections) showing bores and details of soil levels. Boreholes are used during geotechnical investigation of proposed building sites in the early stages of construction, aiding in determining suitability of the chosen location and final design. Soil samples are collected through drilling in various sites within the proposed location for analysis on earth formation and strata. A borehole chart may show the different layers of soil at different depths and their properties. This data is necessary to determine appropriate foundation type for the build and may also be used to determine piling lengths as suitable for structural standards.