There are multiple theories regarding the etymology of the street's name. Some think it is named after Baron Thomas Spring Rice, Chancellor of the Exchequer under Lord Melbourne.[4] Another theory is that the name is due to the golden wattle trees being in full bloom during Richard Bourke's visit.[5] The most plausable reason for the name is more simple than that. Spring is a relatively common street name in English-speaking countries and usually chosen for a street due to its proximity to water, or having a slope or rise in terrain.
Casselden Place (1992) a tall office building which is home to government offices
Shell House (1988) at the corner of Spring and Flinders Street is a notable granite clad office tower designed by Harry Seidler in a similar style to his buildings in Sydney and Brisbane. The building's floor plates are in the shape of a shell as it was the Australian Head Office of Shell.
271 Spring St is a 16-storey tower anchoring the corner of Little Lonsdale and Spring Streets. The modern architecturally-designed office building crafts two existing heritage structures - the Church of England’s Mission Hall and the Elms Hotel, both date back to the early 1900s are preserved and celebrated. [6]
Parks and gardens
Spring Street forms the western border of the Treasury Gardens and features multiple gardens and reserves. Gordon Reserve, a small triangle of parkland created in 1863 features heritage listed statues and a fountain which was built and designed by a Pentridge prisoner. [7]
A small Chinese garden, known as the Tianjin Garden, is located at the northern end of Spring Street. It is a symbol of Melbourne's close friendship with its sister city, Tianjin, China.[8] The Tianjin Garden is designed in the classical Chinese style, Tianjin Gardens features two pairs of carved lions, rocks, water, and trees. [9]
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons also has small public garden in front of iconic the building, complementing the other green spaces in the vicinity of Parliament station. [10]
Statues and monuments
There are several statues of historical figures on Spring Street, such as the Sir Thomas Blamey Statue, in front of the Old Treasury Building, a memorial to Sir William Clarke in the Treasury Gardens, and the Burke and Wills Monument, also in the Treasury Gardens.