Historical information

A photo of Legacy House from 1997. Junior Legacy Melbourne purchased 289-299 Swanston Street Melbourne (previously called Red Cross House) in 1956 from the Commonwealth Government with money gifted to Legacy in memory of David H Dureau. The donation was initially used to purchase a different building at 342 Swanston St, which was sold in 1954, and 289 Swanston St was purchased. Melbourne Legacy is still using three floors of the building, with tenants on the ground floor.
Plus two photos from earlier time that have been digitised from slides. The brown photo would have been from late 1950s and then the green is after it was repainted in 1961 (according to the slide mount)
An article mentions the purchase price was undisclosed. It says the purchase was possible due to a generous gift of money from overseas in 1944. The building would be called the David H Dureau Memorial Building at the request of the donors.

Significance

A record of what the Legacy House building looked like when it was acquired by Melbourne Legacy.

Physical description

Black and white photo of Legacy House from 1997.