"Under the clocks"

While I was in Melbourne, I attended a talk by author Jenny Davies on her book "Beyond the Facade : Flinders Street, more than just a railway station".
Jenny is truly passionate about her subject and has undertaken heaps of research and now possesses a wealth of information and stories about the building.

Some of the tales she told included -

• trains and passenger services continued through the building operation
• it is built on the site of the Fish Market
• there was no foundation stone or official opening of the station building
• the building included a creche, gymansium, ballroom and library
• the bullet hole in the Hatter's was reputedly fired by gangster Squizzy Taylor
• the builder was sacked which then led to a Royal Commission
• the painted facade is over a brick and cement render construction
• the clock faces in the tower are 12 feet across
• the Banana Alley Vaults were built in conjunction with the Viaduct linking Flinders Street to Spencer Street stations