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Flinders Street, more than just a railway station
Beyond the Facade invites the reader to explore the many and varied uses of Flinders Street Station over and above its primary function as the central suburban rail terminus. The affinity and affection that hundreds of thousands of people have for this building is still strongly evident in the culture of Melbourne.

The vision of the Victorian Railway Commissioners to create an institute for the employees that would cater for their educational, social and recreational needs resulted in the construction of an additional storey to the 1899 design for the station. The development of the Victorian Railways Institute thus forms an intrinsic part of the station's historv.

Furthermore, the incorporation of commercial facilities enabled the government to build a station of ~.ufficient statue consistent with the pride of place that the Melbourne terminus deserved while providing additional revenue for the railways. Consequently Flinders Street Station did, until the 1980s, house a diversity of commercial interests and non railway government departments, as well as being the focus of innumerable social and community events.

The Centenary Celebration of the official opening of the station and of the Victorian Railways Institute occurs on 22 January 2010. This book is dedicated to all those who are part of the celebration.