A landmark Melbourne building is being presented in a new light, with advanced lighting control technology from Pharos Architectural Controls helping transform the nighttime appearance of the Parliament of Victoria.
Completed in early 2026, the project replaces an ageing sodium vapour floodlighting scheme with a more refined LED-based approach designed to reveal the texture, detail and natural character of the building’s sandstone façade. Dating back to 1888, Parliament of Victoria occupies a prominent position at the northern end of Melbourne’s CBD and presented a particular challenge: modernise its lighting while respecting its heritage significance.
The project has been more than a decade in the making. In 2014, F-POV was commissioned by the Victorian Government to explore an illuminated treatment for the building. The original lighting relied on sodium vapour floodlights positioned at a shallow angle, producing an even wash across the façade. While effective in making the building visible at night, the approach flattened its architectural detail and introduced a strong colour cast that changed the appearance of the sandstone.
The new scheme takes a more considered approach, using lighting to articulate the building rather than simply flood it. The design also needed to remain discreet, with minimal visual impact on the heritage structure, while reducing maintenance requirements and improving energy efficiency.
Everyday operation uses neutral white light to present the architecture naturally, while colour capability allows the façade to respond to civic occasions and special events.
Reaching the final specification required the project team to navigate a lengthy development process, including changes in government, budget revisions, pandemic-related testing delays and rapid advances in LED technology. The system was subsequently reviewed several times to ensure the final installation could meet operational requirements while remaining adaptable to future needs.
At the heart of the control system are two Pharos Designer LPC controllers, providing four universes of DMX. Two 8-inch Pharos Designer TPS touchscreens give authorised users direct control over scene selection and colour changes, while Pharos Cloud provides secure remote management.
The system is also integrated with Dynalite for power management, allowing the façade lighting to operate efficiently within the building’s wider infrastructure.
Christopher Page, Associate at FPOV, said, “Working with Pharos allowed us to deliver a reliable control platform with the flexibility and ease of use needed to support both daily operation and longer-term adaptation of the scheme.”
Tony Symms, Regional Manager for Asia Pacific at Pharos, added, “This project demonstrates how intelligent control can support the sensitive illumination of heritage architecture. The system combines reliability and flexibility, ensuring the façade can be presented consistently while still allowing for moments of variation.”
The completed installation demonstrates how contemporary lighting technology can be used to reinterpret heritage architecture without overwhelming it, giving one of Melbourne’s most recognisable civic buildings a more nuanced presence after dark.
Lighting Controls: Pharos Architectural Controls
Lighting Suppliers: Spacecannon Australia
