Friday marks 30 years since Queen St massacre in Melbourne’s CBD

FRIDAY will mark 30 years since troubled loner Frank Vitkovic opened fire and shot dead eight people before plunging 11 floors to his death in the middle of Melbourne’s CBD.

In 1987, Frank Vitkovic entered the Australia Post building on Queen St to kill his former schoolmate, Con Margelis. Picture: Gillianne Tedder

FRIDAY will mark 30 years since troubled loner Frank Vitkovic opened fire and shot dead eight people before plunging 11 floors to his death in the middle of Melbourne’s CBD.

In 1987, the 22-year-old entered the Australia Post building on Queen St with a sawn-off rifle with a plot to kill his former schoolmate, Con Margelis.

FRANK VITKOVIC’S EVIL MISSION RECONSTRUCTED

THE VICTIMS OF QUEEN ST MASS KILLER FRANK VITKOVIC

After Margelis managed to escape, Vitkovic went on a bloody rampage and opened fire, killing his first victim, Judith Morris.

Vitkovic continued shooting on the 11th and 12th floor, taking the lives of Nancy Avignone, Rodney Brown, Catherine Dowling, Julie McBean, Michael McGuire, Marianne Van Ewyk and David Spencer.

A hate-filled Melbourne University dropout named Frank Vitkovic walked into the Australia Post building at 191 Queen St and shot eight office workers dead.

Police run up Queen Street towards the crime scene. Picture: Gillianne Tedder

The window on the 10th floor of the Australia Post building where gunman Frank Vitkovic jumped to his death.

Victoria Police assistant commissioner Kevin Casey had only been on the homicide squad for a week when he was called to the mass murder.

“I distinctly remember hearing sirens on St Kilda Rd and looking out my office window to see ambulance vehicles rush towards the city,” he said.

“We got call to say there had been a mass shooting.”

Faye McBean, one of the eight victims of the Australia Post massacre.

The front page of The Sun newspaper the day after the mass murders.

Mr Casey said a crime scene had been established by the time his team got there.

“It felt quite surreal,” he said.

“There was a lot of people standing outside the building, watching, wondering what happened.”

The now assistant commissioner said he often thinks about the mass murder when an anniversary comes around.

“Every 10-year anniversary I think about what happened that day and remember the victims and their families,” he said.

“I don’t really think about it day-to-day anymore.”

One of the victims arrives at Royal Melbourne Hospital.

The Queen St mass murder shooting weapon, M1 Rifle.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Kevin Casey.

Mr Casey will be attending a memorial service to pay his respects to family and friends of those who were murdered 30 years ago.

Australia Post has invited family members, friends and members of the public to attend a memorial service tomorrow to honour those who lost their lives and those who were injured in the mass shooting.

The service will start with a wreath laying ceremony at the H & M building (former GPO building) on Elizabeth St at 9.15am.

Following the wreath ceremony, a memorial service will be held at St Michael’s Uniting Church at 10.30am.
All members of the public are welcome to attend.

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