May 2026 The unfeasibly elaborate Royal Hotel on Nelson Place Williamstown was built at the height of the boom in 1890, when the Williamstown Advertiser thought the nearby piers and docks would put licensee Mr DeWardt ‘on the right road to fortune’. His architect was T Anthoness, who didn’t do much I can find except … Continue reading Royal Hotel Williamstown →

May 2026 The very nice if relatively plain ES&A bank on Nelson Place in Williamstown was built in 1873, and must’ve been by far the grandest building there until larger shops were built in the 1880s. Gothic style banks were very rare amongst the much more numerous Classical ones; this was designed by Leonard Terry, … Continue reading Nelson Place Williamstown →

May 2026 I briefly touched on the 1931 Howey Court in the Sportsgirl post, thinking there’d be much more, but there isn’t really. It’s in a couple of good photos and some street shots, there was an article when it was announced in Feb 1930, another when the arcade opened 5 months later, and some … Continue reading Howey Court →

May 2026 If you go to Dymocks in Collins Street, you should look up ! This rather speccy atrium /shopping centre was built as the Sportsgirl Centre, 1991. I’d forgotten it was quite so fully richly Postmodern. Four levels of faintly classical ‘stone’ panels, deeply coved edges, curving travertine floors, clustered brass balustrades, interesting lights, … Continue reading Sportsgirl Centre →

May 2026 I don’t want to give this one too much air time, ‘cos I think it’s pretty ugly, but I feel I’ve got to justify that word : maybe it’s the combo of being so big in low surroundings, and being built right up the curve of the rushing traffic of Dandenong Road that … Continue reading Dandenong Road monster →

May 2026 On the Northcote hill looking down to St George’s Road is the giant home for the aged built by the Little Sisters of the Poor in stages from 1890. It used to be visible from a distance, behind some park-like gardens and the replacement home built in the 1980s, but too many big … Continue reading From nuns and old folks to Greek theatre →

May 2026 Never seen a house this far gone - this is in Wellington Street Cremorne, close to the silos near the river. It looks like it’s pretty original, at least since maybe the 1910s, with the kitchen out back with its stumpy chimney, the lean-to behind that possibly the bathroom or the laundry. Very … Continue reading Too far gone ? →

May 2026 I thought all the tiles at Richmind Station were 50s band-aid pink, but no they’re in five different colours (I didn’t get the blue one). It’s so very grungy and plain, the only nice thing is the tiles - but a lady stopped to say to me that it was great, and she … Continue reading Richmond Train Station →

May 2026 Mysterton, a rather grand house in Crimea Street St Kilda caught my eye a while ago - an unusual amount of window in the main bay, and a fine very Queen Anne style entry portico, not to mention the very shabby chic gates. It’s just now been listed for sale, first time since … Continue reading Arty St Kilda home →

May 2026 Chapel Lodge rears up in Chapel Street St Kilda, downhill from Alma Road, and it’s an unusually large block of early postwar flats, built c1948-50. At 6 floors it’s one of the relatively few elevator apartment buildings up to that date (eg Stanhill, Queens Road also 1950, last pic). The architect was the … Continue reading Great bookie hideout →