October 2026 Another mid century facility building at the University of Melbourne that appears to be slated to get the chop, and one that I’ve always kind of liked. The Redmond Barry building was completed in 1961, designed by University architect Rae Featherstone with Eggleston MacDonald & Secomb, and its tall and relatively thin, in … Continue reading Melbourne University mid century chopping block →

October 2026 The Prahran Town Hall is the most squeezy of the big 19thC town halls in the inner suburbs, but also in part the earliest. The first stage was the symmetrical front to Chapel Street built 1860-63, with a nice inset loggia, and a tower located for some reason down the side, rather than … Continue reading Prahran Town Hall →

October 2026 I was sent these pics by a follower asking what this thing seen above Elizabeth Street was - and I can answer it was the observation deck on top of the lift tower of what was briefly amongst Melbournes tallest buildings, the Colonial Mutual Life, completed in 1963. I’m told it was as … Continue reading Colonial Mutual Life Collins Street →

October 2026 Something for St Kilda-ites- had a close look at the mosaic that once marked the end of St Kilda pier, and discovered its by Mirka Mora. And it’s a depiction of what I call downtown St Kilda, the bit between Fitzroy Street, the beach, Acland and Barkly Streets back to the junction. She’s … Continue reading Mirka on the St Kilda foreshore →

October 2026 Always thought this place in Bourke Street just down from Queen was a plain example of the #gothicrevival, but once you look past the #urbangrime you can see some great foliage decoration and cast iron sunflowers up top. Known as #gothicchambers though built by city proprietary building co. (you can see the intertwined … Continue reading Gothic Chambers →

October 2026 I quite like this new office tower on the corner of Bourke and Queen Streets. First properly big one for a long time. It actually takes up a very big site, previously four buildings, but what I like is that it’s broken down into various volumes with different facade treatments (probably disguising huge … Continue reading Big tower Bourke & Queen →

October 2026 I reported last year about the sale of these three houses in Riversdale Road Hawthorn, near Glenferrie, noting that only the 1900 red brick Edwardian one by Ussher & Kemp was heritage listed - and now there’s an application to demolish the other two Victorian ones for a 7 story block of flats, … Continue reading Riversdale Road unlisted →

October 2026 There’s this Victorian mansion on Orrong Road Armadale set behind a huge swathe of lawn, so I had to find out the story. Which isn’t much. Originally called Kilbryde, it was built in 1876 for Robert Reid, whose company of the same name was a big drapery importer; he was also an MP … Continue reading Kilbryde Armadale →

October 2026 Very unusual fence on Orrong Road, Armadale, bluestone with brick edging. Must be 1920s, since the house is 1920s Californian Bungalow, but possibly it was just before WW1. I suppose it’s also possible that the fence reused bluestone from some demolished Victorian thing, but they’re in such a variety of sizes, unlike most … Continue reading Great fence →

October 2026 Very stylish flats in Orrong Road, Armadale, designed by Stuart Hall and completed in mid 1940. They’ve got a bit more going on than most, with curved corners complete with curved glass, and the entry/stairs feature inward curves then out again, with curved glazed walls to common balconies, topped by little towers which … Continue reading ‘All gas’ Deco flats Armadale →