September 2026 The 1887 police station in the west end of Bourke Street is rather dour Gothic, which perhaps what public works architect was SC Brittingham intended, though it would look cheerier if it was cleaned. The bluestone cell blocks behind were built a little earlier and it’s remarkable they’re still there, one of the … Continue reading West Bourke Police Station →

September 2026 Cute little bluestone warehouse in Little Collins Street near Spencer, dating from 1865. There are other early warehouses but mostly the more pretentious sort - this one is just plain rough bluestone, with a gable roof, the only nice details the quoining, that bullseye window, and the tuck pointing (which maybe came later). … Continue reading Pretty bluestone →

September 2026 This quirky thing is on Eildon Road St Kilda on a triangular block that was created in 1921, so it must date from that decade, with all those shingles, rough cast, and that cute bracketed out window, which the heritage study calls it ‘bizarre styling’. Also, has looked the same ever since I’ve … Continue reading What no windows →

September 2026 Faces to the names - three of the most prolific architects of the interwar years in cartoon form - Harry Norris (Nicholas Building, Coles, Majorca, Mitchell House), Marcus Barlow (Manchester Unity, Century House), and Kingsley Henderson (who doesn’t get any listed but did all the T&G Buildings, National Bank HQ Collins St). They … Continue reading Architectural characitures →

September 2026 The Age ran this story yesterday about tram routes proposed in a plan of 1923 - imagine a tram up Punt Road ! Or along Orrong, or Bell Street Brunswick. We would of course take them as normal of they’d happened. But that was back when cars were relatively few, no traffic lights … Continue reading Tram routes never built →

September 2018 + new pics : #OldandNew, the photo that always pops up as old Melbourne contrasted with the new. Happened by accident though, simply because a large #Lshapedsite in #CollinsStreet was created in the mid 70s bit by bit, and the corner owners the #AlexandraClub wouldn’t sell. The club occupied what was originally the … Continue reading Dr Beaney’s house →

1 September 2026 The Church Street Bridge is mighty fine - I’ve always like the very monumental lamp post pylons, as well as the multiple arches seen from below. It was completed in 1924, and was quite a big deal - the only proper traffic bridge upstream from Princes Bridge, they made an effort to … Continue reading Church Street Bridge →

August 2026 Maybe James Aiken, the owner of this place in Albert Road South Melbourne, said to his architect in 1890 - Splendid, but can I have a bit more verandah ? In fact I want it to be like that nice house over in St Vincent Place please (pic 8), but …. extra. The … Continue reading Balcony extra →

August 2026 I think if this was in Bourke or Collins we’d all be swooning over it, wanting to stay there, but no, it’s at the dag end of Flinders Street behind a big tree, so you just don’t see it. But the ex-Markillie’s Hotel is great ! It’s a quite an elaborate front, most … Continue reading Markillie’s →

July 2026 This one has loads of character outside, not so much inside - it’s 182 Fitzroy Street Fitzroy. Originally a pair of narrow terraces, it was turned into a church hall in 1908 for a group called Christian Endeavour, then it was used 1946-54 by the Methodist Aboriginal Mission. I think it might have … Continue reading Better before →