July 2026 The Mad Max carpark at Melbourne University is a wonderful thing ! It was completed in 1972, and used for the film only 7 years later. I don’t think it was designed in order to be so atmospheric, it was just what happened when someone came up with the idea of wide curved … Continue reading Mad Max carpark →

July 2026 Neptune Street is a narrow St Kilda road running parallel to the much grander Robe Street, and it’s lined with cottages - and on a heritage walk by StKilda historical a very long time ago they said ‘the servants had to live somewhere nearby’. Which they did if they didn’t live-in, but of … Continue reading Neptune →

July 2026 Wacky tiny pointy thing in Blessington Street St Kilda, which is actually an extension to the much earlier shops next door. They look to be 19thC done over in the 20s or 30s. The extension has shops at ground level then offices (perhaps originally a flat) and am apartment on top, with roof … Continue reading Wedgy →

July 2026 This fine bit of brooding 70s black box minimalism looks like maybe a corporate HQ but no it’s the Toorak South Yarra Library, a surprising choice for a library, but one that really gives visiting a sense of occasion. Which is accentuated by the formal pair of ramps - but I was shocked … Continue reading Toorak Library →

July 2026 A very stylish block of Art Deco flats in Docker Street Elwood, a bit obscured by trees but you get the picture. Built in 1938, they’ve got a vertical stair flanked asymmetrically by rounded corners with big steel framed windows and cantilevered balconies, all distinctive elements of the work of Esmond Dorney. He … Continue reading Antigone in Elwood →

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 →

June 2026 The John Medley building at Melbourne University is very likely to be demolished. I don’t think it’s amazing architecture but it’s pretty interesting. Built 1969-71, designed by famous architect Roy Grounds as a gateway to the University. In fact it’s pretty obviously inspired by a medieval gateway, with squat towers either side and … Continue reading Medley Building →

June 2026 Some wonderfully messy tram/electric poles in Commercial Road Prahran, probably dating from the first tram line along here built in 1915. There’s one with a cute capping, which they probably all had. These poles are gradually being replaced everywhere by plainer thicker ones.

26 June 2026 Well this is super depressing - Lendlease actually wants to go to nearly twice the MANDATORY 40m height limit for their boring office project around Young & Jacksons, and it’s entirely up to the Minister Sonya Kilkenny to say yes or no, without any public process. I thought the 40m (plus plant … Continue reading City corner over the top →

June 2026 Rather delightful plaster ceiling in a gelati shop in Elizabeth Street near Little Bourke. It looks very Edwardian, maybe c1900, with a little bit of Art Nouveau and a lot of foliage. Its survived various shop uses, but I think lately saved itself by being so nice, since it was not only kept … Continue reading CBD shop interior →