November 2018
đŽ Went looking for St Kiernan flats on the #OrmondEsplanade, designed by #EsmondDorney, and built in 1939 – and found this !
Got a permit 2 years ago to ârestore to 30s grandeur with new apartments with beach viewsâ but the one-line planning permission I found didnât say âkeep only three exterior wallsâ !
Possibly only the stair might have been interesting, but even thatâs gone, to make way for
â…a landmark inspiration that will offer a lifestyle of luxury with its opulent marble foyers, Axminster carpets, 1920s Californian chandelier, gorgeous Deco style light fittings, a lift and unrivalled sense of grandeur in the exquisite common areas, to take it back to Hollywood chic.â ….which it never was…at least it will look much the same from the street. (Thanks to Grant for driving me around again!)
November 2025
The end result looks fine from the street, except thereâs now a walled front garden. Real estate article from last year says the top three floors at the front are a glamorous penthouse, built by the owner/developers for themselves, but put up for sale middle of last year for $10mill – Elwood prices are mad ! I guess itâs like Brighton now. They bought it from a woman in her 90s who had spent decades buying up all the flats, and then clearly not maintaining them. The penthouse is all marble, the other flats are just characterless, eg last pic, but it has an original fireplace. All pics real estate sites.
Storey of Melbourne 