8 July 2019
The rather splendid #EconomiserBuilding in #LittleBourkeStreet was built in 1908 as part of the #LonsdaleStreetPowerStation, first built by the #CityOfMelbourne in 1894 to supply the new fangled electric #streetlights. When the #UpperWestSide development was first proposed about 2010 it was going to be demolished along with the whole of the power station despite being #heritagelisted, and the compromise was to take the roof off and stick columns in to hold up the carpark above, and then put the roof back. When I was at the #nationaltrust I made a fuss, and managed to get #CotteeParker to move the columns back and reduce the size of the overhang, which is better, but it’s still mostly built over compared to its original freestanding character. I havnt been to #higherground, but it looks surprisingly spacious, it’s really quite large inside.
12 April 2025
So it was 2013 when this thing was finished and I took these pics – it was when towers were popping up throughout the CBD, with much less regard for heritage than previously, due to State Govt having approvals for all large projects, and barely consulting the City of Melbourne, who weren’t much interested anyway. This example is over what was left of the Spencer Street Power Station, a pair of 1908 buildings that initially were going to be completely demolished despite being heritage listed. Only 3 walls of the office building facing Spencer were retained, while the fine little hall on the side had columns put through, all very unsympathetic, like many that followed. It was and still is amazing how many flats they squeezed in, where you wouldn’t have thought likely, as here right on the corner behind all that blue stuff. Before pics are from 2010. The whole thing is called Upper West Side (jeez), with four towers, with 2500 apts, one of the densest blocks in the city, but at least they don’t look into light wells like some. And there’s some shops, some in a funny little arcade. Designed by @cotteeparker, I quite like the abstract pattern tower facades.
Storey of Melbourne 