19th Century #BenevolentInsitutions often had spacious grounds, even on #StKildaRoad, where the Institute for Deaf Children has a huge park in front with a sweeping drive. They also sometimes adopted a dour Gothic style, but in this case the architects #CrouchAndWilson lightened up the #bluestone base with delightful #polychromebrickwork detailing, and a riot of spires and spikes. The central wing was built in 1866, which come to think of it is early for polychrome, though when #JosephReedArchitect used it on St Michaels in the city the next year, it was even more elaborate, all brick, and Romanesque.

Fir a long time I confused this with the very similar looking RoyalVictorianInstitutefortheBlind up the road. It was built two years later, 1868, a bit less gothic, and more towers. 2nd photo, from #LovellChen heritage architects, after the tower tops were rebuilt a few years ago (all five of them), and before the enormous #ParqueMelbourne built was just to the left, casting it in shade (3rd photo, mine). Crouch & Wilson did lots of churches, one of the first to introduce #polychromebrick.

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