15 March 2020

This extraordinary elevation is the 1885 competition entry by #WilliamPitt for the proposed Federal Coffee Palace on the corner of Collins & King Streets. It’s a framed watercolour presumably by Pitt, with beautiful details, including the people, flag, etc. But I can see why he didn’t win, I mean it looks like a cartoon design ! Maybe Wes Anderson. But also similar to some NY or Chicago high rise designs of the period.

First prize went to Ellerker & Kilburn, Pitt coming second, but his layout and interiors impressed the judges, and they were told to work together. So the elaborate stepped bays and varied roofs and tower are E&K, while the equally ornate three level atrium was Pitt’s.

The hotel, with its 370 guest rooms, lounges and dining rooms and tower lookout opened in 1888, but was sadly demolished in 1973. A few bits survive like three statues now at @mcclellandgallery. It was replaced by a boring office tower, recently replaced by a slightly less boring bigger one.

Some #MelbourneFragments – these ladies once graced the exterior of the OTT #FederalCoffeePalace that once stood on the corner of Collins & King streets, one of those things that just seems unreal that it ever existed, and what’s more it was here ! Built in 1888 it had 500 rooms, and a lookout in the dome. The exterior was designed by #EllerkerAndKilburn, while the interior was by William Pitt (they both won a competition then had to work together). The ladies were sculpted by Charles William Scurry, and were snatched up by hotel entrepreneur George Frew when it was demolished in 1973 and squished into the foyer of the then new #ChateauCommodore in #LonsdaleStreet, which changed hands in 1996 and fortunately they didn’t throw them away, and equally fortunately the #McLellandGallery took them in. I had to search around to find them though almost hidden under an overhang at the back. Protection I suppose but they were designed for an exterior position (they wrongly say they were in the foyer). There were four, presumably Mr Frew only had room for 3.

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