Original post 18 April 2020
Another case of an amazing thing lost, but in this case it’s just the facade, and it’s been replaced twice. At what is now called #333Collins, the current facade was created in 1990, replacing an art deco facade created in 1939, which had in turn replaced the original one, built in 1893 for the CBA bank. The new one lacks the drama of the original, since it’s simplified and in 80s honed granite rather than very detailed and in stucco.
The first #CBABank facade and domed banking chamber was a design by #LloydTaylor (who was joint first prize winner with 25 yo #AlfredDunn, but only for his arrangement of the offices). The rather unimpressive 1939 Deco/classical design was by #AandKHenderson, and shows that Victorian architecture by then was already actively disliked, plus it’s much thinner and so they gained a bit of internal space, but keeping it might have been a better option than this vague version of the original.
The current facade and rather Art Deco revival tower (which sits over the dome) was designed by US firm Nelson Architects with local firm #peckvonharteltrethowan.
First old pic now vs 1918 @nationallibraryaus, pic 2 from ‘Melbourne 1949’ by Jack Cato, pic 3 1945 @naagovau, pic 4 found on facebook, last pic mine.
Storey of Melbourne 