In 2019 the 1890 mansion #Bundalohn, by #HyndmanAndBates, in Tennyson Street St Kilda was revealed from behind an ugly 60s motel thing – but it’s just been covered up again !

It had been crisis accomodation, and that’s what the new thing is- I suppose because it’s impossible to get permits to build a use like that, so they just rebuild existing sites. It’s not bad, not too busy, not too boring, I do like the use of textured brick- but perhaps it could have had an opening on the other side ? So you could see the tower, instead of jut the rear wing ? Also, the drive in entrance looks a little jaily- tall fence, guards office; I’m super you need security – but then on the other side there’s just low fences to lounge room windows ? The initial architects were @mgsarchitects, but it got handed over to someone else.

2026 more info, from housing first website and other sources:

The house was built for Henry Giles Turner, manager of the CBA bank. He went for something quite up to date in the new Queen Anne style, a rather plain red brick version designed by Reed Tappin & Smart. The long gone two level timber verandah was the most stylish feature – the elaborate timber-framed multi-paned windows and panelling at ground level was presumably a conservatory. Most surprisingly the stairhall inside is largely original, with an impressive fireplace, timber dados, stencilled wall decoration, and stained glass windows – the St Kilda Hist Society has some great pics.

Giles sold in 1920, and the land both sides still divided, to the north with a new street, Bundalohn Court, and the house became 5 flats. It stayed like that until the 1956 motel part built, which later became apartments/backpackers, then social housing c2010, then bought by Housing First in 2017, rebuilt for vulnerable mums and kids.

Interiors from St Kilda Historical Society

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