I photographed this in 2014, then found out it was originally the #CollingwoodBowlsClub pavilion, probably from the 1880s, but they’d gone, leaving it to the Senior Citizens as Pioneer Hall, but not maintained, so looked like this. I knew it was a very rare example of #expressedtimberframe, where the cladding is only internal, and the … Continue reading Demolished c2015 without a whimper
Month: July 2021
ACCA, folded rusty steel
Repost 2021: I do like ACCA, great sculptural slabs of #cortensteel, at various angles, overlapping, set in a stark gravel expanse, with entry under a sharp point. Very Deconstructivist, a kind of late aspect of Postmodern, all about angular or ‘exploded’ forms. By @wood_marsh, completed 2002, a long way on from their 1992 fun little … Continue reading ACCA, folded rusty steel
Melbourne Synagogue, 1930
Repost this day 2018: The #MelbourneSynagogue was completed in 1930, in a conservative #NeoClassical (or is it Baroque) style, with a nice low #dome adding an eastern touch, but could easily be a grand church. Designed by #NahumBarnet, for which he came out of retirement when he was in his early 70s. Good site but … Continue reading Melbourne Synagogue, 1930
Malthouse Theatre
14 July 2021 The Malthouse in Southbank was built in 1892 for the #CastlemaineBrewery (their brew tower is over on Queensbridge Street). In 1986 the building was gifted to the Playbox Theatre Co, which took a while to find the restoration and conversion (leaving a lot of great structure inside), opening as the Malthouse Theatre … Continue reading Malthouse Theatre
Expressionist Gothic
Repost this day 2017 new photos 2018: Always thought this very unusual thing on #PuntRoad was an old funeral parlour, but no it was built as a church, in 1939 ! The #ApostolicChurch (an English Pentecostal movement apparently). May explain why looks like a wild gothicish theatre or public building rather than a church, plus … Continue reading Expressionist Gothic
Stylish Toilet, St Kilda
16 September 2018: #PublicToilet as rustic sculpture, one of the best things @WoodMarsh ever did; #ladies have the curved roof, #gents have the square block. #StKildaBotanicalGardens, 1993. First three pics 2024
Miesian box in Southbank
12 July 2021 Very stylish little thing on #SturtStreetSouthMelbourne; thought it would be anonymous but no, the nice #PeterWille photo at @library_vic identifies it as offices for Burston Brothers, who ran the Malthouse next door, built 1956, and designed by #YunckenFreeman, who went on in the 60s to become refined modernists using expressed steel frames … Continue reading Miesian box in Southbank
Brick wall – paint frame
Repost this day 2018: you’ll never guess what’s in here ! It’s called the ‘#PaintFrame’ at #HerMajestysTheatre, sticking out from the side - a fabbo very tall thin structure in which whole theatre backdrops were painted by scenic artists, some on the floor below, getting dripped on by those on the floor above; the backdrop … Continue reading Brick wall – paint frame
Abandoned above the ground floor
@theageaustralia rang me to do an article about ‘all the abandoned buildings’ but I said there weren’t that many - but it made me make a list, I’ve got 6 as well as the ex Barclay hotel in previous post - they’re mostly in the retail area, and the rent on the shops is enough … Continue reading Abandoned above the ground floor
Industrial disguise
In #LittleLonsdale near King Street - a case of facadism, but not because it was heritage listed! Guess they decided they couldn’t design anything better. This little industrial building was built in 1923, and in 2017 a permit was issued for a hotel, which has recently been changed into an office tower (given the current … Continue reading Industrial disguise









