July 2026

I’m posting an old pic first because trees and sun angles make a good new photo hard, but this curious building in Bourke Street near Russell sure has an interesting story.

Firstly, it’s 1937, by noted Modernists #SeabrookAndFildes, with what looks like a modern curtain wall, but actually those blue enamelled metal panels are over concrete upstands, but still, a pretty radical look for Melbs. The frame and the big sign were in ‘painted aluminium’ (silver?), while the great incised mural was in blue and burnt orange, while everything else was cream. The glass was reeded too, adding to the modern industrial effect.

The uses were also unusual – it was built by Louis Barnett, who occupied the first floor with a hair and beauty salon business (they did #perruquier, ie wigs, and they’re still going, now in Richmond). Their reception was in red leather, silver ash and blue leather cloth. Mmmm.

Upstairs was the Weber & Rice Health & Strength College, in cream and green, with a gym on the third floor, and the big bit on top was the squash court ! I’ve been up there, it has/had great pop-up square skylights. In the 90s it was offices for an adult entertainment company, now it’s a variety of things including a physio on the 2nd floor, an echo of the health college.

At some point the mural was sadly plastered over – theres a bit up there that’s come off, not sure if it could ever be restored. Otherwise it’s held on ok, in the 90s I convinced them not to replace the steel framed windows with aluminium. It’s even lasted through a high rise proposal, finally getting heritage listed in 2011.

Old pics SLV/RVIA journal Sep 1938.

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