Repost 2019:

Coming up Jackson Street in the late afternoon, the #StKildaCoffeePalace in Grey Street often looks so impressive. And nicely worn, not overly restored, cos it isn’t.

It’s one of the first ‘temperance hotels’, also known as Coffee Palaces, opening in 1883. It was created by extensively rebuilding the St Kilda Assembly Room, which had opened in 1871. The rebuild was designed by #HendersonandSmart (who later joined with Joseph Reed). It had 37 rooms and a dining room ‘in Corinthian style’ (parts still visible), a billiard room and a ladies salon. It closed in 1888, so clearly couldn’t compete with the George Hotel virtually next door and much more prominent.

Like most of the coffee palaces it later became a #boardinghouse, which is now full of #backpackers.

2022 update : it emptied early in the pandemic, various renovations seeming to happen, recently a cafe has started off the foyer, and looks like reopening as backpackers (maybe).

10 July 2022:

Just discovered that the top floor of the St Kilda Coffee Palace was added in 1888 to the building (the same year it closed) so the much talked about Baroque broken pediment was actually just broken to fit a window ! This photo (from the NGV) is c1886, when the George Hotel corner section (on the left) was just built.

25 February 2023:

I’m a fan of green generally, but not this shade on this building ! I’ve lightened it up but it’s actually sort of a dark aqua. It’s been a backpackers for ages, closed in the pandemic, now rebadged as a boutique hotel, but still really a backpackers. (Reaction on Instagram was very divided, many hated, some liked).

• Uncategorized