18 January 2025
A fine streetscape we might take for granted, but so very Melbourne – Flinders Lane between Swanston and Russell, lined with multi-storey warehouses from the 1910s to the 1930s, mostly a similar height and width, all built for the rag trade or light industry, and all pretty much intact. Yum. First the Adelphi, created by @dentoncorkermarshall in 1992 by a do-over of a 1938 Joseph Plottel; then across a lane, a classical one by #TompkinsAndTompkins from 1924, then a red brick one from 1911 by William Pitt, then a Deco one from 1937, with nasty new windows. Then a beautiful one with huge windows and Art Nouveau details (and some unfortunate extra floors) from 1901 by King & Stainsley, and then above the tourists thronging Hosier Lane is McDonald & Co softgoods importer, with curiously small windows built 1924, designed by Robertson & Marks, and lastly one from 1909. Together they provide small quirky offices, including some fashion related showrooms, 2 hotels, and 2 are now apartments.
Original post 12 January 2018 (update 2024-the development is off):
This lovely 1911 #FlindersLane #warehouse, was possibly designed by #WilliamPitt, and for ages Maria George was here, the best place to get your sequins, then it was turned into stylish offices not so long ago. It’s now set to be gutted and transformed into a #JackalopeHotel, with a lobby featuring a giant Kaws, restaurants, a #rainroom (with its own lift), extra glass balcony, and way up on top above the ‘discretionary’ #40mHeightLimit, a bar wrapped in stainless steel mesh supposed to look like a cloud. The theme for the whole thing is #MelbourneWeather, oh boy 🙄 Took me a while to realise but it’s a symptom I suppose of the ‘experience economy’ (is that a thing ?) and probably a bit exclusive/expensive. Very annoyed that it’s only this block that’s discretionary 40m rather than mandatory, like the ones to the north, but at least it’s more like sculpture than building.
Update: it was sold early last year, so no jackalope.
Storey of Melbourne 