14 April 2024

A little gold rush era survivor from 1855 in Lonsdale Street near King Street. It was built by Edward Fitzsimmons, and was first an office, becoming a shop in 1859. A painted sign on the side was revealed in 2018 then covered again, advertising it as a temperance hotel later in its life. In the 80s-90s it was Fitzsimmons Restaurant, presumably named after the first owner. Listed by Heritage Victoria it was restored / unpainted as part of the development that wraps around it side and back, leaving it in a bit of a dark concrete hole. The @centralequity tower completed 2020 even leans out over its backyard a bit. Annoying, since the previous buildings were only 2 levels, and the new one could have provided a better setting at street level, but nobody insisted. And now nobody wants the poor little thing. Pic 5 old streetview, 6 of sign from HV, 7 inside from lease ad, last pic 1970s from the National Trust.

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