27 June 2024
Will’s Buildings, a pair of nice 1870 shophouses on Flinders Street near King Street that are unfortunately not long for this world. A permit to replace them with offices was issued in 2018, just as the Hoddle Grid Heritage Review was starting up, which recommended them for listing in 2021. The Independent Panel however thought they weren’t as notable as other similar shops, and said no (though the less interesting 472 Little Lonsdale, pic 3, did get in). In 2022 the developers bought the block next door, one of the more peculiar things in the city, a row of ‘mews’ houses built in 1984 (but remained one owner and lately used as offices), and they got a permit in July last year for an apartment tower. And just now the site is up for sale, with permit. B&W pic 1966, showing the third of the row, dem about 1970.
Storey of Melbourne 