5 July 2024
This stylish but curious thing on Little Collins (once George’s Hostess Store) has a long and interesting history. It was first built in 1891 as a Cyclorama, a huge circular building that housed an illusionistic 360* painting, with a central viewing platform creating the illusion of being somewhere else – the first display here was the Siege of Paris in 1871, part of the Franco Prussian war. The main entrance was actually on Bourke Street through an existing shop, but there’s a sketch of the Little Collins Street front, which was in an exotic Moorish/Moghul style, the windows and shopfronts especially elaborate (last image, not very accurate ! and not certain quite so elaborate). The 1890s depression meant it was soon converted to other uses, with a new central upper floor from 1908 also in Moorish style. It became a printers by the 1920s, and they made the shopfronts much plainer, and in the late 40s the same with the upper windows. The entry and the shopfronts were completely replaced in 1960 for George’s. Then in 1995 it was converted into apartments, with new suitably Parisian style shopfronts, and a mansard level. So the fun Moorish detailing is part 1891, part 1908, and the upper floors in part follow the circular outline ! Because of all the changes it’s not heritage listed, but really should be, though not in any danger.
Storey of Melbourne 