20 July 2024

This stylish monster once stood on Southbank near Polly Woodside I think where the Plenary Centre now is. Called New Gordon House, it was a replacement for the 1880s charity housing Gordon House in Little Bourke Street, but with single rooms instead of dormitories, and located in what was then the fag end of the city, all sprawling sheds and light industry. Completed in 1976, it was designed by Phillip Cohen under The Architects Group (which included Kevin Borland), and won an award in 77, but was later described by the Age as ‘an icon of ugliness’. I rather like the colours and the curves and bold volumes and the super graphics, though it does look a lot like a Housing Commission tower. I also vaguely remember a slight fuss when it was demolished in 1992, I think mainly about where would the old men (and some women) would end up (but seems they were housed elsewhere, by what’s now called Wintringham). I also recall there wasn’t a clear plan for anything there, except that the Museum was going to be nearby, later becoming the Exhibition Centre, but the Plenary Centre, shops hotel etc didn’t happen till 2009. All photos @johngollings via Doug Evans on Facebook, info also from Doug, and Tony Beyer, Lost History of Melb FB.

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