23 September 2024
Ex-North Melbourne State School, Queensberry Street, designed 1883. In 2015 when I took the pics it was the Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership, named after the first chief architect of the education department Henry Bastow, who is said to have designed 600 schools after primary education became compulsory in 1872. He based them on a number of competition winning entries by other architects, all in Gothic style; a few were built as as submitted, but then he took the bits he liked and rearranged them to suit sites and size required. Possibly others in his office made many of the choices, but there’s a general common look, usually face brick and Gothic arched windows, with steep roofs, and often with a bellcote or tower. This one is in red brick with cream details, with an impressive tower, and retains its many Gothic windows which were often enlarged later on. Original plans with Bastow signature via Graeme Butler. Seems not to be the Institute anymore, but it’s still got the statue of Bastow out front, by Peter Corlett and installed in 2011.
Storey of Melbourne 