18 October 2024

A crazy bit of facadism from 2013; this is the back of 73 Bourke Street, now Marias. Looks better than just keeping the front wall and a bit of side wall, but it’s a weird interpretation of ‘no interior controls’. Even more weirdly, there’s a big blank wall there now, and the building is squared off, so apparently the retained walls are now inside. What’s more they just painted the facade white, when originally it was two tone bricks, but again, the controls say if it’s already painted (pic 5, c2000) you can paint again if you like.

Apologies to anyone who likes the glam interior, with its mirrors and grand stair, but I’d rather keep some wiggly back walls and funny little windows and preferably timber floors too in future. But despite new guidelines saying keep the ‘front portion’ we’re still seeing just the front wall retained.

Nearby the Metro is now just a facade, as is the Society. At least Job Warehouse is on the heritage register.

• Uncategorized