30 October 2024
Two very similar buildings in Bourke Street between Elizabeth and Queen, usually obscured by trees. They’ve even got balconies in similar positions. The first one is more elegant, and was built 1928/9. No architect I can find but seems to have been built by and for a Pearson Rowe Smith & Co, stock and station agents, who had been there first ages, reflecting the area’s history of horse trading and related businesses. It has an excellent intact shopfront. (Update : it was designed by FL & K Klingender, and there was an earlier smaller design, which has the shopfront as built). The second one was built in 1930 for Pellegrini’s Catholic Depot, purveyors of ‘all pious goods for Church or Home’. It was designed by AA Fritsch, best known for his series of Romanesque red brick churches. Both buildings were identified in the Hardware/Guildford Lane review in 2017, officially listed in 2019. Photos 2017.
Storey of Melbourne 