21 December 2024

Such a huge front they built for the #prahranmarket in 1891. Great #queenannestyle design by Charles D’ebro. But why isn’t there a grand old market behind it ? Turns out the market started here in 1881 in a series of open sheds like the Queen Vic, then they added the overly large street front, hoping it would produce a high rent. The stalls were renovated in the 1920s, but they were destroyed by fire in 1950. Temporary sheds were built, and then the permanent and current structure wasn’t started until the 1970s. Designed by Gunn Hayball, seems the rather industrial style sheds were done by 1976, then the courtyard section, now partly covered, was finished by 1982 when it won an Architecture Institute award. It’s got some slightly interesting tubular steel, but …. My photos from 2014, sketch unknown date, @castlemaineartmuseum, fire photo and one from 1953 @prahranmarket, last one the internet.

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