5 April 2015:

The Carlton Post Office in Elgin Street, one of the few 19thC #postoffice’s that still is one ! (Update, it’s now @thetorchvic indigenous arts program). Designed by #JHMarsden of the #publicworksdepartment, and built 1884. Lovely #renaissancerevival #palazzo form. Oddly framed by gum trees, planted in the street median. And upstairs is (was) the spanish consulate, just 200m down the road from the spanish area of johnston street fitzroy.

It’s also just a few blocks from the Fitzroy Post Office, much simpler style, built two years previously, in turn very similar to the St Kilda PO built 1876, and Clunes built 1879, and Warrnambool 1869, possibly the first like this.

July 2026

The ex- St Kilda Post Office is a bit of a landmark as you zoom down Brighton Road, because it sits at an angle on the intersection with space in front, plus it’s nice.

It was built in 1876, back when the road was High Street, narrower, and lined with shops. Designed by the JH Marsden in the Public Works Department, it’s the 2nd of a series in this charming mini Renaissance Palazzo form, with ground level arches and a hipped roof. The first was Fitzroy, then later Clunes, then Carlton (pics 11-13). The arches in all of them were originally open.

In the 90s or thereabouts this one was redeveloped as apartments as part of a much larger site, and they stepped the bulk back, didn’t facade it, and even kept the upstairs (originally a residence ?) intactish. Old pic is 1880s showing the open arcades.

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