3 September 2025

This fabulously elaborate facade on Sean Street Richmond near Church Street was probably built as the Richmond Coffee Palace in 1888, designed by William Wolf. I especially like the top floor pilasters with hanging fruit decoration, and the swags between. I also like that there’s a lot of ochre colour left on it, possibly the original limewash finish, though that seems unlikely, maybe it’s a limewash from 20 years ago?

Update : the coffee palace was down the road, and long gone

Then I thought this was it, but also wrong. But unusual to find elaborate windows within arches, in this case low ones, and as part of the wall, without any projections.

Louis Wyatt found this pic which shows the coffee palace was between these two places. Looks like it had a little turret. Pity no photos closer up.

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