Dec 2025
An unusual and rather jolly I think block of flats in Horsburgh Grove Armadale that looks rather 50s but dates from 1940. Called Glenunga, it was one of a bunch of wildly modernist designs by Frederick Romberg, a German who had studied in Switzerland and fled the politics back home, arriving in Melbourne in 1938 aged only 25. In 39 he formed a partnership with Mollie Turner Shaw, and together did outstanding things like the white concrete zigzag Newburn Flats in Queens Road. Some of his designs also incorporated rustic features, like the big stone clad chimney here. Also, some portholes !, and rather big windows.
There’s only 4 flats here, all looking out onto that generous lawn, and he used angular windows inspired by Alvar Aalto’s Villa Mairea so that one flat didn’t look into another (but they do). Actually the Art in Australia in 1942 review says it lacks coherence, maybe they have a point. It seems to still be one owner, I could only find rental ads, so maybe that kitchen is original, and I also like the stone used inside.
2nd pic and interiors, real estate ads. Last pic is Romberg in 1937, on the motorbike he brought with him.
Storey of Melbourne 
It is certainly a very interesting building. I like that there are still flatblocks around like this one.
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