Townhouse, Paris End

August 2025

The nicest surviving townhouse on the (former) Paris End of Collins Street, cnr Exhibition. Actually not much info on it, just that it was built in 1867 for Dr Wilkins, Oculist, and occupied by Drs until 1959 when it became a Commonwealth Bank. I couldn’t even find old photos of it, except 1978, and a blurry one from 1956.

But Trove found the tender notice for me, so I’m very chuffed to be able to add the architects were Smith & Watts. They had a short partnership from c1865-1870, doing a bunch of banks, all similar in style, and the townhouse is much more interesting variation – it’s got bold rustication, and those cute first floor windows with arches within arches on the Collins Street front, which also have little cast iron balconettes. The section on the Exhibition Street side with the oriel window was added at some point, it’s slightly set back.

The only problem here is that there’s now a giant tower looming over it, built right on both side boundaries, casting the street into gloom. Urg. It’s sparkly from a distance though. Rolex bought it in 1993, and it’s still a Rolex shop, even though their HQ opened May last year is a block away in the Art Deco Centenary House. My photos from August, and one from c2018.