January 2026

Another facade job in the CBD – 103-5 Flinders Lane is a narrow but very long 1886 Victorian warehouse, most famous from when the basement was home for Cherry Bar from 1999-2019.

I posted about it then (my pics 2, 5) noting that the hidden laneways thing was over, and yes it then became a glam bar/restaurant, pic 6. Looks like not long after Cherry left, the owners, who’ve had it since 1956, got the permit for a skinny hotel tower – can’t find any details but it looks about 30 floors.

Hmmm actually it was put up for sale with that permit in Oct last year, doesn’t seem to have sold, so probably 101 Collins is negotiating, since they buy up everything along here to protect their views, at least above 10 floors. There’s nothing much inside in fact the top floor trusses look so clean with new steel, maybe they’re new ?

It was built for carriage makers Samwells & Reeves, and there was still a car dealer there in the 1909 ad. By the early 20thC it housed fashion businesses like much of the lane. Found a pic from the 70s, when the facade was much simpler, no idea if whats there now is a faithful restoration or guesswork. But still, hate to see yet another small warehouses turn into just walls.

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