June 2026

More Howard Lawson delights, a bunch of contiguous blocks on Alexandra Ave at the bottom of Caroline Street, Sth Yarra, mostly in his signature Spanish style built in c1934, in a variety of colours.

Dorrington sits right on the pointy corner, mainly 1 beds, with great round bedrooms on the corner flats, but studio flats as well. Next to that is York House, then Kildare – it’s curious they’re Spanish style but they have Olde Worlde names in Gothic lettering, and some diamond pattern leadlight too. They’ve got very dim atmospheric semi-open access from within or behind.

(Some pics are 2019)

Some you can also get to from a little culdesac behind called Lawson Grove. There’s three more blocks there, including the crazy shaped Berkley House at the end, and a great little cafe under a huge pine tree that was catching some sun at 2pm.

Then there’s a rounded Deco one on the corner of Darling Street called Maritama, built in 1940, which also features classical balustrades. It’s dumbbell shaped, so everyone gets a round room (or nearly everyone).

And on the other side of Caroline Street back towards the city there’s Durham Hall. And beyond that is the vertiginous Stratton Heights.

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