8 April 2020 Anywhere else and the elaborate #VictorianShop on the right would be a stand out, but next to the other big things at the corner of #FitzroyStreetStKilda and Grey Street, and with a huge sign on top, it gets overlooked. The style is very #highvictorian, so prob 1888-1891, other than that I don’t … Continue reading High Victorian on Fitzroy Street →

Original post 5 April 2020 Photos 20 September 2019 Another case of did you know ? that the lobby of the #HotelWindsor isn’t exactly what it seems - it’s an early 1980s version of what was there in the 1880s. The lobby was originally quite small, even grand hotels of the 1880s didn’t always have … Continue reading Windsor Hotel, recreation (not quite) →

Original post 6 April 2020 In the late 1970s-80s, after the idea of putting the Museum of Victoria here or building a world trade centre was rejected, all the buildings of the #QueenVictoriaMarket were restored, including rebuilding the verandahs on these 1887 shops on Victoria Street in 1988. Lovely. Note the original #victorianshopfronts were all … Continue reading Queen Vic Market verandah restoration, 1988 →

Original post 11 October 2019 Great Victorian corner shop in #ClarendonStreetSouthMelbourne, probably 1880s, possibly earlier, complete with #pairedpilasters and cute #castironbalconettes.

Original post 11 October 2019, updated 2024 Did you know there was once a tram to Port Melbourne? Well a cable tram anyway. Here’s a pic of a one on Beach Street, near Station Pier. The line opened in 1890 and ran from here, round up Bay Street then City Road, over the new Queensbridge, … Continue reading Vanished tram line →

Original post 5 April 2020 The #ConservatoriumOfMusic at #MelbourneUniversity was built in 1909-10, and has that great #Sezession style vegetal decoration seen only here and there in Melbs; we don’t have that much #ArtNouveau (except for the stained glass windows and tiles in every Edwardian house). This was designed by #BatesPeeblesAndSmart, who were also doing … Continue reading (Old) Conservatory of Music, Melbourne University →

Original post 5 April 2020 A handsome #Weleyan #bluestonechurch of uncertain date in #HydeStreetFootscray; it was started in 1869-71, then enlarged in 1888 by #CJPolain, when a vestry was added at the back, but did he do the front then as well ? The charming #polychromebrick detailing is very 1888, but the #foundationstone implies the … Continue reading Wesleyan Church, Footscray, 1871 (probably) →

Original post 3 April 2020 Good from any angle so here’s 4 ! #BHPbuilding (former), cnr Bourke&William, completed 1972, the apogee of refined modernism. Won the top prize at the Architects Institute Awards in 1973. Designed by #YunckenFreeman, lead architect #BarryPatten, who had travelled to Chicago to consult with #SkidmoreOwingsandMerrill, then completing both the #Hancocktower … Continue reading BHP building, Bourke Street, a modernist classic. →

Original post 4 April 2020 Down a narrow side street in #Collingwood there’s this ! Apparently built in 1862 it’s the oldest #distillery building in #Melbourne. Not sure what they distilled, whiskey perhaps ? It’s in #NorthumberlandStreet, off Wellington, and once went through to Victoria Parade. Think the silos next to it were part of … Continue reading Melbournes oldest distillery, Collingwood →

Original post 3 April 2020 I don’t hate but I dont love it, and it was better with the original sign. Built in 2003, designed by the late Richard Swansson (who was a year behind me at uni), documented by @bauarchitects.urbanists with hospo interiors by @grantamonarchitects. Kind of does stick out in the streetscape of … Continue reading Marque / Rydges Hotel, Fitzroy Street, 2003 →