Original post 13 March 2020: Hard to believe but the part above the cornice of the left section was built in 1997-8! The Commercial Travellers Association hotel and attached offices in #FlindersStreet were completed in 1914, the taller hotel part built in anticipation of the 132ft put in place in 1916, while the office part … Continue reading A hotel for Commercial Travellers, 1913 →

Original post 12 March 2020 Curzon, another plain 1930s block in #EildonRoadStKilda, but unlike the one up the hill, actually does a lot with just a few ideas - the main part is simple streamlined horizontal access balconies, which run into a curved part, following the line of the street, emphasised by the slightly projecting … Continue reading Art Deco curves in St Kilda. →

Original post 11 March 2020 The Queen Street facade here is new ! It’s been recently reconstructed to its 1955 appearance, something @melbourne_heritage_action suggested instead of an ‘interpretive’ version. The building started out as offices in 1872, converted for #FletcherJones in 1955, along with that light and dark colour scheme, then the Queen St facade … Continue reading Fletcher Jones facadism – and facade reconstruction – on Flinders Street →

Original post 10 March 2020 The Belvedere, #UpperEsplanade, #StKilda, if I had the $, maybe ...(though hardly ever for sale). Built 1928, designed by the prolific #WHMerritt, one of Melbs best certainly most prominent examples of what we now call #SpanishMission, via Hollywood. The have or did have or some have amazing bathrooms with the … Continue reading Spanish style on the Upper Esplanade →

Original post 10 March 2020 Not everything built in the 1930s is delightful Art Deco. This is in #GreyStreetStKilda. No detailing whatsoever, just one curve but no streamlining, in fact the rectangular #steelframedwindows with expressed lintels is a bit like a factory. This block might be by #GeorgeJohnston who was known for doing many rather … Continue reading Uninteresting Art Deco →

Original post 15 October 2019 I’m quite surprised to see that the stepping back then forward again, normally a no-no, works in this case- prob because it’s such a high gap, and effectively puts the tower above the National Bank next door, plus the stepped levels are very plain, just background. The setback is 6m … Continue reading Too shiny on Collins Street; but the setbacks work. →

9 March 2020 Built in 1908, this impressive block isn’t your usual shop downstairs and shopkeepers house upstairs; there’s a huge space upstairs too with big timber trusses, all I could find was that it was built as a drapers, so I guess it was like a big two level store full of stuff. There’s … Continue reading Larger than average shops, Bridge Road Richmond →

Original post 9 March 2020 Very elaborate #highvictorian #shoptop in #BayStreetBrighton.

Original post 8 March 2020 Architecturally not that notable old pub, though rather elaborate and intact, the #SpreadEagleHotel in #BridgeRoadRichmond is distinguished by it’s delightful pale yellow and white colour scheme, and the name - always thought rather odd, but seems in the 19thC it meant an Eagle with out-spread wings, like on many crests, … Continue reading Spread Eagle Hotel, 1885 →

Original post 8 March 2020 ‘Three two storey shops’, in #BridgeRoadRichmond, 1887, designed by the prolific #JohnBeswicke. (also part of a great row of interesting and elaborate shops). A book published a few years ago by Beswicke’s grandson (who’s about 90) was based on family papers kept all this time, showing he designed at least … Continue reading John Beswicke on Bridge Road, 1887 →