6 September 2014: The impressive Hawthorn Town Hall, 1888, designed by Hawthorn local John Beswicke, who did loads of houses, shops and other stuff including four other town halls (#dandenongtownhall, #malverntownhall #brightontownhall and Essendon) but this one by far the best. Recently #refurbished and #repainted. Portico a later addition. Update 2024 : Its been painted … Continue reading Hawthorn Town Hall →

5 September 2014 This church hall in King William Street Fitzroy near the town hall started out as a #prefabricated #castiron store, built c1854, manufactured by EDWIN MAW LIVERPOOL, like it says. The roof trusses are timber, but the side walls are the original corrugated iron. Update 2024 The rendered brick front is later, various … Continue reading Prefabricated in Fitzroy →

5 September 2024 The St Moritz luxury apartments on the Upper Esplanade were finished middle of last year, and they’re quite speccy, almost unreal with the totally smooth curved concrete and glass. Designed by @fenderkatsalidis, who also did the curvy apartments behind the Esplanade Hotel in 2007 (4th last pic). The development of three blocks … Continue reading St Moritz, St Kilda →

2 September 2024 Some striking flats I’ve passed a million times in Hotham Street, East St Kilda. A bit of 1920s European modern as practiced by Jewish emigre architect Mordecai Benshemesh in the early postwar period (he’s best known for Edgewater Towers). Called the Francelaw Flats, they were designed 1948, but not completed till 1951, … Continue reading Bricky spacious flats, Balaclava →

1 September 2024 This cute kiosk seen in a charming photo from the 50s (@library_vic) is still there, now a popular cafe in Cowderoy Street West St Kilda just behind the Beaconsfield Hotel. It must have an interesting history, though I can’t find out much, but the building looks c1930 to me. It was still … Continue reading Frankie’s West Kilda →

1 September 2024 Hmmm another facadism job, as well as plonking the tower very close to the existing top floor. Doesn’t look too bad at first glance, but it’s not even symmetrical with the retained bits. It’s in Lonsdale Street next to the old Titles Office on Queen Street. Originally housing the State Taxation Office … Continue reading Facadism in Lonsdale Street →

1 September 2024 Imagine this sitting at the top of Bourke Street ! Replacing the Imperial and more either side. Images are from the @nationallibraryaus and just say ‘Capella Project, Yuncken Freeman, 1973’, so don’t know how real, but does look like there was a very tall version and a lower one. Both pretty striking … Continue reading Unbuilt on Bourke Street →

30 August 2024 Thought this was going to be apartments, but it’s another monster house on Beaconsfield Parade, corner of Mary Street; I don’t hate it but it’s a bit clunky, just a concrete frame, glass and black steel balustrades, a lot of bulk right on the street, not much greenery. That’s the lap pool … Continue reading Another giant concrete house →

25 August 2014 Repost from 2014: Essendon Airport, lots of great old stuff still there ! First, the Area Approach Control Centre, 1950, now called the Everett Building (after the great PWD architect Percy Everett but I’m told he didn’t design it); then the Control Tower, built 1956 for the expected #melbourneolympicgames crowds, it was … Continue reading Essendon Airport →

26 August 2024 The Beaconsfield Hotel in West St Kilda has been in the news lately; infamous as the pub where cricketer David Hookes sadly died in 2004 after being hit by a bouncer, it’s been closed ever since, and now there’s an application to refurbish and reopen. It’s quite a big pub, and turns … Continue reading Beaconsfield Hotel →