11 July 2024 The c1960 Nylex Sign was in the Age today, noting that the developer Caydon went bust two years ago, and the Richmond Maltings site remains part vacant, part demolished - and now I look closer Im a bit aghast again at the development permitted by Heritage Victoria in 2018. At first they … Continue reading Nylex Sign and silos
Author: Rohan Storey
Cromwell Building, and postmodern Pavilion
10 July 2024 This great stonking pile was called the Cromwell Building, and once stood on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth. Five floors of projecting pilasters, deep set windows, big circular windows in the ‘attic’ floor, and two stubby towers. It was built in late 1891, and designed by a team of DC Askew, … Continue reading Cromwell Building, and postmodern Pavilion
Polychrome brick beauties, Fitzroy
9 July 2016 A most excellent example of #polychromebrick in Webb Street Fitzroy. Probably 1880s. Update 2024: It was tiny! And rather heavily done over c1980, sandblasting the bricks and opening up the interior, judging from sale pics from 2012, and since then done again with a big rear extension. It’s part of a row … Continue reading Polychrome brick beauties, Fitzroy
Old shop survivor, St Kilda Road
8 July 2024 Very cute but curious old shop/house on the east side of St Kilda Road, near Alma Road, showing the angle of the lots to the street. It looks like a house with an added shop, but it was built 1867, and you can see it in a photo of the street in … Continue reading Old shop survivor, St Kilda Road
Melbourne Recital Centre
7 July 2024 Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank, photos from 2021. Opened in 2009, it was designed by @armarchitecture - the idea is it’s like a precious package, half opened still in its bubble wrap/polystyrene, and the bluestone side is the box it came in. Crazy and a bit literal, but I like it ! Especially … Continue reading Melbourne Recital Centre
Brick factory, Fitzroy
7 July 2014 I pass this place every other day on the way to the supermarket, cnr Fitzroy & Argyle Streets, Fitzroy. It’s going to be redeveloped, fortunately not by #facadism ! Left more or less as is, with an extension to one side for aus vollees intnl. Anyway theres a heritage report so I … Continue reading Brick factory, Fitzroy
Wharf Labourers Building
6 July 2024 This rather mad thing once stood at 480 Flinders Street; it was a renovation of an old pub in 1915 to create a home for the wharfie’s union, and one of the very few things known to have designed by Robert Haddon (though as a ‘design consultant’ he had a hand in … Continue reading Wharf Labourers Building
Curvy concrete
6 July 2018: Dunno if this is a #HolgarandHolgar but it sure looks like one ! 26 Summit Drive, Bulleen, I’m guessing c1970.
Moorish style in Little Collins
5 July 2024 This stylish but curious thing on Little Collins (once George’s Hostess Store) has a long and interesting history. It was first built in 1891 as a Cyclorama, a huge circular building that housed an illusionistic 360* painting, with a central viewing platform creating the illusion of being somewhere else - the first … Continue reading Moorish style in Little Collins
New developments in Fitzroy Street
4 July 2024 There’s this big old motel thing on Fitzroy Street St Kilda, perhaps 1960s, not much to look at, and about to be replaced by something also unremarkable - ok, maybe a bit better. But also bigger, with 5 levels and including the old nightclub, currently enlivened by some Council sponsored art by … Continue reading New developments in Fitzroy Street









