October 2025 Seem from the tram, finally had a look - a very unusual flat development in Balaclava Road, East St Kilda, called Greyfriars, which has a gravelled central carpark area accessed through a simple brick sort of classical screen. It was built 1949-50, early in the pickup of postwar flats, and was touted as … Continue reading Courtyard flats, East St Kilda →

October 2025 The striking HQ of the State Savings Bank of Victoria once dominated the corner of Elizabeth and Bourke, but was demolished in the mid 70s. Though it looks very 19thC, it wasn’t completed until the 1930s! The bank started out in the 5 bays at the far end, completed in 1913 and designed … Continue reading State Bank grandeur →

October 2025 I like trams and I like bridges so I was sad to read recently that the long mooted tram to fisherman’s bend via a new bridge over the Yarra is now definitely off; instead they might make a branch off the Port Melbourne line, a bit of a loop but far cheaper. It … Continue reading No tram no bridge →

September 2025 If you didn’t know the background, you’d say the Le Meridien hotel in Bourke Street which opened early 2023 was ok, it’s low rise set back, and much preferable to the original huge 30 storey proposal. But unfortunately it replaced a much loved music venue in an historic theatre, the Palace, keeping only … Continue reading Palace / Metro Theatre →

September 2025 The ex-Richmond Power Station is attractive, impressive and very graffitied - it’s in Cremorne off the river, and you might have seen it from the train. The first part was built in 1891, designed in nice stripey brickwork with a cute tower by Henry Gibbs for the first private electric supply provider in … Continue reading Richmond Power Station →

September 2025 Gardenvale Station, one of those radically elevated ones, perched atop a long embankment, the original way of avoiding level crossings. The station was built in 1906 in pretty simple style, perched on giant legs, probably originally timber, now steel. Platform 1 (to city) was damaged by fire in 2009, then repaired, but like … Continue reading Gardenvale, up →

September 2025 A shocking case of ruination - this was built as Maples Furniture Store in 1905 on the corner of Chapel and High Streets, Prahran. Then somewhere round 1990, SOMEONE decided to make more out of it by converting to offices and replacing much of the best bits to increase the floor and window … Continue reading Unbelievable →

September 2025 Chanel’s new home in Russell Street, cnr Flinders Lane. Originally built as a branch of the Royal Bank of Victoria in 1923 in a Neoclassical style. Designed by Tompkins & Tompkins, who did a lot of stuff in the #MelbCBD incl the similar Herald Building round the corner also in the 20s; the … Continue reading From bank to fashion →

September 2025 This big sideboard at the NGV dates from 1903, a far cry from the elaborately carved Edwardian furniture filling the homes of Melb at the time. That’s because it comes from Vienna, and it’s by one of the most avant guard designers of the Sezession period, Adolf Loos, most famous for his quote … Continue reading Adolf Loos at the NGV →

23 September 2025 The 8 Hours Monument sits on a bit of land on the corner of Russell and Victoria Streets, and perhaps should be better known / prominent than it is. It commemorates, of all things, the 8 hour day; but average working days back in the early 19thC were far longer than that, … Continue reading 8 Hours Monument →