24 May 2019 updated : Marvellous fragment revealed recentlyish as part of the #WesleyChurch development in Lonsdale Street, a real palimpsest of change over time. It’s what’s left of the back wall of the church’s 1888 Meeting Hall, which was covered by the construction of the Nicholas Hall behind in the 1930s. The Meeting Hall … Continue reading Wesley Church ghost facade →

10 February 2024 The former South Melbourne Post Office opposite the town hall is a rather bold essay in Edwardian Baroque, dating from 1912, designed by Comm Dep of Interior architect Horace MacKennal. When it closed (in the 90s?) it was reused as a library, and for some time has also housed the @cityofportphillip heritage … Continue reading South Melbourne Post Office and Police Station →

Original post 9 February 2016: The speccy 28 Holroyd Street Kew - late #artdeco c1942, but included as a contributory place to the Kew Modern #heritageprecinct of great 50s-60s houses around it. Update : real estate photos from 2013, speccy inside too, though don’t really like the decor. Probably all white and contemporary furniture now.

7 February 2024 Great bit of stylised Gothic at 340 Collins Street, just off Elizabeth, with Hardy Brothers Jeweller at ground level. One of Melbs many numerous tall narrow frontages, it was built in 1930, for well known developer and financier TM Burke, and was called Burke House (but on Collins - confusing !). Designed … Continue reading Burke House, skinny Gothic on Collins →

Original post 6 February 2017 and update : Amazing survivor on Chapel Street. I’m sure it hasn’t been McGrath Electrical for a loooong time. Update : not long after posting a 20 storey apartment tower was proposed straddling the rail line, and McGrath was demolished, but VCAT chopped it down to 9 levels as a … Continue reading McGrath Electrics, dem 2017 →

Original post 5 February 2017: The #brewtower of the #YorkshireBrewery, Wellington Street, Collingwood, designed by #JamesWoodArchitect (son of one of the owners), and completed in 1876, reputedly the tallest structure in Melb at the time. Used to be highly visible, but buildings have grown up around its site within the block, so now it’s more … Continue reading Yorkshire Brewery redevelopment →

4 February 2018: Rather nice #ArtDecobuilding at 434 #ClarendonStreetSouthMelbourne, 1939. It was built for A Wassalieff (hence the AW), an engineering firm established in #SouthMelbourne in 1918, still there into the 50s. And in 1938 the Russian Chess Club changed its name to the South Melbourne Chess Club and met here, ‘at Mr Wassalieff’s premises’. … Continue reading Deco industrial →

3 February 2024 I read today the Hill of Content is likely to close, because the building is to be sold. It’s a nice bit of 1920s architecture, with fat pilasters framing generous windows, a little pediment and original verandah. The store was started here in 1922 by A H Spencer, from Sydney, who came … Continue reading Hill of Content →

26 January 2017: Corner of Peel and Cambridge Street, Collingwood - no idea who designed this, but it’s from c2001. Proof architecture can be fun, or just plain silly depending on your point of view. #ednaeverage.

2 February 2024: Grand Victorian house on Dalgety Street, with added charm of peeling paint. As to date, all I can say is that since there’s an 1873 plan showing something with this shape here its probably before then; it could be 1850s, or 1870s, and the simple style implies earlier rather than later. Having … Continue reading Distressed in Dalgety Street →