Origin post 5 February 2021: Ajax Insurance, cnr Queen and Little Collins, yet another of the 55 #midcentury office blocks up for #heritagelisting, and another fave of mine, even though it’s a bit retro for 1957. Designed by HD Berry, who didn’t go on to much it seems, but did well with this, which would … Continue reading Ajax insurance →

Original post 4 Feb 2021: A bit of #perspectivecorrect makes this archway look very impressive, but then it is ! And it’s at the end of my street. It’s called #Ripplemere on #GreyStreetStKilda, built 1884, designed by one of faves #FrederickdeGaris, who did a few really OTT #HighVictorian at it's highest - though actually this … Continue reading Ripplemere, St Kilda →

Original post 6 December 2017 Finally reading that rather famous book #PowerWithoutGlory, about the notorious #JohnWren, who started the (in)famous ‘Tote’ in Collingwood in the 1890s, and kept it going against police raids and Acts of Parliament and wowser campaigns for 14 years, through bribery and threats if the book is at all accurate. Anyway, … Continue reading Burke Hall →

Original post 2 February 2021: Always had a soft spot for his one - #GuardianInsurance, corner of Collins & William, 1960-61 - it’s clad in precast concrete panels faced with Stawell stone, and its representative of the sudden move in 1960 to a sense of solidity in office buildings, away from the 50s glass curtain … Continue reading Guardian Insurance →

Original post 2 February 2018: The beautiful #wroughtiron gates to the side vehicle entry of #parliamenthousemelbourne, erected 1889. Built for the horse and buggy era, they operated on little rollers, which I suppose are still there, but theyre never going to open again; there’s now a new simple sliding security gate thing which looks pretty … Continue reading Parliament House gates →

Original post 28 Jan 2018: #MelbourneCityBaths, 1902-4, design by #JJClark with his son #EJClarke. Delightful #redbrick stripy Edwardian (“#bloodandbandages”), with #EnglishBaroque details, and Clark’s favoured Tudory #turrets and #domes. JJ’s first design was the old treasury building 42 years previously when he was just 19. Great plan, filling the triangular site. Note the rooms at … Continue reading City Baths →

29 January 2023 Can we just talk about how truly terrible the architecture of the Westin Hotel is ? It was built as part of a deal with David Marriner that saw the City Square reduced by half, and restoration of the Regent Theatre, and it opened in 2000. The architects were Desmond Brooks International … Continue reading The woeful Westin Hotel →

Pleased to hear that Heritage Victoria have said no to the further compromise of the beaut and important 1890 Goods Shed in Docklands. It was already chopped into 2 by the Collins Street extension, then 10 years ago they allowed buildings to block views of the two parts from Collins Street - but they’ve not … Continue reading Dockland Goods Shed saved – again →

Original post 27 January 2016: So who remembers the 'Green Latrine' ? Perhaps few of you, since this huge unloved modernist government building on the Spring Street / Latobe Street corner opposite the Carlton Gardens was demolished in the late 1980s. It was notable for its great scale and early date, the first stage finished … Continue reading Green Latrine →

Very nice building in #ClarendonStreetSouthMelbourne, which was clearly a bank. Heritage studies in this area are old and so individual places like this havnt been researched, but three minutes on Trove and I found it ! Built for the Bank of Victoria in 1883, architect William Scott Law, and described as ‘one of the handsomest … Continue reading Handsome Bank in Clarendon Street →