Repost 2018: The not amazing but not nothing #QueensBridgeHotel, 1927, #PeckandKempter, a nice #strippedclassical design, rather prefiguring Art Deco, and probably not long for this world. [2021 update: after a battle at Panel this did in fact get #heritagelisted late 2020]. Pretty sure way back in the 80s it was #heritagelisted, but it dropped out … Continue reading Queensbridge Hotel, listed →

Repost 2019: A #roofscape created by the #132ftheightlimit, imposed in 1916, and only ‘uninhabited towers’ allowed above, eg the #ManchesterUnity spire in the distance. So glad it was reimposed in 1982! As 40m. And that not much went over it in the 50s-70s when it wasn’t there. Lucky city. View from the Myer Menswear 4th … Continue reading City roofs →

Repost 2017: A great oversized baroque #brokenpediment on a little Brunswick #terracehouse. Thanks to @lunchboxarchitect for letting me add to my #melbterraceparapet collection. 2021 update : it’s Roser Street, and it’s next to hut separated from a set of four with matching parapets- possibly one between was demolished ?

Repost 2019: So while #RobinBoyd was doing crazy experiments with thin steel, timber trusses, shell concrete etc in the early 1950s he also did this ! Modern Georgian. Built in 1953 for the Bretts, in #Toorak of course, on a tiny little street almost on the river called Buddle Drive. It had chain balustrades originally, … Continue reading Boyd going Georgian, 1953 →

Repost 2019: Surprised to see a big old #Victorianpub behind the South Melbourne Market amongst 60s /70s industrial rubbish - The Albion, built in 1888 with #QueenAnnestyle detailing (and an Art Deco parapet), designed by Powell & Witaker. Turns out this is the famous pub that burnt down in an arson attack in 2015 - … Continue reading Albion Hotel South Melbourne →

1 October 2021: St Kilda Junction was once our version of Times Square or Piccadilly Circus (albeit more spread out) dominated by big neon signs, which even covered up the dramatic 1889 Junction Hotel. Traffic just made its own way through, then there was roundabout but only 1950-56, then the MMBW plan was for overpasses … Continue reading St Kilda Junction →

Repost 2019: Down a #culdesac in #Toorak i found this ! #HeyingtonGardens in #TheodoreCourt is apparently by #ErnestFooks, 1963. Great brickwork, patterned spandrels, lovely tiled entry. I would have got more /better photos but an older lady with east European accent emerged from her first floor balcony to tell me ‘you must get permission’ - … Continue reading Fooks in Toorak →

October 2019: 4th floor Myer Menswear view ! A wonderful pairing of intact historic buildings, #PublicBenefitBootery, Grainger Little Barlow & Hawkins, 1924 and #DevaHouse, 1926, #HarryNorris. Always loved this unique pair, which is a result of a subdivision of an original 1837 CBD block in the 19thC by sticking a lane down the middle, creating … Continue reading PBB and Deva House a fine pair. →

October 2021 This certainly stands out on #HighStreetArmadale. Says J Moran, est 1885, and that seems to be John Moran, licensed grocer and spirit merchant, who was fined in 1890 for selling liquor in less than 2 gallons, ‘the minimum under the licence’. Don’t think any relation to Moran & Cato since that Moran was … Continue reading High Street Armadale →

30 September 2017: Furniture from the Vienna apartment of the well-to-do Gallia family, completed in 1914, and designed by #JosefHoffmann, now in the NGV. It’s all very unusual and stylish and has a very fraught, amazing backstory. Hoffmann was a leading light of the c1900 #ViennaSecession movement. He then helped establish the #WienerWerkstatte, makers of … Continue reading Gallia Family Hoffman furniture →