Repost 2019: #OrrongTowers, 1958, probably the first high rise flats in Melb after Stanhill. Designed by #HerbertTisher, it’s a bit severe for Toorak, with expressed concrete floor plates and #concreteblock walls, ordinary windows, metal balustrades. Also the first (and one of the few?) #liftslab blocks in Melb, I think Sol Sapir also used the technique. … Continue reading Toorak High Rise is the first in Victoria (almost) →

Repost 2019: I hadn’t ever noticed this amazing house on #OrrongRoad even though you can see it perfectly well from the street. Apparently the sides were brick, but rendered at some point. Check out that Niemeyer triangular conc support! It’s by the little known Michael Feldhagen, early 1960s. Brought to my attention via Victorian Modern … Continue reading Fun Modernist in Toorak →

30 September 2017: The Supreme Court of Victoria, built as the Law Courts. This is the design that won the 1873 #competition - compared to what was built, it was far more articulated, and had a sort of forecourt space. Probably they added more rooms, and then simplified it, with a flatter front, losing the … Continue reading Supreme Court →

29 September 2019: Punt Road Oval #grandstand is not protected, and Richmond determined to demolish. It’s quite old, built 1914, the left bit added 1927, v old school, timber structure with posts right in front, other old ones nicer, but it’s not bad. Richmond hopes to replace it with a whiz bang new one one, … Continue reading Punt Road Oval Grandstand →

Repost 2019: The original #NorthMelbourneStation was built in 1886, very charming #castiron structure, with cute cresting on the edges, and those built in drainpipe/supports. Small but decorative brick sections too, I suppose just empty these days. As part of Melb Metro station, this is going to be renamed West Melbourne (which is where it actually … Continue reading North Melbourne Station →

27 September 2021: The delightfully elaborate Spanish style Royce Hotel on St Kilda Road was built in 1928 as the #KellowFalkiner car showrooms, designed by the versatile and prolific Harry Norris (as a rebuild of an old cable car engine house). In the 50s the fabulous high arched roof showroom was divided by a new … Continue reading Kellow Falkiner car showroom →

Repost 2018: Repost 2018: The massive #bluestone #GoldsboroughMort #woolstore on the cnr of #bourkestreet and William survives surrounded by #officetowers. Built in stages starting 1862 with the corner bit, extended 1882, and top floor added incl the cornice. All very #renaissancerevival in fact looks a little like the palazzo Medici. And till the mid 70s … Continue reading Goldsborough Mort Woolstore, Bourke Street →

Repost 2019: This fantastic #leadlight extravaganza is in #StationStreetMalvern, opposite the station. It’s now a cafe, and was someplace that sold insurance, presumably originally just before or after WW1, maybe it was a real estate agent ?

26 September 2021 I do love the #TudorRevival shops scattered about town, this one in #BurwoodRoadHawthorn quite interesting, being all #halftimbered, with propped bay windows, more like the medieval originals than many others - I tried to get it #heritagelisted when @cityofboroondara finally protected the glenferrie rd shops back in 2011, but this was disconnected … Continue reading Doomed Tudor in Hawthorn →

Repost 2018: Possibly Melbourne's first fully #postmodernist commercial building, #1collinsstreet was completed in 1984, designed by the now internationally famous #dentoncorkermarshall, with Peck Von Hartel Trethowan (as PDCM). A bit #decoecho, but noted for incorporating traditional elements like actual #cementrender, deepset #windowreveals, and addressing the corner with a little tower (which was developer Jack Chia’s … Continue reading 1 Collins Street, 1984 →