Category: interwarmelbourne

Kingsclere, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, 1926

Original post 19 July 2020 Photos 29 June #Kingsclere in #FitzroyStreetStKilda has a rather retro facade for its 1926 date, but has an interesting interior, being built around a courtyard, very rare in Melbourne. Though seems architect #PJOconnor didn’t think the it needed to be anything other than very plain #redbrick; it’s quite lushly planted … Continue reading Kingsclere, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, 1926

Catani Clocktower, 1930

Original post 3 July 2020 The #CataniClocktower on the #UpperEsplanade, one of largest memorials to anyone really, and definitely for an engineer! Catani was Italian, and studied in Florence, before coming out here in 1876, got a job at the Lands Department, and by the 1890s was responsible for big projects like draining the KooWeeRup … Continue reading Catani Clocktower, 1930

Windsor Court, Robe Street, a converted pub.

Original post 10 April 2020 Rearing up in the middle of the otherwise low scale suburban #RobeStreetStKilda is this idiosyncratic pile called #WindsorCourtApartments. It was created in the 1920s by altering and adding to what was a three storey pub, #StarAndGarterHotel, on the left and a possibly differently designed three storey house on the right … Continue reading Windsor Court, Robe Street, a converted pub.

Chevron Hotel, St Kilda Road, 1934, high class back in the day.

First posted 30 January 2020 The #ChevronHotel in #StKildaRoad was nearly demolished in the early 2000s for a high rise, which got a permit, but surprisingly it wasn’t (helicopter flight paths ?), instead the main part was kept and 10 storey wings built on the inside edges around a nice courtyard, rather better than everything … Continue reading Chevron Hotel, St Kilda Road, 1934, high class back in the day.

More Melbourne facadism

From my friends at @melbourne_heritage_action - A case of #facadism+a bit more, almost but not quite acceptable (thanks samantha stoney for the photo) - this 1938 factory on A’Beckett Street is a particularly notable example of European Modernism, designed by #EFBillson, a pupil of #WalterBurleyGriffin, but that didn’t stop the original 2015 proposal that would … Continue reading More Melbourne facadism

State Library murals – don’t forget to look up !

I do like the murals above the stairs to #QueensHall at the @library_vic, and nice to see that they’re well lit now, a bit hard to see before, but you still have to #lookup; the neoclassical style one with the scantily clad men and boys (Greek mythology ?) is by the one-armed #NapierWaller, dating from … Continue reading State Library murals – don’t forget to look up !

Hotel Alexander, Spencer Street, 1928

Somehow this old hotel makes much less impact than it should; maybe just being on #SpencerStreet means it gets overlooked ? Also, there’s not a lot of interesting detail or grand entry (any more - in fact what was shops is now blank wall!). Built in 1928 as the #HotelAlexander, it’s clearly inspired by the … Continue reading Hotel Alexander, Spencer Street, 1928

Post Federation almost Bungalow, StKilda

A very nice #postfederation house built in 1920 in #BlessingtonStreet, #Stkilda opposite the #StKildaBotanicalGardens. Combining #ArtsAndCrafts Medievalising elements like the #baywindows and #diamondpanewindows and #halftimbering (also seen in the Federation style but now a bit stylised) and Edwardian Marseilles tiles, with a pair of gabled roofs showing the emerging influence of the #CalifornianBungalow style. A … Continue reading Post Federation almost Bungalow, StKilda