Repost 2019: The really rather delightful #SheridanClose on #StKildaRoad, #BernardEvans, 1953. I was surprised when it appeared amongst the best of Melb in the 1999 guide book Melbourne Architecture, but now I’ve had a close look, it’s worthy, a well crafted design blending Modernism with Georgian, all in variegated cream brick. And an interesting layout … Continue reading Modern Georgian in St Kilda Road →

Repost 2018: The zipper pattern of 15 Collins Street, designed by #emigrearchitect #KurtPopper, 1970, now proposed to be #heritagelisted. Surprised to learn that this is a modification of the first version by #RoyGrounds, which had a random pattern and I think a better design except it wasnt set back. Built as #ownyourown #apartments back when … Continue reading Ugly ? 15 Collins Street, 19710 →

Looks like a pandemic shot but it’s a Sunday in 2018: View from the #CollinsStreetHill, framed by low old buildings and equally low modern infill podiums - so this view hasn’t changed much since 1939, except for the skyscraper shadows and the trees have grown a lot. 2021: added various old similar views.

Repost 2016, with lots of new old photos : The #salvationarmy's #citytemple in #bourkestreet. Designed by #OakdenAddisonandKemp (with #billingandson), it was actually built in 1890 for the #YMCA who found they couldn't keep up payments during the crash of the 1890s, so sold it to the salvos in 1895. The fabbo #castironverandah was lost some … Continue reading Salvation Army City Temple Bourke Street →

Repost 2029: Carmel. Rather fabulous ‘attic villa in the Spanish style’ in #TennysonStreet #Elwood, built 1929, architect Gordon Sutherland, for Bernard Harrison, whose wife’s name must’ve started with a J, cos there’s BJ in the #wroughtiron and in little medallions on the front #windowboxes too. Great garden, all pebbles and succulents, ready for future hot … Continue reading Spanish charmer, Elwood →

August 2018: Very inventive #queenanne / Flemish influenced #shoptop #facade in #BridgeRoadRichmond. The #parapet has most of its #knobs and #urns intact, which is unusual, as is the whole composition, with square brick #piers rising right up through the parapet, with a pattern of cream bricks, and there’s some #aestheticmovement sunflowers up there too. 2025, … Continue reading Bridge Road beauty →

Repost 2016: The Great Fire of Melbourne in 1897. One of the biggest things to happen in the CBD, but largely forgotten. Starting in the giant Craig Williamson Department Store on Elizabeth Street in the early hours of Sunday November 20th, it soon grew to destroy nearly the whole block between Flinders, Elizabeth, Flinders Lane, … Continue reading The Great Fire of 1897 →

I do like #FedSquare but if there’s nothing on, then the back end is empty and it’s very uninviting, usually in the shade, cold, the black wall of the ‘crossbar’, an empty bar, the sheer glass wall- I do think that maybe there should be something there ? Like an elevated bar with views towards … Continue reading Fed Square – some improvements? →

Repost 2018 : There isn’t really a #goodangle for St Michaels Church Melbourne; all the skyscrapers behind it kind of detract, though in real life you can subconsciously #editthemout. It’s by #ReedandBarnes (#JosephReedArchitect), 1867, and the first full blown #polychromebrick design in Melbourne, which Reed himself said was inspired by the medieval churches of Lombardy, … Continue reading St Michael’s / Independent Church, 1867 →

Repost 2019: The late 1920s flats and houses on Windermere Ave- land that was the grounds of the #VictorianMansion Rothermere in #Elwood - are great ! Now Windermere Ave. Quite photogenic too because not that much garden in front, but mostly enough to soften the edges. Great names too; the corner one Neville Court has … Continue reading Elwood flats, Windermere Ave →