12 July 2021 Very stylish little thing on #SturtStreetSouthMelbourne; thought it would be anonymous but no, the nice #PeterWille photo at @library_vic identifies it as offices for Burston Brothers, who ran the Malthouse next door, built 1956, and designed by #YunckenFreeman, who went on in the 60s to become refined modernists using expressed steel frames … Continue reading Miesian box in Southbank →

Repost this day 2018: you’ll never guess what’s in here ! It’s called the ‘#PaintFrame’ at #HerMajestysTheatre, sticking out from the side - a fabbo very tall thin structure in which whole theatre backdrops were painted by scenic artists, some on the floor below, getting dripped on by those on the floor above; the backdrop … Continue reading Brick wall – paint frame →

In #LittleLonsdale near King Street - a case of facadism, but not because it was heritage listed! Guess they decided they couldn’t design anything better. This little industrial building was built in 1923, and in 2017 a permit was issued for a hotel, which has recently been changed into an office tower (given the current … Continue reading Industrial disguise →

9 July 2018: The fabbo #AuditoriumBuilding, #NahumBarnet, 1913, so named cos it was built like the Chicago one with offices above, privately funded concert hall below. Built by the Tait theatrical family, it didn’t really pay for itself, became a cinema by 1915, completely rebuilt as the Metro Collins 1935, closed in the 70s, then … Continue reading Auditorium Building, facadism →

15 August 2018 The lovely slightly exotic #TheosophicalBuilding, #MarshandMichaelson, 1936, beautiful stone facade, with Egyptian style columns, a bit patchy though. The Theosphists, a kind of esoteric religion, sold up in c1970, when the @CityofMelbourne bought it along with the Regent planning to replace both with a high rise hotel to help pay for the … Continue reading Theosophical Society, 1937 →

A pair of large and unusually styled terraces in#ClarendonStreetEastMelbourne; built in 1908 and designed by #GraingerKennedyAndLittle (that’s John Grainger, engineer and architect, and Percy’s father). The East Melb Historical Society says they were built as flats, but I can’t find any evidence of that, plus there’s only one door. Two more but narrower were added … Continue reading Edwardian terraces, East Melbourne →

Repost this day 2018: #PolychromeBrick - how to do a lot with a little. A hall-like church with a lot going on in just the front wall; various elements thrust forward slightly, and outlined in special notched #voussoir bricks in two colours, and two different arches too. #MethodistChurch in #NicholsonStreet #NorthFitzroy, built 1874, designed by … Continue reading Polychrome Church, 1874 →

Repost this day 2018: The impressive Ukrainian (Greek) Catholic Church cathedral of #SaintsPeterandPaul in #NorthMelbourne. As the second most common religion from a country that we didn’t get a lot of immigration from, they found a good site and built big ! By church specialists #SmithandTracey, finished 1963. Patterned brick, thin shell arches, a stylised … Continue reading Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, 1963 →

8 July 2017, updated 2025: McPhersons Showroom, Collins Street (near Spencer), 1936 (top floor 1938), Stuart P Calder with Reid&Pearson; built for the implement and tool makers, these huge long display windows were filled with #nutsandbolts and things like a #ballbearingbandsaw. Very stylish home for such products, and externally amazingly intact. This building is often … Continue reading Modernist McPhersons, Collins Street →