Original post 25 March 2018: ColesBourkeStreet, 1930, #HarryNorris (the lower bit added exactly matching in 1938, converted to David Jones Menswear 1986). Not the first but the oldest surviving and certainly the most colourful of the first examples of Art Deco to appear in Melbourne’s streets; must’ve been quite striking in its day, still is … Continue reading Coles Bourke Street, 1930 →

Original post 24 March 2021: A bit of beach-side #Brutalism, the #ElwoodSurfClub pavilion at #ElwoodBeach. Built in 1971, it was designed by #DonFulton, who had done some great houses in the 50s-60s, and the excellent BP admin building at #CribPoint in 1965. It replaced the 1928 changing pavilion (just like the one on St Kilda … Continue reading Elwood Surf Club Pavilion, 1971 →

Repost 16 March 2021: #Paragunyah, 168 Canterbury Road, Middle Park. A very striking and unusual house, c1898, but that’s all the Port Phillip Heritage Review has to say ! It has alternately square and circular columns, and seems to be missing a balustrade, or at least some urns. It’s far more Victorian than it’s date … Continue reading Paragunyah, Middle Park →

8/10 for effort. I’d zoomed past this #terracepair on Canterbury Road #MiddlePark a million times like everyone else, had thought something not quite right - it was built in 1985! A pretty good attempt, right down to the pedimented windows, just perhaps a bit too much going on in a small area. It’s called KARMEN. … Continue reading Classic 1980s in Middle Park →

😮 I knew this was happening but still…this is the 1970 offices of #YunckenFreeman on King Street in West Melbourne, and it’s being facaded for a hotel development (which is better than it was going to be). The first example of modernist #facadism, and prob not the last, though new @cityofmelbourne guidelines very much say … Continue reading Modernist facadism on King Street. →

From 2014: on the Haymarket roundabout, the #CommercialBankOfAustralia 1885 by #PeterMathews - who ive never heard of but did quite a few banks - this one possibly his best.About to be dominated by a large #ellenbergfraser. 2021: What was built weirdly wraps around the bank because originally the two site owners were going to develop … Continue reading Commercial Bank, Haymarket, 1885 →

Improbable but real - this was the #ticketbooth of the #WindsorTheatre, opened in 1938, opposite Windsor Station. One of a series of great cinemas designed by #TaylorAndSoilleux, of which only the Rivoli remains. The ticket box disappeared don’t know when, but the building survived into the 90s with the ceiling intact above a blockbuster video. … Continue reading Windsor Theatre, 1938 →

This is one I was hoping that Corona might have cancelled, but no, it’s for sale ‘with permit’ for a crazy tower perched on legs over preserved facades, a design given the tick by VCAT, despite a previous version being knocked back…and now the design has changed too, not the @armarchitecture mesh sock, plainer, possibly … Continue reading Unbelievable really. Facadism plus way too close…. →

Sad to hear today that local residents have been informed that the demolition of the 1954 #APMboilerHouse in Alphington is about to commence. Designed by #MussenMackayAndPotter, it is significant as the first all-glass curtain wall in Victoria, and an example of an architects vision applied to an industrial building - which led to it being … Continue reading APM Boiler House to be demolished soon →

19 March 2021: Very impressive flats in my street, and equally impressive #gumtrees, a great combo. This is one of the many #StKildaFlats made out of older buildings. This started out as a pair of very spacious 12 room three storey #terracehouses, possibly built as early as 1863, known as "Lansdown Place (1 and 2). … Continue reading Grandeur in Dalgety Street, St Kilda →