January 2020 The #castironlamps on #PrincesBridge were installed a long time after the bridge was opened in 1888- in May 1926, when they made the news ! They trialled a variety of globes, featured in another article from 1925, when they installed the first single cast iron lamps on St Kilda Road. The article doesn't … Continue reading Cast iron street lamps Princes Bridge. →

First posted instagram January 24, 2020  This about as good as it gets ! The existing building is rather plain for 1891 when it was built as the HQ and workshop for ubiquitous #stainedglass manufacturers #FergusonAndUrie (though they soon lost most of their business with the 1890s crash and sold it in 1899). Its pretty … Continue reading This is good, actually; a tower without facadism →

First posted instagram January 23, 2020  For anyone not from Melbs, this is northern Victoria topsoil /desert dust come loose due to the drought, blown by the storms the last few days, then dumped by yesterday’s downpour. I read it on the news then was surprised walking down the street it was literally everywhere ! … Continue reading Mallee dust lands in Melbs →

‘Sunset Beach Tower’, #BeaconsfieldParade, #StKilda, 1969. Not my favourite beachfront #highrise, a bit severe, but interesting patterned panels, but no #sunshading or balconies at all, must get hot ! But great views. Also needs a paint, or possibly take the paint off. Odd angled struts at the top. It’s another #SolSapir, quite different to his … Continue reading Another Sol Sapir, but not like the others. →

21 November 2019 Toorak Park Towers, Sydney Street, Armadale, 1974 another design by Sol Sapir, king of the first high rise boom. The exterior is pretty much a repeat of his 1968 Miami on Beaconsfield Parade, pic 2; then Toorak vs Miami closer up. I like the way the panels kind of stop short of … Continue reading Sol Sapir repeats a design, not for the first time. →

11 January 2020: I often walk past this on the way to the tram, a very inventive example of the #polychromebrick ‘#lombardicRomanesque’ applied to a typical house form; designed by #PercyOakden (while he was part of #OakdenAddisonAndKemp) who was a bit more #avantguarde than most, taking up the #Ruskinian approach of #structuralpolychromy with interest created … Continue reading Structural Polychromy in St Kilda. →

Not enough poles they said! Take this then. (this one led to some heated discussion on my post, I wasn't expecting that!)

#BurnleyHorticulturalCollege, in beautiful grounds in Burnley, #Richmond, established in 1865, has a great centrepiece building by #PercyEverett, Chief Architect of the #PublicWorksDepartment, built in 1947. His post war work was pretty much the same as his pre war work, in his trademark Modern/ #Moderne, but a bit squarer and and simplified than before, eg all … Continue reading Burnley College, 1947, another Percy Everett. →

It was a surprise coming to see this, didn’t know it loomed quite so much ! The building is now on its fourth life; built as the #WertheimPiano factory in 1909, designed by #NahumBarnet, it then became the Heinz canned soup factory in the 30s with little change, then in 1956 Melb’s first commercial #TVstation … Continue reading Channel 9 is now flats – Industrial conversion in Richmond →

Curious workshop thing built into the slope next to the #FootscrayArtsCentre, once Henderson’s Piggery; apparently been here since the 30s, while Griffiths & Baird were toolmakers, here in the 1950s. Thanks to #melbournecircle blog for the info.