I’m sorry but the #MelbourneUniversity #FacultyOfLaw on #UniversitySquare just looks like an office block. That’s prob because it was built in 2002 as part of a ‘melbourne private’ arm of the university that failed by 2005 (I think - the website says ‘purpose built’ for law) - anyway it was built along with the other … Continue reading Melbourne Law School, 2002 →

24 June 2019 The new #UniversitySquare looks a bit bare ! All the elms were #senescent so had to be replaced eventually, and the plan was to pull them all out, so glad they kept some, because it’s going to take 20 years for all the new trees to look anything like the drawings - … Continue reading University Square – trees ! →

24 June 2019 Believe it or not these terraces were nearly demolished in 1999, only saved after big protests by the @nationaltrustvic, residents and unions - #MelbourneUniversity announced plans to demolish most of the terraces in Barry Street on the west side of #UniversitySquare in 1998 in order to build three modern things to house … Continue reading University Square Carlton →

June, 2019 Patersons Store, #SmithStreetFitzroy, quite a landmark. Built 1912 as a big furniture store when Smith Street was at its height as completion to the city, especially for furniture. Architect #AHFisher. Foy & Gibson’s huge emporium was just across the street. The interior was full of #pressedmetalceilings but sadly didn’t keep any, though they … Continue reading Patersons Furniture, Smith Street, 1912. →

24 June 2019 This little place on a pointy corner at the end of the #BridportStreet shops in #AlbertPark was recently saved from demolition but maybe not for long ! Its a particularly charming 1934 #ArtsAndCrafts style collection of #roughcast planes and volumes with odd angles forming a consulting room with flats above, created by … Continue reading Save 1 Victoria Avenue Albert Park ! →

Rather nice stair for an office building ! No 9 Queen Street is a four storey block built in 1886, designed by #FMWhite for Wilhelm Prell, who went on together to build 4 more between Flinders and Collins, 3 of them 9 storey #VictorianSkyscrapers, this is the only one left. Later known as the #FeltonBuilding, … Continue reading Felton Building stair, 1886 →

Always worth another shot, the great 1889 #MartinAndPleasance building on the #CollinsStreet hill, they were Melbs premier purveyors of #homeopathic remedies, back when that was big business. Designed by #FMWhite, who was in his late 60s by then, so maybe really the work of his son, Alfred. So much layering.....the tiles had been painted over … Continue reading Martin & Pleasance, 1889, FM White, layered facade and improbable staircase. →

I’d passed a million times, but never stopped to look - a huge #mosaic by #NapierWaller in the lobby of a building in William Street, near Flinders. Created in 1967 (and kept when the building was totally renovated in 2007), this seems to be his last big work before he died in 1972. It was … Continue reading Prometheus, Napier Waller, 1967. →

New pics here’s what I said 6 months ago: The fabulous Windermere, #EsmondDorney’s best #ArtDecoflats (of many he did in #Elwood), from 1936. With his signature semi-circular ended balconies, flying in opposite directions, and contrasting verticals, and a great delicate #leadlight window (bathroom ?), also matching ones inside (real estate pics). This was one of … Continue reading Some Art Deco goodness – Windermere, Elwood, J Esmond Dorney, 1936 →

One of my #leastfavouritebuildings, from most unflattering angle. The quite ridiculously skinny #PhoenixMelbourne apartments by @fenderkatsalidis on #FlindersStreet, with that crazy blue wiggle partly disguising a very sheer #concretewall (the wiggle is by graphic designer Garry Emery). When first proposed (at 40 storeys !) in the late 2000s I thought it would be financially unfeasible, … Continue reading Town planning fail – the Phoenix apartments Flinders Street, 2014 →