The entry to the 9 storey 1891 #StalbridgeChambers is a pretty rare intact 19thC #officebuilding lobby; a bit altered in the 20s, with probably a new lift and the base to the #bluestonestairs, and in recent years a new floor and that ‘antique’ paint job, which despite myself I quite like. Designed by #TwentymanAndAskew who … Continue reading Victorian lobby, Stalbridge Chambers, Little Collins, 1891. →

4 February 2025 Great little group of shop/warehouses in Little Lonsdale just down from Swanston, completely unchanged since at least 1968, when amateur photographer Karl Halla was documenting most old buildings in the CBD (and now held by the @library_vic). They weren’t heritage listed until 2023, but now part of a precinct including Drewery Lane … Continue reading Charming remnants, Little Lonsdale Street →

The fantastic tiled stairs to the upper floors of the 1928 #ESandAbank on #SwanstonStreet, now a Bank of China. I’d like to take credit for saving it, nominating this part on behalf of @melbourne_heritage_action to the #HeritageRegister (only the facade was listed!) when the owner wanted to put in a new lift and stair. Still … Continue reading How to make a great stairhall – ES&A Bank, Swanston Street, 1928 →

Repost 2018: There’s a big old #Druid looking down from #DruidsHouse in #SwanstonStreet. Wonder if the Ancient Order of Druids had their board room up there behind him on the 6th floor ? [update: no, the windows are recentish]. Architects Gibbs Finlay Morsby & Coates, 1926. A site the width of two terrace houses by … Continue reading Druids House, 1926 →

Original post 3 July 2015: The facade of the 1888 Foresters' Hall on Latrobe Street, architects Ravenscroft & Freeman. Long owned by RMIT, and long heritage protected, the once all-brown facade has just been restored and revealed in a bright new colour scheme ! Not original judging from the old photo, but looks great. The … Continue reading Ancient Order of Foresters, RMIT →

2 March 2019 Block Court Arcade, #HarryNorris, 1930, where the architecture is actually far more exciting than the shops. Described as ‘modernistic’ in Oct 1930, and ‘embodying the latest ideas from America and the Continent’, it’s what we now call Art Deco, which had more or less started in Paris in 1925, and taken up … Continue reading Block Court Arcade, first best Art Deco interior →

Very cute very small slightly wonky 1 bed cottage in a #SouthMelbourne #backstreet (and rather odd interior from a rental website). A hint of #GothicRevival #bargeboard, and a nice hefty Edwardian #sunhood. I like the green, same one I used on my interior woodwork.

2 March 2019 This fine #StrippedClassical bank and office building on the corner of Spencer & Collins was designed by #PeckandKemter and built in 1923 for the #StateSavingsBankofVictoria, as the ‘Western Branch’, an example of how there was so much business in the CBD that all the banks had multiple branches. This one has a … Continue reading State Bank Western Branch, 1923 →

#DrummondTerrace, Carlton, built 1891, designed by #WSLaw, who would go on to do Benvenuta across the street soon after. He was also the developer, which might explain why so restrained for him, though what decoration there is is as similarly florid as that on Benvenuta.

The impressive, delightful, yet odd, #Benvenuta on#DrummondStreet, Carlton, designed by Walter Scott Law, crazy extra Belvedere thing up top, layering of attached #corinthian columns, arcading, that extraordinary floral decoration (nothing else like it here), and great interiors too. Built for Mrs Leah Abrahams, widow of a 'small arms manufacturer'. Its very #highvictorian, from the last … Continue reading Benvenuta, Carlton, 1893; Peak High Victorian. →