This very elegant door was built as the entrance to doctor’s rooms in 1934, when the #parisend of #CollinsStreet was where all the best doctors, dentists and specialists wanted to be. Built by the #NationalBankofAustralasia for themselves with rooms to let above the bank (now Prada) designed by #AandKHenderson in a lovely refined Georgian manner, … Continue reading A nice entry for a Club →

#CollinsArch is massive, not so much an arch as a lump, as I said to anyone who would listen, which was nobody. You’ll only see that it actually is an arch from pretty much directly north or south, the rest of the time it’ll be a tall glassy steppy iceberg, with sheer walls on all … Continue reading ‘Collins Arch’, ha ! →

Rather nice for a train station, a lot like a late Edwardian house; #RipponleaStation was built 1912-13, and all the shops in #RipponleaVillage followed soon after. #PublicTransportVictoria threatened to demolish it in the 90s, claiming it was full of termites, too expensive, but thanks to heritage-minded then Transport Minister Allan Brown it was restored instead … Continue reading Ripponlea Railway Station, 1913 →

Original post 2019: One of my fave 70s things in the city - National Bank Stock Exchange Branch, Queen Street best Collins, Meldrum & Partners, 1973, now heritage listed. Originally the two lower floors were inset, with the facade curving under. Love the rounded #airplanewindows, part of an ‘organic’ trend that started in the late … Continue reading Jet Age window fun on Queen Street →

The very rustic style #LorneBeachPavilion was built in 1939, and (probably) designed by the #PublicWorksDepartment Chief Architect #PercyEverett - who normally did very stylish Moderne /ArtDeco stuff but was perfectly capable of doing Rustic, Tudor or Georgian if the use seemed to call for it. This style prob straight from the US #newdeal stuff built … Continue reading Lorne Beach Pavilion, Percy Everett, 1939 →

Feb 2019 The #SirCharlesHotham hotel has seen better days. Designed by #WilliamPitt, one of his last designs, built 1913, it’s looked like this for 30 years at least. But that means it’s never been upgraded inside, as far as I can see it’s pretty well all original (except the corner bar), but I couldn’t actually … Continue reading Sir Charles Hotham Hotel, 1913. →

See the #horsie ? 😮😁 There’s rather happy looking ones at the top and bottom of the windows of the former #VictorianClub in Queen Street. Built in 1927 for Victoria’s #bookmakers, designed in an elaborate classical style by #JosephPlottel, Bunnett and Alsop. They did their ‘settling’ here in the main room, which was working out … Continue reading Horsies ! Victorian Club, Queen Street, 1929 →

21 February 2019 So many great details in the 1936 #ACAbuilding by #HennessyandHennessy; the #blackmarble with thin horizontal white banding is perfect for that luxe #ArtDeco look. The white marble floor isn’t original, but suits, same with the light fitting over the #directory. For some reason the #mailbox in the 1937 #ACAbuilding in Queen Street … Continue reading ACA building interiors, Hennessy & Hennessy, 1936 →

A great row of #Edwardianshops where the tram turns at the #CaulfieldEast shops in Derby Road next to the station. The three on the left are one row, with quite different skylines, and one has the faded yellow and black of a #StateBankOfVictoria...on second thoughts those letters don’t quite fit - ah, it’s #ESandABank ! … Continue reading Edwardian shophouses, East Caulfield →

The #bankchamber of the Western House branch of the #BankofAustralasia in Collins and William was pretty stark originally, a kind of very #strippedclassical, like the exterior. I think the counters are the original ones, but with vertical bits and a new top (it was timber) added, maybe in the 80s ? Which would make them … Continue reading Art Deco bank chamber. →