7 September 2025 One of the zillions of little apartment projects, this one on Church Street Hawthorn, which I quite like - not too big, not to boring, not too silly, nice to see timber used externally, weathering nicely (or badly ?). Designed by @cactusarchitects, it’s about 10 years old. The occupants must like it, … Continue reading Small apartment block done well →

4 September 2025 I was going to just post this 2015 pic of the ex-State Bank in Swan Street Richmond, built in 1907, and designed by Billings & Peck, with its rather odd assortment of Queen Anne, Romanesque and Art Nouveau features - but that led me to the other similar State Banks I’ve seen … Continue reading So many Art Nouveau banks →

4 September 2025 A little survivor on Swanston Street opposite the city square /town hall station. I always thought it was just a shop terrace, but it’s what remains of a larger building. As the parapet says it was built in 1904, in a very retro Victorian style, and the right half was the Town … Continue reading Town Hall Hotel →

3 September 2025 This fabulously elaborate facade on Sean Street Richmond near Church Street was probably built as the Richmond Coffee Palace in 1888, designed by William Wolf. I especially like the top floor pilasters with hanging fruit decoration, and the swags between. I also like that there’s a lot of ochre colour left on … Continue reading Swan Street Richmond →

1 September 2025 The former Police Barracks on St Kilda Road is rather grand, but also rather bland - it’s got a range of classical / Georgian details, but it’s all rather flat, but perfectly nice. Public Works Architect EE Evans liked a bit of no frills Georgian; Box Hill High is similar but much … Continue reading Police Barracks →

1 September 2025 Sticking up in Little Bourke near Hardware is this warehouse built in 1889 for Jacob & Benjamin Marks, who were jewellers. It was designed by George De Lacy Evans in a rather unusual rendering of the Queen Anne style, with a big arch motif up top, bisected by the piers/windows, and topped … Continue reading Marks’ warehouse Little Bourke →

29 August 2025 I really don’t know what I think about this - amusing, weird, pretentious yet striking ….. it’s on the corner of High St and Glenferrie Road Armadale, called The Sun and the Moon, by Paul Juraszek, and dates from 1989. The @nationaltrustvic citation notes that “In size, cost, prominent position and provocative … Continue reading Mythical Malvern →

29 August 2025 A fun house by my fave architects, husband and wife Holgar & Holgar, in Nola Court Toorak, that unfortunately is being advertised for sale with ‘no heritage overlay’ in big letters ! It was built in 1962, for Mr & Mrs Selwyn, so earlyish in their career, but already showing the way … Continue reading Early Toorak Holgar →

28 August 2025 Wanda Court, cnr Malvern and Clendon Rds, Toorak, a quite stylish block of 6 Deco flats, which goes a bit classical on the rounded corner. Surprisingly not heritage listed and not strata titled, sold as a block in 2023, and still one owner, now serviced apartments called @urbanrest. So date and architect … Continue reading Wondering about Wanda →

28 August 2025 This house in Sorrett Ave Malvern is so neat and so unusual that I thought it was a recent attempt at Victorian Gothic, despite the prominent 1890 over the entrance - but no it is indeed authentic. Built for and presumably designed by George Jobbins, who did lots of classical banks. That … Continue reading Gothic goodness →