Hadn’t really noticed this one before, in Elizabeth Street up from Collins, turns out to be a super narrow Victorian thing that was done over in early 1930 for Ackman’s Furniture (see the A’s up top ?); their main store was in Smith Street at what’s now the Woolworths facade. The redesign was by #GawlerAndDrummond. … Continue reading Victorian Tall Thin frontage, modernised 1930. →

I took this photo in Elizabeth Street just up from Collins in February and wondered what was going on- turns out it’s yet another building long abandoned above the ground floor (due to a crackdown on #fireregulations in the 70s) and like the one next door I posted yesterday it’s being restored as offices - … Continue reading An early foray into QueenAnne by Charles D’Ebro, 1889. →

July 2019 Not the best #trompeloeil but unless you were looking for it you prob wouldn’t notice. This strip of shops in #ClarendonStreetSouthMelbourne were all restored in the late 1970s and instead of recreating they did this ! Recently repainted. Pic 3 is mine from 2016. The whole block was owned by the Anglican Church … Continue reading At first glance … →

July 2019 This is Yarrabee in Walsh Street #SouthYarra, the less well known one of the really Quite Interesting #blocksofflats designed by German background, Swiss trained architect #FrederickRomberg, after he arrived in 1938 and before the war, as part of Romberg & Shaw, with #MaryTurnerShaw. Built in 1940, this one goes through to the ‘back’ … Continue reading Yarrabee, a bit of Bauhaus in Melbs, Romberg & Shaw, 1940. →

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 →