The original entry to the #MelbourneStockExchange, a great #GothicRevival concoction by #WilliamPittArchitect, lost in 1923 when the entrance was moved to the side, where the details were sort of reconstructed in 1989-92, by @lovellchen, after removing the lifts. Now it's proposed to put lifts back, inside a taller foyer, designed by @kerstin_thompson_architects; Im so contrary, … Continue reading Heritage fake or fab ?
The fabulous #CathedralRoom of the #GothicBank in #CollinsStreet was actually built in 1888-90 as the ‘vestibule’ (a room for informal deals I think) of the #MelbourneStockExchange, designed by the versatile #WilliamPittArchitect (the #callroom, where the shouting part went on, was upstairs). There are plans to turn it into a restaurant, so it’ll be full of … Continue reading Cathedral Room, Collins Street
Thought this was just a random Gothic grotesque on the heavily elaborated facade of #WilliamPitt’s 1888-91 stock exchange, but reckon it’s the #WingedLionOfVenice, chosen as a suitably mercantile symbol for the grand #GothicRevival #MelbourneStockExchange -you can see M S E carved in the shield in #GothicScript. Another thing to note is the lions are looking … Continue reading Gothic Bank grotesques
Would you believe this was someone’s house ? #SirGeorgeVerdon, local manager of the #ESandAbank in the 1880s clearly believed in living above the shop, but in a very grand manner. So above the Gothic Bank chamber windows, the first floor #VenetianGothic #tracery was the balcony outside the dining room, while the #colonnade above was the … Continue reading Sir George Verdon’s House
An excellent Victorian #shoptop right next to yesterday’s bank on #ClarendonStreetSouthMelbourne. Lots of great details, an #openpediment over each window, with an elaborate #acroterion, supported on #castironcolumns, very unusual, and an elaborate arch inside with #classicalmask #keystone. The left one is even unpainted ! A bit ochre, prob from the last #limewash. But missing whatever … Continue reading ShopTop no 5
Not that many Gothic style Victorian banks, mostly for the #ESandAbank, thought all by #WilliamWardell, but no he only did the Flemish style ones, this one in #ClarendonStreetSouthMelbourne by #TerryAndOakden, built 1880; posted it last April when it was still an #ANZbank, but not any more ☹️ Update May 2021 : it’s now in the … Continue reading A fine Gothic Revival bank
All that’s left of the 1880s #MiddleParkStation building after the fire of the night of 17th Feb 2018 - I pass by most days but hadn’t noticed it had burned down till I read about it ! (too much #tramstagramming?) It had been a cafe called #MART130 (tram backwards plus stop number) since at least … Continue reading Middle Park Station, gone but coming back.
Hmm might have been better with wide angle and not strong sunlight.... anyway, this is the terrific #SargoodWarehouse in #FlindersLane, terribly important as one if the earliest and the most inventive #TallArchedRedBrickRomanesque building in #Melbourne, built 1899 (check out the spindly timber framed bowed windows Iberia 3 floors !). A local version of the American … Continue reading Sargood Warehouse, John Sulman, 1899
In #HopeStreet #Brunswick, there’s this ! A #retorthouse, built for the #BrunswickGasWorks in 1891. This was the building in which the coke (a type of coal) was heated to produce the gas that went on to fire up street and domestic lights. It was designed by engineer Stephen Hutchison, big bold and simple in two … Continue reading Brunswick Gas Works, 1891
Great 1880s #parapet/s, those deep holes defining the #scrolls are a signature of #NormanHitchcock, who would normally make the whole thing far more elaborate, so might be him, might not. #SydneyRoadBrunswick.
If the Nazi's never took power, would Berlin have Europe's tallest skyscraper and East Prussia be a honeymoon destination ?
Storey of Melbourne 