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. →

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 →