Napier Waller Wilson Hall stained glass, 1935

Napier Waller Wilson Hall stained glass, 1935

28 October 2018 In the #IanPotterMuseumofArt at #MelbourneUniversity you’ll see all that’s left of the first #WilsonHallMelbourneUniversity, a great #GothicRevival edifice built in 1878-82 and mostly destroyed by fire in 1952. It's all about the 6 days of creation. My closeup is of #Ceres (the Goddess of fecundity), and #Prometheus (who brought down the Divine … Continue reading Napier Waller Wilson Hall stained glass, 1935 →

Early flats : Victoria House and Clarendon, East Melbourne

Early flats : Victoria House and Clarendon, East Melbourne

Victoria House, 220 #ClarendonStreetEastMelbourne, built 1914. The first flats built in Melbourne, just before during and after WW1, were often in this severe #redbrick form, rather than Edwardian or Arts & Crafts style, don’t ask me why! This one was designed by #PhillipHudson, best known for later joining with Janes Wardrop and winning the 1924 … Continue reading Early flats : Victoria House and Clarendon, East Melbourne →

James Fawcett, Flinders Street Station architect.

James Fawcett, Flinders Street Station architect.

This rather nice c1910 #ArtsandCrafts clock with #Australiana motifs in the #NationalGalleryofVictoria has a direct #FlindersStreetStation connection - it was designed by #JamesFawcett who designed that famous landmark ! (Along with HPC Ashworth). Fawcett was a champion of the Arts & Crafts and designed all the #ArtNouveau stained glass and pressed metal ceilings inside. Not … Continue reading James Fawcett, Flinders Street Station architect. →

Chart House c1940 and Melbourne House 1923, Little Bourke Street

Chart House c1940 and Melbourne House 1923, Little Bourke Street

Chart House c1940, architect unknown - pretty radical for 1940, looks so 50s, except for the #steelframedwindows, with opening leaves, 50s would be aluminium frames. I don’t love it, but it’s very interesting. Rather oddly the heritage study by @lovellchen says the front was altered in the 50s, but the side wasn’t, so only the … Continue reading Chart House c1940 and Melbourne House 1923, Little Bourke Street →

Rankins Lane overshadowing

Rankins Lane overshadowing

#RankinsLane at 2.30 pm and earlier at 12.30 today - all this nice #sunlight would be blocked by the 20 storey tower proposed for 360 #LittleBourkeStreet - you’d think there’d be rules protecting the sun in this popular residential and business #laneway just up towards #HardwareLane but you’d be wrong ! There’s a 15m limit … Continue reading Rankins Lane overshadowing →

Harston, Brighton, 1885

Harston, Brighton, 1885

Here in Victoria, we call this style #lombardicromanesque, even though sometimes it's Italianate or Gothic. Anyway it's a special melb invention, a blend of influences - wonderful #polychromebrick, round arched windows, varied massing, #jerkinhead roofs, and of course a #tower topped with #mansard roof and #widowswalk. Even the ornate #castironfence is intact. My favourite sort … Continue reading Harston, Brighton, 1885 →