2 January 2016, updates 2025: A pair of similar grand 1880s banks in High Street Northcote, both quite intact, and both with first floor arcaded porticos. The first was the #LondonCharteredBank, can’t find a precise date, but was by #OakdenAddisonanandKemp - a surprising style for them, they liked to do the latest Queen Anne, which … Continue reading Two grand banks, High Street Northcote →

31 December 2024 I knew the St James Park Estate in Hawthorn had some big houses, but I’d forgotten how big (as my friend driving me around said f** off big). It all started off as the huge estate for the bluestone Gothic Invergowrie, 1st pic, first part built 1840s, and it’s still there nestled … Continue reading St James Park Estate Hawthorn →

29 December 2024 The new refurb of 120 Collins Street by @hassell_studio includes a new glass entrance, which is nicer than the stripey lumpy grey it was before, but I think that sharp roof introduces a discordant note on Collins Street. And it wasn’t necessarily a good idea to reveal side wall that was never … Continue reading 120 Collins Street →

30 December 2024 I posted a pic of this curiosity in 2018, saying I’d seen the plans about 1994, but couldn’t believe they were serious, so vaguely surprised when I saw it for real ! Not only is it rather literal ‘Parisian’, it’s got rather too much mansard roof, and it’s squeezed down a narrow … Continue reading Paris ‘style’ in Toorak →

29 December 2024 I posted about the grand and rather massive Tea House on Clarendon Street Southbank on this day 6 years ago because Heritage Victoria actually refused a permit for a hotel tower plonked right next to it (last 2 pics). New developers commissioned a new design in 2022 from the internationally famous @snohetta … Continue reading Tea House tower →

28 December 2018 updated 2024: All that’s left of the 1927 TB Clinic in #LittleLonsdaleStreet near Queen- I meant to get photos before demolition but too late ! Don’t know why this bit still there, are they going to leave it as a ruin in the plaza ? Don’t think that’s a good idea. It … Continue reading TB Clinic, Little Lonsdale →

27 December 2024 A bit of mid century mundane, the Unitarian Peace Memorial Church in Grey Street East Melbourne; built in 1965 it was designed by Erik & Grethe Kolle, 1st pic and info @chrismbr. I’m starting with that in order to work backwards - firstly, it looked better with the slate roofing, and from … Continue reading Unitarian Church East Melbourne →

27 December 2024 Came across these photos and at first thought must be the UK somewhere, but no that’s the Showgrounds, and it’s the quite large Ascot Vale Housing Commission estate in 1956. It’s got about 65 long rectangular 3 storey walkups, plus some smaller ones. Shows how they were determined not to have any … Continue reading Ascot Vale Housing Commission →

24 December 2024 The rather grandly named Higginbotham Hall sits a bit on its ownsome in Bay Street Brighton near New Street. Turns out it was built as the Brighton Free Library in 1887, designed by Treeby & Cutler (it’s missing some urns). Phillip Treeby was a local, best known for the long demolished madly … Continue reading Higginbotham →

23 December 2019: No doubting what this is - only detail needed is that it’s the Anglican #ChineseMissionChurch of the Epiphany. It was designed by Nahum Barnet in a rather plain red brick style but with appropriate Gothic details, and built in 1902. Apparently the characters spell out ‘Worshipping Hall’. It had a rather complex … Continue reading Chinese Mission Church →