20 September 2016 Saunders House, Gatehouse Street, Parkville, 1962. Pretty much the first example of what the 1950s English exponents meant by #brutalism, turning away from slick #modernism to the honest use of materials and bold simple forms. So we’ve got lots of exposed concrete brick walls, and the tall #skillion roofs, and the #verandahs … Continue reading Early brutalist house →

17 September 2024 Had regular appointments in East Melb earlier this year, so took snaps of this crazy behemoth a few times, but the light was never right. Here’s what I said in 2017: #QueenBessRow #EastMelbourne - looks like a hotel or apartments but actually it’s three enormous #ThreeStoreyTerrace houses plus attics. Built in 1887 … Continue reading Queen Bess Row →

19 September 2024 Fine little Deco thing in Swanston Street near Bourke, usually hidden by trees. Built in 1936 for the Union Bank, back when all the banks seemed to have branches around here; the ES&A and State Bank had ones right opposite. It was designed by W&R Butler, with a facade in Stawell stone, … Continue reading Bank, Swanston Street →

18 September 2024 Fun goggle eyed shopfront in Mills Street Middle Park, I’m guessing 1970s. With old reflective film on the windows I thought it was maybe abandoned, but I peeked in a gap and saw an old bloke working away in some kitchens - then I noticed the outdoor seating, doh! It’s called Ragazzi, … Continue reading Cheery shopfront →

15 September 2024 Rather nice though obviously unfinished church on the corner of Hotham and Inkerman Streets St Kilda. Built fur the Congregationalists, it was designed by Beasley & Little (haven’t heard of them before) in a nice polychrome brick style, and opened 1888. Later a Uniting Church, and since 2011 the Holy Trinity St … Continue reading Polychrome church, unfinished →

15 September 2017: The Mail Exchange, 1917, designed by Commonwealth Architect #JSMurdoch. Very grand for a place to sort mail, and much lauded as a first of what we later called #StrippedClassical, derived from the US version of #BeauxArts, cos the architects were often Paris trained at the Ecole de Beaux Arts. There’s also a … Continue reading Mail Exchange →

26 October 2024 No 40 and 42 #gertrudestreetfitzroy in 1983, having been abandoned for some time, with #stvincentshospitalmelbourne expecting to replace a whole bunch of houses (I think). Fortunately that didn’t happen, and they were restored instead for #socialhousing. Which they still are. Amazing, wouldn’t happen now. They even restored the cast iron verandah added … Continue reading Gertrude Street terraces saved →

12 September 2024 The Temperance Hall, Napier Street, South Melbourne is still a hall; I remember it when it was Anthill Theatre on the late 80s. The grand front was built in 1888 in front of the hall which was built way back in 1861. It was built by the Emerald Hill Total Abstinence Society, … Continue reading Temperance Hall, South Melbourne →

9 November 2024 Looks like an 80s attempt at Art Deco, but it actually is an original; it’s in Findon Avenue, North Caulfield, built 1939, but surprisingly the architect isn’t known. But I did find some sale pics. It’s in a street created in 1938, and so there’s a strip of houses all from 1939-41, … Continue reading Cantala Estate, North Caulfield →

9 September 2024 Very unusual terrace pair in Park Street West St Kilda; must be c1890, in advanced Queen Anne style, with curly pediment thing, red brick fence with cast iron in imitation of turned timber, as are the lower verandah posts, and a sunflower motif in the frieze. The doors are inset behind deep … Continue reading Queen Anne West St Kilda →