Original post 21 December 2020: Did you know that Princes Bridge was the result of a competition? I didn’t ! It was held in 1879, and was won by Grainger & Jenkins. That was a local Mr Jenkins, and #JohnGrainger from Adelaide, who had only been in Australia one year, having had experience in bridges … Continue reading Princes Bridge →

Original post 16 December 2018 (updated) : Some postwar flats are really pretty good - this one at 30 Southey Street Elwood has #suprematist #mosaic in the lobby, angled pipe supports for the porch, two types of #breezeblock on the stairs, parquetry floors, and flat 9 even has original kitchen and bathroom (not so modern). … Continue reading Featurist flats Elwood →

22 December 2023 Just went past this massive thing near Elsternwick Park - it’s a redevelopment of old Housing Commission blocks on New Street, Brighton, that’s the usual about half social (with nearly 20% extra), and half market, with a community space in the middle. Unlike other similar sites, the market ones are for rent … Continue reading Public Housing Brighton →

22 December 2020: Almost next door to me in Dalgety Street, one of those very grand terrace pairs that seem to be particular to St Kilda. Earliest mention I can find is 1880. By 1901 at least one was a #privatehotel, and in 1917 they were sold together and called Subiaco and Glenroe. In 1951 … Continue reading Dalgety Street boarding house →

Original post 20 December 2020 This ex-#VictorianMansion is right next to me in #DalgetyStreetStKilda. With the slope it ends up looking a bit sunken, but you get an unusual side entrance bridge to the upper floor, where there’s also a great little conservatory. Probably built in the boom late 1880s/early 1890s (update built c1875, and … Continue reading The next door mansion →

Original post 10 December 2019 MMTB (Tramways Board) 1962 plan for putting some CBD trams underground - better than replacing them with buses, but I’m glad I don’t have to use an escalator to get from the tram stop to Myers. The plan also shows the city loop, but with statins in different spots. Actually … Continue reading Trams underground ? →

20 December 2023 In 2017 I did an article for the Art Deco & Modernist Society journal on the only 4 Art Deco churches built in Victoria. Others have some Deco elements but these are the most fully fledged; 3 from the 30s and one from the 50s. First is the 1939 Apostolic Church in … Continue reading Four Art Deco churches →

Original post 18 December 2018: Architect #NormanHitchcock wasn’t one for holding back - the #VictoriaBuildings in #SmithStreetFitzroy, built 1889, have mad fat pilasters with exaggerated entasis, so much wider at the bottom, plus his usual brackets on top of columns, loads of #vermiculation, and oddly non-symmetrical brackets under the cornice - which it turns out … Continue reading Norman Hitchcock exaggeration in Smith Street →

Original post 18 December 2016: Rather horrifying design for a tower for #RMITUniversity, cnr #SwanstonStreet and #LaTrobeStreet, 1969, #BatesSmartandMcCutcheon architects (now just #batessmart). Would have replaced #StoreyHall and overshadowed the #statelibraryvictoria forecourt. The raised podium would possibly have been the worst part. Much prefer the Edwardian shirt factory, even with the green brain. What looks … Continue reading Brutalism at RMIT →

Original post -5 December 2020: Oddfellows House is right opposite the State Library - originally quite striking bit of Art Deco, it’s reasonably intact, though with the paint and trees it doesn’t look that exciting anymore. It was built as an investment block for Manchester Unity in 1940-41, designed of course by #MarcusBarlow - I … Continue reading MUIOOF Building, Swanston Street →