Original post 29 December 2020: Some more #LostMelbourne - this was the Presbyterian Chalmers Church in #EastMelbourne on St Andrews Place, behind #TasmaTerrace - which turns out to have been demolished a looong time ago, in 1905 ! I had seen this photo ages ago and assumed it was lost more recently. The manse survived … Continue reading Chalmers Church, East Melbourne →

Original post 30 December 2020 (photo 2017) : This charming survivor is on #BourkeStreet, just up from #HardwareLane and turns out to be quite old, almost #goldrush, built in 1858. It’s one of the many scattered pre WW2 places proposed in the #HoddleGridHeritageReview - which found it was built as offices for early entrepreneur #HughGlass, … Continue reading Bourke Street, quite old →

December 2020: There was a tradition of temporary arches across the street for celebrations, and for Federation, quite a lot were put up. Especially since the Duke of Cornwall (later George V) was about to arrive to open the first Australian parliament at the Exhibition Buildings on 1 Jan, 1901. The first one I’ve shown, … Continue reading Federation arches →

Original post 27 December 2017: St Peters, Clayton Road, Clayton, #IvanAnderson, 1966. Wild #cruciform roof over stretched sideways hexagonal plan; the steeper ridges were originally translucent, forming a cross of light inside. The front gable rises up dramatically, supported by a huge cross, but sadly its bricked in, the entry is now round the back … Continue reading St Peter’s, Clayton →

26 December 2023 This impressive pile on #PrincesStreetStKilda is often described as one of the oldest houses in #StKilda, but the very unusual verandah was built some time around WW1. Behind it, theres a house built in 1854, for Henry Field Gurner, who was born in Sydney in 1819 and come to Melbourne in 1841 … Continue reading Berkeley Hall, St Kilda →

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 →