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 →

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 →