3 September 2025 This fabulously elaborate facade on Sean Street Richmond near Church Street was probably built as the Richmond Coffee Palace in 1888, designed by William Wolf. I especially like the top floor pilasters with hanging fruit decoration, and the swags between. I also like that there’s a lot of ochre colour left on … Continue reading Swan Street Richmond →

1 September 2025 The former Police Barracks on St Kilda Road is rather grand, but also rather bland - it’s got a range of classical / Georgian details, but it’s all rather flat, but perfectly nice. Public Works Architect EE Evans liked a bit of no frills Georgian; Box Hill High is similar but much … Continue reading Police Barracks →

1 September 2025 Sticking up in Little Bourke near Hardware is this warehouse built in 1889 for Jacob & Benjamin Marks, who were jewellers. It was designed by George De Lacy Evans in a rather unusual rendering of the Queen Anne style, with a big arch motif up top, bisected by the piers/windows, and topped … Continue reading Marks’ warehouse Little Bourke →

29 August 2025 I really don’t know what I think about this - amusing, weird, pretentious yet striking ….. it’s on the corner of High St and Glenferrie Road Armadale, called The Sun and the Moon, by Paul Juraszek, and dates from 1989. The @nationaltrustvic citation notes that “In size, cost, prominent position and provocative … Continue reading Mythical Malvern →

29 August 2025 A fun house by my fave architects, husband and wife Holgar & Holgar, in Nola Court Toorak, that unfortunately is being advertised for sale with ‘no heritage overlay’ in big letters ! It was built in 1962, for Mr & Mrs Selwyn, so earlyish in their career, but already showing the way … Continue reading Early Toorak Holgar →

28 August 2025 Wanda Court, cnr Malvern and Clendon Rds, Toorak, a quite stylish block of 6 Deco flats, which goes a bit classical on the rounded corner. Surprisingly not heritage listed and not strata titled, sold as a block in 2023, and still one owner, now serviced apartments called @urbanrest. So date and architect … Continue reading Wondering about Wanda →

28 August 2025 This house in Sorrett Ave Malvern is so neat and so unusual that I thought it was a recent attempt at Victorian Gothic, despite the prominent 1890 over the entrance - but no it is indeed authentic. Built for and presumably designed by George Jobbins, who did lots of classical banks. That … Continue reading Gothic goodness →

25 August 2025 I’ve never liked this development on the edge of Fawkner Park and Commercial Road; the park side looked nice enough in the winter sunshine, but if you look closely it really needs some maintenance. No idea who designed it, but it apparently dates from 1982. Another reason to dislike it is that … Continue reading Ugly, or not ? →

25 August 2025 The enormous Younghusband Woolstores in Kensington, just south of the station - it’s been part of Open House a number of times, but I’ve never seen it. It was begun in 1901, the most elaborate bit, by Lloyd Tayler & Fitts, and quickly expanded a long way down the rail lines, with … Continue reading Younghusband Woolstores →

11 June 2024 A very early post from 2013 of a little 70s thing in Johnston Street Fitzroy, which I captioned ‘Neither chan nor chan has been trading for some time.’ Can’t find the original photo but I have another from 2014, and since 2016 it’s been @mile_end_bagels, who tell me they’re renting from the … Continue reading Chan & Chan →