Original post 1 April 2018: The outstandingly OTT #minimansion, the #JosephLalorHouse #Church Street, Richmond, 1888, heavily modelled, nothing is flat, it's all engaged #columns, projecting #bracketed elements, columns in a variety of sizes. I call it #chunkyvictorian.The architect #williamgeorgewolf was born in NY, then trained in Germany (#grunderzeit anyone?), then came here in 1884 where … Continue reading Lalor House, Richmond →

Original post 31 March 2019: I had no idea this existed, a new #melbournelaneway through a new not bad not great #apartmentbuilding at 137 #BourkeStreet called The Metropolitan connecting through to #CoromandelPlace; there’s a dogleg but that’s ok, and it’s most under the building and gates close at night but still noice to see, great … Continue reading New city lane (sort of) →

Original post 31 March 2020: The #GraingerMuseum sits on the #RoyalParade edge of the #UniversityOfMelbourne; Australia’s only purpose-built biographical museum, probably because he paid for it and oversaw its construction in 1935-8, when he was only in his 50s. It’s got a half-wheel shape, his own suggestion, but the details and construction by the University’s … Continue reading Percy Grainger Museum, Melbourne University →

Original post 31 March 2014: Nice little Art Deco /Modernist factory in South Melbourne on the corner of Clarke & Ross Streets. It was built in 1938, with a news report noting that it was to house the manufacturing of the ‘soft drink flavour known world-wide as coca-cola’ - so clearly a new thing then, … Continue reading Coca Cola bottling works →

Original post 31 March 2020: This nice house in #Footscray, right on the river, and now part of the Footscray Community Arts Centre, was built in 1874, and was home to William Henderson, who ran a bacon curing works right next door - must have been smelly ! The works were to the north, and … Continue reading Henderson Curing Works / Footscray Community Arts Centre. →

Original post 31 March 2017: The #MoorabbinBowl #TenPinBowling, the best example left in Victoria of the first wave of these being built, and the only one with a heritage listing (though not before it was all painted blue). Architect #TheodoreBerman, built 1962. Sharp #modernist edges, but a great variety of materials and textures, mostly now … Continue reading Moorabbin Ten Pin Bowling →

Original post 30 March 2016: Sitting up on the top of a hill in the outer east is the ex-Sacred Heart Croydon Monastery complex, completed 1939. Designed in a nicely stylised #romanesquerevival, in then modern #creambrick, by Lionel San Miguel, a Portuguese born Melbourne #architect, who did a number of notable buildings for the Catholics. … Continue reading Sacred Heart Croydon →

28 March 2017: Beautiful #Brutalism on the #MelbourneUniversity campus - the #EducationResourceCentre, 1971, #PublicWorksDepartment. Huge interlocking beams, expressing the internal column free structure, good for library stacks, which is what it was originally - for the #MelbourneTeachersCollege, now integrated into the adjacent university. #KenzoTange inspiration. Pity about that weird glass canopy hanging off it on … Continue reading Brutalism at Melbourne University →

28 March 2016: Stylish though worn #modernist #tearoom up in the #Dandenongs originally designed by noted architect #FrederickRomberg (part of Boyd Romberg and Grounds in the 50s). Not built as designed in 1945, not completed till 1950. The food wasn't half bad actually, v nice spiced #carrotcake. Romberg v interesting though not super prolific, but … Continue reading Modernist Kallista →

Original post 28 March 2019: It was a genius move to fill the windows of #StPatricksCathedralMelbourne with #amberglass, a lovely soft glow. I’d also forgotten how huge it is inside, and how gorgeous the #painteddecoration, shiny brass, carved altars etc. Restrained for a Catholic Church, but that’s what #WilliamWardell was all about. @ St Patrick's … Continue reading St Patrick’s Cathedral →