27 March 2014: What was Le Louvre, exclusive dress shop, by #appointmentonly ! Run by mother then daughter for 70 years. Bought by #officetower developer, going to be part of #popup by the looks. Probably with big hole in side wall where matching terraces dem in the 70s. Built #1855, copper #shopfront 1927 and facade … Continue reading Le Louvre, Collins Street →

Original post 25 February 2021: Great pic of what was originally #BuckleyAndNunn (David Jones since 1988) next to Myer on the mall. They’d been around here since 1851 (!), then built themselves a grand new store in two stages, 1911-12. The architects Bates Peebles & Smart (late #BatesSmartMcCutcheon) just built the same thing twice, but … Continue reading Edwardian Baroque in Bourke Street →

24 February 2021: So stylish - the 1933 facade of Buckley & Nunn’s meanswear store, designed by #BatesSmartMcCutcheon, who had done the traditional style main building next door 22 years earlier. Lots of glass and chrome, terribly Modernistic for the time, and included great coloured faience panels up top depicted the modern gent playing golf, … Continue reading David Jones Deco →

Original post 23 February 2017: RepatriationClinic, #StKildaRd, #GeorgeHallendal, 1937. Built as an outpatients clinic, this is one of a series of army buildings, mostly drill halls, built at the time in Victoria. All designed by Hallendal, they are all variations of a brick #ArtDecoClassical style, some more classical, others more stylised (let's call it #Moderne). … Continue reading Repat clinic, St Kilda Road →

Original post 23 Feb 2021: A very interesting #housepair on Grey Street- built 1910, designer unknown, and built for Ann Godfrey as an investment. Some Dutch /QueenAnne #steppedgables and some almost #ArtNouveau #wrought-iron (which looks rather Robert Haddon). Unfortunately some poor repointing in one gable, on grey instead of beige ! Not sure who owns, … Continue reading Edwardian house pair, grey street St Kilda →

Original post 22 February 2020: This is a curious one - Georgian Court in George Street East Melbourne started life as a set of 1871 terraces, which was turned into 6 flats in 1928. It got a rather rustic Arts & Crafts look, designed by PJW Murfett, and only the cornice was left intact. But … Continue reading Georgian Court East Melbourne →

Original post 22 Feb 2016: Making a #curvaliscious impression in the gentle streetscape of suburban #hawthorn - the #GlenferrieOval, built 1938, designed by Stuart P Calder with Marsh and Michaelson. A landmark of #artdecomelbourne, or #streamlinedmoderne if you prefer, influenced by some of the more striking curved European #earlymodern designs, as much as by the … Continue reading Hawthorn Football Club grandstand →

Original post 21 February 2022: In the news is another pub to close, but this one has a lot more history than most- the John Curtin Hotel in Lygon Street was built in 1915 as the Lygon Hotel, designed by Billing Peck & Kemter in a rather nice Arts & Crafts style (and may be … Continue reading John Curtin Hotel →

20 February 2018 The kind of suburban developer #postmodern that gives it a bad name, but I rather like its #baroque complexity and possibly original 80s pastel tones. #HighStreetArmadale. 20 February 2025 Update : it was demolished the next year, and the site added to the Edwardian bank next door to become apartments called Alara, … Continue reading Pastel Postmodern →

Original post 20 February 2018: The truly adorable #MutualStore, in Flinders Street, 1891, by #ReedSmartandTappin. A bit #queenanne #redbrick and #baywindows, #scrolledpediments, and a lot of #mannerist #brokenpediment on top. This was Joseph Reed’s firm, but he had just died before it was built, so this possibly by Smart. Opening in Nov, it replaced the … Continue reading Mutual Store →