Original post 12 Feb 2021: I don’t see any justification for this - a giant office tower almost on top of the grand Titles Office on Queen Street - built on legs above the strong rooms out back that once held all Victorian titles on slate shelving on many levels with wonderful cast iron railings … Continue reading Titles Office tower proposal →

Original post 10 February 2021: The simply splendid #CamberwellHighSchool, by fave architect #PercyEverett, completed 1941. (Photos 1,2 from Wikipedia) Clearly influenced by #brickexpressionism the most popular style in 20s Germany - Percy had travelled widely. The view of the main building front has been obscured from Prospect Hill Road by a new wing sadly; a … Continue reading Camberwell High School →

9 February 2016: Readers Feast is leaving the main floor of the old Georges building. This is one of the many spaces in the City that has no interior protection, because the City of Melbourne has dragged its feet on listing ANY interiors. And Heritage Victoria has been sitting on a nomination since 1996. The … Continue reading George’s Store →

Original post 9 Feb 2021: St Kilda Railway Station, as it looked in c1864, from the @cityofportphillip heritage collection- and all of it is still there ! Built in 1857 as the terminus for Melbourne’s 2nd train line, it turned St Kilda from a scattering of villas and mansions into a desirable sea side suburb. … Continue reading St Kilda Railway Station →

Original post 8 Feb 2018: The site of one of the first losses just after I started working at the @nationaltrustvic. Melbourne’s first #cabletram #enginehouse on the corner of Hoddle Street and Bridge Road was demolished for the sake of a flared intersection/slip lane - most annoying cos they could’ve at least kept the furtherest … Continue reading Cable Tram Engine House, lost →

12 December 2023 Expected to find this one particularly horrible, but somehow at least when closer you focus on the restored facades of the 1925 Metropolitan Hotel on William Street, rather than the huge black tower above it. They also did a good job with reinstating the corner windows, the new brickwork matches fine. This … Continue reading Metropolitan Hotel facadism, William Street →

Original post 6 February 2017: The beaut Courier Building on #DorcasStreet #SouthMelbourne, can't find exact date, but I bet 1880s, crazy vertical three storey office building on a terrace house sized block. I can tell you however that the Courier was only published from 1900 to 1914 thanks the the #MelbourneCircle blog (or maybe 1881, … Continue reading South Melbourne Courier →

Original posts 6 February 2021 I still think of this simply as ‘Russell Street’, a fabbo skyscraper style HQ for the Victoria Police, in the news recently since a mini series about the 1986 bombing recreated the scene right in front (!). Replacing old barracks, the #RussellStreetPoliceStation was built 1941-3 (despite war restrictions on everyone … Continue reading Russell Street Police Station →

Original post 5 February 2018: Think replacing one of the buildings at #FedSq with an Apple flagship store is a bad idea ? Especially one that’s practically a copy of the Chicago one ? Then: email the City of Melbourne in support of the motion to request that State Parliament disallow the planning amendment that … Continue reading Apple Store at Fed Square – just say no ! →

Origin post 5 February 2021: Ajax Insurance, cnr Queen and Little Collins, yet another of the 55 #midcentury office blocks up for #heritagelisting, and another fave of mine, even though it’s a bit retro for 1957. Designed by HD Berry, who didn’t go on to much it seems, but did well with this, which would … Continue reading Ajax insurance →