17 March 2019: The new face of #CliftonHill; the brown one is #agedcare (not exactly like the drawing) the other is apartments, another is proposed for behind the fabbo Art Deco facade, and another two beyond these already built, each a bit taller up to 17 storeys maybe. I don’t mind this being an island … Continue reading Clifton Hill going up →

Original post 17 March 2019: Can’t wander round #QueensParadeCliftonHill without snapping this one ! The United Kingdom Hotel, 1938, by far the most striking of the #ArtDeco pubs in Melbs (maybe because many are makeovers of Victorian pubs). Designed by #JamesWardrop, who also did the fab #AlkiraHouse, and before that co-designed the Shrine. He designed … Continue reading Art Deco McDonalds →

Original post 15 March 2019: Another landmark on #QueensParadeCliftonHill, built for the #NationalBankofAustralasia 1886, designed by W A Tyree (never heard of him before and just found out died that year aged 36 so no wonder). Anyway, strong #classicalrevival design with most unusual inset #verandah or #loggia behind that #arcaded and #trabeated #renaissancerevival screen. That … Continue reading Stylish Bank, Clifton Hill →

Original post 12 March 2018: Great bit of #streetscape in #FlindersStreet, but all is not what it seems. The top two floors were added (and two bays on the right) in 1990 when the two buildings were reduced to facades, and the whole site made a #carpark, with some offices across the front (but different … Continue reading Facadism in Flinders Street →

12 February 2025 I had the impression this big block of Art Deco flats in Robe Street St Kilda was covetable, but now I look closely there’s only a modicum of nice original features; the fancy ironwork is I think all 1990s. The flats themselves are spacious, with a hall, room for a table in … Continue reading Art Deco St Kilda flats →

Original post 12 March 2022: Carlton Heritage Study now out for comment - good to see they’ve included the 70s, and some Brutalism! I do like the carpark, but the others I can appreciate but I’m not so fond of. They are : Women’s Hospital Carpark, Grattan Street, Mockridge Stahle & Mitchell 1974, RMIT buildings … Continue reading Carlton Modern →

10 March 2019: A pub on each corner ? Yes ! The corner of Brunswick Street and Gertrude has two, that competed, or rather didn’t have to since there were enough drinkers first both, from the 1860s to the 1990s, On the nw corner is the Rob Roy, established in 1857. It doesn’t look 1850s … Continue reading Fitzroy, a pub on nearly every corner, and sometimes two. →

6 March 2023: St Paul’s Cathedral with towers as designed by English architect William Butterfield in 1877. I could never understand why the 1920s spires didn’t match the rest, not even the stone. Just got a great little book on its history by the late (Bishop) James Grant, which clarifies a lot for me. First … Continue reading St Paul’s Cathedral →

7 March 2023: Demolished in 2021, this building in Russell Street wasn’t the most exciting architecture, but was on the edge of a pretty intact precinct, and almost got listed but unfortunately too late. Long owned and occupied by the Theosophical Society, it was built in 1923 for Russell Investments as a rental office building, … Continue reading Russel Street – ex car showroom →

Original post 8 March 2019: Remember the huge fuss about demolishing the Art Deco #LonsdaleHouse back in 2010 ? For that glassy thing on the left, which they said they absolutely had to have to make #TheEmporium viable? They also facaded the three other buildings on their site, and these two came up rather well, … Continue reading Nahum Barnet x 2 →