Repost 2015: Another former #fitzroypub the Leicester Arms in Leicester Street off Brunswick, and pretty bloody intact too. Probably cos it had a short life and just became a house I suppose. Appears in newspapers in 1872, which looks right, but God knows why they built it since its hidden down a side street and … Continue reading Ex pub in Fitzroy →

Repost 2017: #MonashReligiousCentre, #MockridgeStahleandMitchell, 1968. An interdenominational chapel, so no crosses, with a lovely calm atmosphere inside (though there are some #stainedglasswindows). The outside very understated like many of the early Monash buildings, (except the Ming Wing), though can’t say I actually like it much, an odd shape, neither dome nor cylinder, and the low … Continue reading Monash Religious Centre →

So nearly 10 years ago I got a letter in the age re the now dumped Tower Melbourne, cnr Bourke & Queen - railing against the idea that towers could go almost straight up, very close to boundaries, and nobody seemed to care what this did to the street scale, or neighbours. This was the … Continue reading I prefer podiums to gong straight up →

Repost 2014: Repost 2014: ENSOR 1875 #crouchandwilson for Joseph Levy. If you really made it in Melbourne’s early Jewish community, you might build a mansion here, just round the corner from the East Melb synagogue. It’s one of the #rowmansions on #victoriaparade #eastmelbourne all owned by #eyeandearhospital. Restored 1995. Ardee, 1881 by #crouchandwilson 6 years … Continue reading Row mini mansions, Victoria Parade →

16 October 2015: The stylish 1965 TAA HQ in Franklin Street has just been #heritagelisted. One of dozens of buildings in the city north heritage study, approved by the #CityofMelbourne last year, just approved by the Minister. First #postwarhighrise to be independently listed by the City, and first office tower that isn't severely #modernist to … Continue reading TAA, Franklin Street →

Original post 4 March 2018: The #PalaisTheatreMelbourne new enclosed #wintergarden / glazed lobby extension thing is finished - not awful, but sooo black, and oddly curved, the arches don’t extend out from the arched windows behind, so why didn’t they just make it straight ? and then you could see the tops of the arched … Continue reading Palais Theatre →

Repost 2019: Collins House, just finished, 464 Collins, #BatesSmart, on top of the partly preserved #Huddartparker building - I’m quite surprised to see that the stepping back then forward again, normally a no-no, works in this case- prob because it’s such a high gap, and effectively puts the tower above the National Bank next door … Continue reading Collins House →

15 October 2021 Great Old English (Mock Tudor) shops on Commercial Road near Chapel Street, recently sold for $9.8 mill to ‘Malaysian developers’ (I’m told it’s Buelah) - but they’re B graded in the chapel street #heritageprecinct, so pretty safe. Might replace the rear wings with 10 storeys, but the price reflects shop income I … Continue reading More Tudor shops →

Repost 2017: A Gothic sandwich in Collins up from Queen. In the middle, Aldersgate House (originally Colonial Mutual Fire Insurance, dont know when it became Aldersgate), built 1924 designed by #sydneysmithoggandserpell which would have stuck out from lower stuff until the almost exactly matching #decogothic vertically striped blocks built either side- Trustees Chambers, #AandKHenderson on … Continue reading Gothic x 3 →

Repost 2017: #RoyalExhibitionBuilding looking fine in the #eveningsun. When I first saw the #historicphoto with a lake I thought ‘there’s no lake there !’ but there is, though pretty sure it was overgrown until recently (?), but certainly looks smaller than in 1880. Architect #ReedandBarnes, garden #WilliamSangster.