Tag: ArtDecoMelbourne
The Orrong Hotel is one of the more striking Art Deco pubs in Melbourne, with that stepped corner tower. And the Fosters neon sign is original! Always thought maybe 80s Deco-revival, but no it’s 1939. It’s mostly intact, but at some point the bricks and speed lines and ‘hotel’ sign were rendered over, then later … Continue reading Orrong Hotel, High Street Armadale
Original post 23 February 2020 This is the factory next to the factory that the #SkippingGirlSign is on, and I’m very chuffed to have just found via Trove old newspaper searches that this was built in 1938, and the architects were #AlderAndLacey. Even though I helped get the sign on the Heritage Register, nobody ever … Continue reading Not Skipping Girl, Handley & Co, designed by Alder & Lacey, 1938
2 February 2025 Photos of what’s now Collingwood Yards in Johnston Street I took in 2014 and 2020, plus two recent ones. Fabulous striking entry, with an arched rising sun motif, and scalloped brickwork above, a fine effort by Public Works chief architect Percy Everett, completed in 1939 as the Collingwood Technical School. It is … Continue reading Collingwood Tech, 1938
Footscray Junior Technical School, 1941, #PercyEverett at his finest, a grand entry set on and inside corner, with curves and counter-curves, a circular vestibule, some great brickwork, topped by a pair of flagposts - the only thing is there’s trees in front, and a big newer block, and a slight slope down, meaning it doesn’t … Continue reading Footscray Junior Technical College, 1941.
December 2019 There's this excellent Milky Way Cafe photo in the State Library Collection - but what ? where ? Well it was designed by Mewton & Grounds, and this is from the Wikipedia entry for Geoffrey Mewton (which I just wrote): “This was followed in 1934 by the Milky Way at 300 #LittleCollinsStreet, a … Continue reading Thoroughly Modern Milk Bar
Not my photo but I couldn’t wait - just discovered that #MewtonAndGrounds did a ‘Scout Settlement’ project in #NottStreet, #PortMelbourne in late 1936, and it’s still there ! The Scout Settlement wasn’t the Scouts, but similar, providing recreation rooms for boys ‘from the more congested suburbs’ in this case the very working class Port Melb. … Continue reading Geoffrey Mewton discovery !
Bellaire, in #CowderoyStreet, #WestStKilda, a place I’d seen photos of but not clapped my own eyes on it. A bit severe ! Designed by #GeoffreyMewton of #MewtonAndGrounds, 1936, lauded as one of those places showing the influence of Modernism when all around was Art Deco or Tudor, its almost Bauhaus in its severity, softened - … Continue reading Bricky severe Modernism in St Kilda West.
Looks like maybe a #Bauhaus design ? Actually it was built in Toorak in 1936. Came across this photo while updating the Wikipedia entry for #GeoffreyMewton, so now I know that in the 1930s he did some of the most Modernist houses In Melbourne! But mostly demolished. All white or brick rectangular volumes, with flat … Continue reading Mewton Modernism
#BrunswickFireStation, 1937, designed by #SeabrookandFildes, who did a few around town but this is the best. They got famous for introducing a bricky brand of European Modernism in 1934 with #NormanSeabrook’s design for #MacrobertsonGirlsHigh. This is bit more #ArtDeco by comparison, but very stripped back and rectangular. Thanks as usual to Grant for the drive … Continue reading Fire Station Modern
Lunch in #Williamstown, so had to have a look at #PercyEverett’s addition to #WilliamstownHighSchool, and excellent as always, looking like a superior 1930s office block almost, but it’s actually 1948 - Percy seems to have ignored modernism almost completely (#RobinBoyd etc must have been shaking their heads in disbelief). But it’s very nice, well built … Continue reading Percy Everett in Willy
If the Nazi's never took power, would Berlin have Europe's tallest skyscraper and East Prussia be a honeymoon destination ?
Storey of Melbourne 