Melbourne Heritage Watch

Shrine of Remembrance declared national memorial

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:05:42 +0000

Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance was declared a national war memorial on Wednesday to mark the 75th anniversary of its dedication. The Shrine met the criteria of the Military Memorials of National Significance Act. The iconic memorial was built completely by public donation and part of a national design competition, the Shrine honours the many hundreds of [...]

Interwar takes a tumble in Brunswick

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:27:15 +0000

The spectacular and unexpected collapse of a two storey interwar shop on the corner of Sydney Road and Albion Roads in Brunswick following the demolition and excavation on neighbouring blocks made headlines today. Fortunately nobody was hurt. However the wider issue is the rapidly changing character of Sydney Road and the rapid neglect of its [...]

55 Elizabeth Street restoration

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:15:14 +0000

55 Elizabeth Street, formerly known as Friendly Societies House and the Melbourne Sports Depot has had the original facade restored (minus its original cast iron verandah). A recent restoration has revealed previously painted over architectural terracotta faience, original paintwork and other details of the Edwardian building originally designed by Nahum Barnet and built in 1902 [...]

Rising Sun Hotel Fire

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:18:38 +0000

The Rising Sun Hotel has had its fourth (suspicious) fire in recent months, sadly gutting the heritage listed building to all but a facade. The disused building sit on the corner of a prime development site at 189-193 Geelong Road has a permit for 34 townhouses. The Kingsville/Seddon/Footscray hotel is a landmark of the western suburbs of [...]

RMIT architecture students devise “Lonsdale House Revival” plan

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:35:50 +0000

In July, the State Government, City of Melbourne and Colonial First State made the public statement that is was “not possible” to retain the Melbourne heritage landmark Lonsdale House as part of the Emporium development and approved its demolition. NH Architects claimed that it was not able to both make a cutting edge architectural statement [...]

Heritage demolition on prominent Chapel Street corner

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:39:02 +0000

An interwar late 1930s building in a heritage overlay is to make way for a five storey $17 million social inclusion centre and low cost housing in St Kilda. The single storey Tudorbethan at 101 Carlisle Street features two prominent brick banded gables facing Chapel Street. According to the Port Phillip Leader (October 27) the [...]

Maldon’s historic railway station destroyed by fire

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:46:20 +0000

Maldon’s Victorian Heritage listed railway station has been destroyed by fire. The neo-gothic building erected 1884-1888 was operated by the Maldon Railway Preservation Society Tourist Railway. Maldon is located just north west of Melbourne in Alexander Shire between Ballarat and Bendigo. Information on the fire, possible rebuilding and photos of the damage can be found on the Victorian [...]

Heritage listed sacrifice for sardine city on Spencer Street

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:29:22 +0000

Developers the Far East Consortium have come forward with its proposal, mooted earlier on MHW to demolish the Victorian era Electric Lighting station (which is important to the city’s heritage and listed on the Melbourne Heritage Scheme) as well as possibly apply for Heritage Victoria’s permission to remove the state heritage listed water tank from [...]

Melbourne Athenaeum, Royal Exhibition Building and Abbotsford Convent to receive federal stimulus funding

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:49:04 +0000

Announced recently, the federal government is chipping in heritage grants for three of Marvellous Melbourne’s 1880s heritage buildings, all three of which are of state significance and on the Victorian Heritage Register. Royal Exhibition Building (1880-1888), Athenaeum (1886) and Abbotsford Convent (1887) are to receive federal stimulus funding according to this article by Kate Lahey in [...]

Myer elevators art deco doors hocked on Ebay

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:42:03 +0000

Myer Melbourne is going the way of many of the buildings demolished by Whelan the Wreckers in the 60s with its salvaged heritage is being sold off … five bronze leadlighted art deco elevator doors to go to a good home at a bargain for $545 – suprisingly they’re not even being properly auctioned [...]