Posts Tagged ‘1880s’

Windsor Hotel's tower proposal. Image from the National Trust used with permission.

Shock news of plans for a sham consultation for the government to stop the Windsor Hotel development to gain votes has been reported by the Herald Sun.  The news certainly comes as a suprise to the National Trust, who were under the belief that their campaign was a genuine part of democratic process.  The leaked email reportedly claimed that the decision to approve the controversial development had already been made by the responsible internal committee.  It will be very interesting to see how this plays out and how the government reacts to this scandal.  It may simply add fuel to proceed with the redevelopment as planned.

The Terricks, Hawthorn. Image by J.v.D.a

The Leader has another story about Hawthorn’s heritage character being compromised.  This time, the redevelopment of the Victorian mansion “The Terricks” described as a tragedy by Hawthorn historian Gwen McWilliam.  The Terricks, a classically designed “Marvellous Melbourne” mansion dates to 1882 and was designed by one of Melbourne’s most significant firms Reed and Barnes.  Despite being in a City of Boroondara heritage overlay, the plans approved by council involves demolition of the rear, leaving the street facade and replacing the demolished section with a large concrete and glass box to house 28 apartments.

Thanks to Aussie Steve for the tip.

Penfolds buildings, former cable tram terminus in Fitzroy was demolished today (image from the Art Deco & Modernism Society)

Very sad times for Melbourne art deco fans.

The long protracted death of Penfold’s buildings, a stunning but derelict moderne-style tram shed on the corner of Brunswick Street and Victoria Parade has inally reached its climax.  One of the rare works of reknowned interwar architect Harry Norris, the result of a remodelling of an 1880s cable tram station in 1936 has succumbed to redevelopment as part of an apartment complex.

A failed nomination was made to the Victorian Heritage Register in 2007.  The state government planning minister ignored the appeals of the City of Yarra, Art Deco Society, National Trust and local residents – siding with the developer to push ahead for its removal in 2008.  An appeal taken to VCAT was overruled allowing the sheds to be demolished.  Sadly it was argued that not even the spectacular tower and facade were worth saving.  In the writers opinion with a simple coat of paint this building could have remained a great deco landmark.

The bulldozers were very quick to move in today.

The Capital Bakeries, a similar remodelled cable tram shed in Chapel Street has also been approved for demolition and awaits the same fate.

If these demolitions move you even slightly my recommendation would be to join the Art Deco Society today and help preserve what is left of our fantastic art deco heritage before it is too late.

One can only hope that the apartment building that replace them will stand the test of time.  Fitzroy’s heritage character is certainly not be the winner here.  Such a shame that our planners and developers have such narrow vision.

And so the unrelenting destruction continues …

Maldon Station from wikipedia (Dan027)

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 Goldfields Heritage Railway website.

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

Melbourne Athenaeum to get restoration funding

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 The Age.

Just over a quarter ($12.2 million) of a federal stimulus grants to Victoria will go into heritage buildings.

The Melbourne Athenaeum is an institution which turns 170 this year.  The current boom era building has beautifully intact interiors which remain regularly used and one of few old lifts left in Melbourne, an art deco style set of elevators.

Personally I think economic stimulus is the sort of opportunity needed to spend $30 million to complete the dome on Parliament House but that’s another story ….