Manchester Unity Building - Melbourne

The landmark Art Deco "Manchester Unity Building" in Melbourne CBD is lavishly detailed on the exterior as well as the interior.  There are many interesting features, the ground floor foyer and escalator being one of them.

Ostend Flats, Brighton - Melbourne

These stunning flats located in the suburb of Brighton, Melbourne were designed by architect, I.G Anderson.  He designed many great examples of Art Deco architecture in Victoria as well as Tasmania.  A notable example in Melbourne city that he designed included Lonsdale House that was only recently demolished.  Check out these flats named "Dorijo" in Fitzroy, Melbourne, also designed by Anderson. Note that Ostend, Lonsdale House and Dorijo are all adorned with tower turrets.

If you enjoy my Australian Art Deco & Modernism blog you might be interested to check out my blog dedicated to Tasmanian Art Deco & Modernism at http://modernismtas.blogspot.com.au/

I undertook a major photographic project documenting Australian Modernism that saw me travel throughout Victoria, New South Wales, ACT, and Queensland.  Check out my photographic collection here, the collection continues to be added too, so keep on checking back.

Melbourne Art Deco Flats "Dorijo"

This Art Deco complex in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy is an amazing design, and were designed by I.G Anderson who did many homes and flats in Melbourne and he also designed a wonderful streamline commercial building in Tasmania.  Many of his buildings had stylised turrets on the top of the building, and Dorijo is no different.  Others included Lonsdale House (demolished 2010) and Ostend flats in Brighton, Melbourne.

To view 100+ photographs from the Art Deco and Modernist period in Melbourne check out my website page dedicated to Victoria check them out here

Melbourne Art Deco - a building with a long name

Melbourne has many wonderful examples of Art Deco architecture, some are large and bold whilst others like this building are tucked between other larger office buildings. Taking the time to gaze upwards rewards one with some wonderful examples such as this one.  The original title on the building that still remains is "National Trustees Executors &Agency Co of Australia ltd"


To view more photographs of Melbourne and the state of Victoria view my website gallery here  

Melbourne Art Deco Industrial Motif

This Art Deco gem was tucked away in an Industrial area of Melbourne, and it was the last thing I was expecting to witness in this area of Industrial buildings. Modernist design always has a habit of surprising you when you least expect it!

Sumptuous & Juicy Mc Donalds - Streamline Art Deco Melbourne Gem

This has to be one of the most stunning McDonalnds franchise stores in Australia! Located in Clifton Hill, Melbourne, it was originally designed as a hotel in 1937.

It stands out as a striking example of the period, the streamline curves are a dead give-away to its Modernist credentials. The more you look the sumptuous curves just keep on finding every possible surface to wrap around. It's one of those buildings that put's a smile on your face when you see it in person!

To view my (ongoing) collection of photographs of 20th Century Architecture from Melbourne click here

Commonwealth Bank of Australia - Bourke Street Melbourne

Yet another impressive example of Modernist Bank design, this time in the form of what would have been a very tall high-rise block when it was erected in the central Melbourne Business District. It is one of many impressive commercial buildings that dot the Melbourne skyline. Check out my photographs of Melbourne Modernism here (being updated on a regular basis)

Lonsdale House Melbourne - Condemned to demolition

Lonsdale House, designed in 1934 (Architect I.G Anderson), was once on the list of Modernist buildings to explore whilst in Melbourne city.

The iconic Art Deco building was sadly demolished in 2010 to make way for a Myer redevelopment that will see a new glass box replace the iconic building that had stood on the site for some 70+ years.

Whilst in recent years there has been an appreciation for Modernist buildings, especially those from the Art Deco period, Lonsdale House proves that the days of wasteful demolition are still rife. But instead of 19th Century buildings being demolished, it's now our Modernist heritage that is at risk.

As a professional photographer much of my time is spent documenting buildings that are under threat in order to document their presence before they are vastly changed or demolished and lost forever; Lonsdale House was a case in point and a building that I had to visually document before it's sad fate.



To view my photo essay on Lonsdale House just months before it's demolition, and other Melbourne Modernist gems click here