Category Archives: Architecture

The beautiful Royal Arcade

A favourite walk-thru from Bourke St Mall to Little Collins St – one of the most popular shopping arcades of the Melbourne CBD…for boutique shops, lollies and photography…

Royal Arcade, off Bourke St Mall, Melbourne CBD

Royal Arcade, off Bourke St Mall, Melbourne CBD

Drewery Lane explored

Drewery Lane is an interesting lane off Lonsdale St in the Melbourne CBD. There are three linked lanes with an eclectic mix of art –  from murals, to plaques commemorating Legacy ( a charitable organisation that helps families of War veterans) to weird building statues and a grungy bar. I have no idea what the statue below is suppose to represent or why it is there…some research for another time…

Street Art, Drewery Lane, Melb CBD

Street Art, Drewery Lane, Melb CBD

Street Art, Drewery Lane, Melb CBD

Street Art, Drewery Lane, Melb CBD

Street Art, Drewery Lane, Melb CBD

Street Art, Drewery Lane, Melb CBD

Building Art, Drewery Lane, Melb CBD

Building Art, Drewery Lane,  – I have no idea about this sculpture but I quite like it. 

Down one of the side lanes called Sniders Lane is a small bar called Sister Bella, a grungy student bar with a lot of character.

https://www.facebook.com/sisterbella/

Street Art, Drewery Lane, Melb CBD

Street Art, Sniders Lane, Melb CBD

Street Art, Drewery Lane, Melb CBD

Street Art, Sniders Lane, Melb CBD

Street Art, Drewery Lane, Melb CBD

Sister Bella, Sniders Lane, Melb CBD

The ever changing laneways of Melbourne

I often walk through the laneways of Melbourne CBD looking for changes,  new art and really anything of interest. I revisited my favourite laneways this week and while walking down and around AC/DC Lane and into Duckboard Place, I squeezed past several tradesmen trucks and walked on to look for new material. Something was not right so I back-tracked and realised that one of the best pieces in the Lane had gone and new/old windows had suddenly appeared. The whole building has been gutted and the old windows have been restored after being bricked up for so long. Duckboard Place (extension Lane of AC/DC Lane) has had a few changes as well. An expensive new restaurant is about to  open up and the whole wall opposite has been covered with small advertising billboards. I guess the locals advertisers have realised how popular the area is – the problem will be that no-one will bother any more as the street art has gone and there is not any space to put up anything else. I certainly don’t mind progress and restoring the old buildings and giving them new life and purpose, I am just a little disappointed that a favourite piece has gone. Most pieces last only a day or so before being tagged and covered but ACDC Lane is different and the art has lasted months.

Bird Street Art, ACDC Lane, 9 June 2015

Bird Street Art, ACDC Lane, 9 June 2015

Bird Street Art II, ACDC Lane, 10 Aug 2015

ACDC Lane, 10 Aug 2015

Bird Street Art II, ACDC Lane, 10 Aug 2015

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Odd Melbourne: Shopfronts and displays

It is not everyday that you find a giant cross in the window display of a clothing  shop.  Apparently the shop has a “unique style with sophisticated quirk”.

Shopfront, Flinders Lane

Shopfront, Flinders Lane

And this Building display window has been converted into the seating area for about 5 customers for the Switchboard Cafe – one of the tiniest cafes in Melbourne with a small hole in the wall for coffee and food prep –  room for one,  under the stairwell of the Manchester Unity Building – where the old electrical switchboard was located.

Switchboard Cafe, Manchester Unity Building

Switchboard Cafe, Manchester Unity Building

Secret Places – disappearing Melbourne

A little laneway off Exhibition Street, Melbourne CBD,  leads to a dead-end and an old building that won’t be long for this world…

Old Building

Not a lot of time left for this old Building

Secret Places – Block Arcade

Looking up at the Block Arcade at the Victorian era iron fretwork holding up the dome of the arcade.

Block Arcade Roof,

Block Arcade Roof, Melbourne CBD

Up the stairwell behind the lifts…

Block Arcade Stairwell Letterboxes

Block Arcade Stairwell Letterboxes

Secret Places: Behind the Brick Wall

well there is at least one big tree…

Brick Wall

Brick Wall, Rear of Melbourne Club, Ridgeway Place

Looking for treasure in monochrome….

A recent sunny lunchtime found me wandering the back streets and laneways looking for interesting shots of old Melbourne.

I find that converting the image to black and white removes the clutter of modern colours and distractions and allows me to see the old bones.

Higson Lane, Melbourne CBD

Higson Lane, Melbourne CBD

MJ Bale, George Parade, Melbourne CBD.

MJ Bale, George Parade, Melbourne CBD.

Melbourne Club Wall

Melbourne Club Wall – woman are only allowed on one side of this wall…

Melbourne Club Wall

Melbourne Club Wall

Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD

Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD

Job Warehouse, Bourke St, Melbourne CBD

Job Warehouse, Bourke St, Melbourne CBD

Pellegrinis, Melbourne CBD

Pellegrini’s, Melbourne CBD

A beautiful space to study…

The State Library reading room has to be one of the best spots in the CBD to sit and study. It is also a good place to photograph from one of the many nooks on the several floors above the main room. I have been here a number of times to view the galleries, the art, and to watch people study.

Click on photo for a larger view

State Library, Melbourne CBD, 11 May 2015

State Library, Melbourne CBD

State Library, Melbourne CBD, 11 May 2015

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State Library, Melbourne CBD, 11 May 2015

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Croft Alley: a colourful, hidden gem

Paynes Place is a nondescript,  bin strewn laneway  in Melbourne’s China-Town off Little Bourke St. There is however a large mural at the end of the lane.  Turning the corner,  a small walkway called Croft Alley leads you down past restaurant back doors and overflowing, smelly rubbish bins to wonderful walls of ever-changing street art with amazing colours. Turning another corner, and walking to the very end,  you find the entrance to strange bar with a science lab theme called the Croft Institute. There is quite a bit of intact art in Croft Alley without the crowds that often fill up the more famous Hosiers Lane. ( I still haven’t had a good look at Hosiers due to a fashion shoot, a TV presenter filming, tour groups and an impromptu macarena dance outbreak with about 50 people.)

Chinatown BW, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

Paynes Place, Chinatown, Melbourne CBD

Croft Alley Chinatown, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

Croft Alley Chinatown

Croft Alley Chinatown, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

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Croft Alley Chinatown, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

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Croft Alley Chinatown, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

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Croft Alley Chinatown, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

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Croft Alley Chinatown, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

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Croft Alley Chinatown, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

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Croft Alley Chinatown, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

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Croft Alley Chinatown, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

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Urban Melbourne: Laneways, Decay & Colour

Across the road from where I now work are many laneways leading into and around Melbourne’s Chinatown District. While the street facade can be newer and full of shops, the side lanes leading to the backstreets can expose the history and patina of the older buildings. This is the historical, original side of Melbourne I quite enjoy trying to find. My lunchtimes are now spent exploring the laneways and looking above the street level. While there are not many birds, there are many other interesting subjects to find.

Urban Decay, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

Urban Decay, Melbourne CBD – off Bourke St

Urban Decay, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

Urban Decay II

Turn any corner in a laneway and you could find colourful street art..

Graffiti dog, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

Graffiti dog, Melbourne CBD