Then and Now: Manchester Unity Building Rooftop

The Manchester Unity Building is one of the architectural jewels of the Melbourne. While researching the broader history of this iconic landmark, I came across this amazing photo:

It seems that from the 1932 through to about 1940, the rooftop of the building (Level 12) was home to a Japanese garden and cafe.

The same spot today:

The structure on the right houses a suite of offices, which had been converted from apartments (built in the 1990s).

Sadly, the rooftop is no longer open to the public, although Melbourne Open House often runs tours that include it. The rooftop is currently used for private functions, by the building's tenants.

Apollo Bay: Then and Now

Apollo Bay is not part of Melbourne, but we love going there.

According to a recent article in The Age the sleepy coastal town's population swells from the usual 1000 residents, to more than 15 000 in December and January, as Melbournians flee the city for their summer break. For these two months it is the largest town in the state's south west.

Apollo Bay has been a local tourist destination for a long time, popular since at least the end of the Second World War. But the towns origins are more modest.

The first European settlers in the area were whalers and sealers, arriving in the early 19th century. One of these, Captain Loutit, named the bay after his own ship, the Apollo. By the 1850s, the dense forest that surrounded the bay had attracted another form of commerce, and sawmilling quickly became the areas main industry.

A post office was erected in 1873, and a school in 1880. Nearly all access to the bay was via the sea, until a coastal track was completed in 1927.

Word of Apollo Bay's natural beauty had spread to Melbourne by this time and, with the road through, holiday makers began arriving in the 1930s. With an affluent middle class established in the wake of World War II, the Bays popularity increased steadily, to its present day peak.

The following is a brief pictorial history, of one of favourite destinations...

A sketch of the bay from 1858, by C.Maplestone.

A sketch from above the bay, 1870s. Artist unknown.

A makeshift sawmill tram, 1870s.

Looking back towards the fledgling town, circa 1900.

A view of the town's enormous jetty, from 1908. The jetty was used to allow
large cargo ships to dock and collect saw logs. It fell into disuse and disrepair
after the logging trade ended, and was demolished in the 1950s.

Circa 1925.

The Great Ocean Road opened up the area from the late 1920s

A tourism poster from 1947.

Views of the town, and beach, from the 1940s, as the area became popular.

Scenes from the present day.

References

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/coastal-surge-as-hundreds-of-thousands-of-victorians-flock-to-the-beach-20141227-12dhst.html

Nicholson Street: Then and Now

While researching another topic I came across this fantastic drawing of Nicholson Street, adjacent to the Exhibition Gardens, from 1864. The row of two tone terrace houses is still there, looking as spiffy as ever.

1864.

2013.

Victoria Parade: Then and Now

Victoria Street is one of Melbourne's oldest streets. Stretching from North Melbourne to Kew and skirting the CBD, the busy thoroughfare has provided a link from the city proper to it's oldest suburbs almost from the inception of both. Victoria Street sports a diverse mixture of buildings - old and new, commercial, industrial and residential, from a range of architectural schools - that reflect the development of Melbourne over the past 170 years. The following highlights some of the most iconic buildings from this remarkable street and shows how they have changed (and in some cases how they have stayed the same while their surroundings have altered), focussing on the section between Hoddle Street and Spring Street, commonly known as Victoria Parade.

ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST CATHOLIC CHURCH

Corner Hoddle Street and Victoria Parade

2013.

1959.

SAINT NICHOLAS' CHURCH

Corner Simpson Street and Victoria Parade

2013.

1974.

1930.

DEFUNCT GRAIN SILOS

Behind 109-111 Victoria Parade

2013.

1961.

FORMER VICTORIA BREWERY

Corner Powlett Street and Victoria Parade

2013

1911.

2013.

1919.

THE BADEN POWELL HOTEL

Corner Cambridge Street and Victoria Parade

2013 (Note: The Baden Powell on far side of intersecting street).

Circa 1918.

CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

Corner Eades Street and Victoria Parade

2013.

1870.

FITZROY CYCLORAMA

Corner Fitzroy Street and Victoria Parade

2013.

1889.

Note: I will be writing more about the extraordinary 'Cyclorama' at a later time.

FORMER AFTER CARE HOSPITAL

45 Victoria Parade

2013 (as an apartment block).

Circa 1980 (in it's original guise as a hospital).

EASTERN HILL FIRE STATION

Corner Gisborne Street and Victoria Parade

Circa 1950.

1893.

FORMER SALVATION ARMY TRAINING COLLEGE

68 - 92 Victoria Parade

Circa 1900.

2013 (Looking east, fire tower in the background).

Circa 1910.