Melbourne & Australian Architecture Topics

In just a couple of days this wonderful landmark's death warrant could be signed.




This would be one of the most tragic outcomes for Melbourne's heritage in over a decade.

If you want to save it write to:

Metropolitan Planning Services
Department of Planning and Community Development
Level 9
8 Nicholson Street
East Melbourne 3002

Email: kate.kraft@dpcp.vic.gov.au.
And/or the Minister for Planning directly - justin.madden@parliament.vic.gov.au
and CC the Melbourne City Council at planning@melbourne.vic.gov.au

This is one of my favourite buildings in all of Melbourne and in my opinion it is significant nationally I don't give a @#$ what Heritage Victoria say.

I thought they were saving this?
The Art Deco Society claimed that it was safe.... maybe I have missed a few changes....
I will write to the minister now.

I have written a letter to post today and will email, also signed that petition for what it is worth. Have hopefully convinced some other people to write letters also.

It was interesting/depressing reading the report that was posted in teh other thread aout the heritage application and the fact that because there are 'other better buildings' Lonsdale House wasn't important. Are we just meant to a few key examples of each style and knock the rest down?

It seems I'm too late to post but will send an email.. very depressing!

I can't believe the inane grounds for objection.

1. The guy wasn't a "great" architect - so what, some architects are one hit wonders and even the best architects have duds.

2. Mitchell House is significant and worth saving but Lonsdale House isn't. Yet they haven't even bothered to list Mitchell House ! How can you base this argument on a building that you haven't even listed. If they want to put their money where their mouth is then they should just list Mitchell House now before Colonial Mutual gets their mits on that too !

While I don't dispute Mitchell House's great qualities and intactness at ground level, Lonsdale House has similar attributes and a unique tower to top it off.


3. Whoever the git is who said "if its not in Goad's guide to Melbourne Architecture then it is not notable" should get a reality check. How lazy is that research ? Neither is Eureka Tower so would we let someone pull that down too ? I can name more than a dozen buildings that are on the VHR that aren't in Goads and vice versa. So what point does that argument prove ? And I bet you I could find another book that neglects to mention a signficant building. Goads is a great guide, but not the be all and end all definitive bible for heritage in Melbourne as it is not a heritage study. For instance, in the CBD, Goad focuses pretty much on Collins Street and ignores much of the rest of the city. If we went off this stupid argument, then we could say goodbye to many of our beloved buildings. Geez I could go on ....