When I noticed the building, it struck me that in spite of its very typical Victorian bluestone foundations, it had a Sydney look about it. While I could ask why as a quiz question, I'll suggest that it the colour of the wall stone. Many Sydney buildings are built of light coloured sand stone and while I don't know if this building is sandstone, it is certainly unusually light for a Melbourne building.
That building reminds me of one on the corner of Hay and Pitt Streets in Sydney.
ReplyDeleteYour guess is pretty much correct; it's a heritage listed building still being used for council purposes I believe. Will have a closer look for you next time I stroll by.
ReplyDeleteYou are right there is a different look - looks mighty official
ReplyDeleteThanks for the old court house and police station in Greville St Prahran. I see it often, but had largely forgotten about it.
ReplyDeleteI am more a fan of Georgian or colonial architecture, but Melbourne didn't have any or we destroyed what we had. Victorian architecture, on the other hand, we have!
The architects' home page says the Gothic Revival style, with its connotations of religious virtue, was well suited to buildings that represented the institutions of law and order. Before Federation, late-19th century Melbourne still very keen to emphasise solidity and civilisation, thus the use of this rather pompous style.
Its definitely a grand building and does look out of place compared to its surroundings, could have been a one off :-).
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely old building, I like that stone colour.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if it is the right one Victor, but I Can't see the closeness myself, but it is quite an old building by the chimney.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chapel St. I was surprised how big the building is.
ReplyDeleteVery official MC. Sentence 'em and hang 'em in the same building.
Hels, Gothic can seem quite intimidating, so perhaps a good choice for a police station and court house in the 19th c.
Windsmoke, not really. The only reason it is a bit odd is that the street is narrow for the location of such an important building.
River, handsome is a good word to describe it I think.
It could almost be from a South Australian country town, too. Not Adelaide, but a prosperous, now-decaying, country town....
ReplyDeleteKath, I think we can thank that yellow stuff dug up all those years ago.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of the stonework rather than the architecture of the Sydney building, Andrew.
ReplyDelete(Apologies - I should have made my earlier comment clearer.)
Clear now thank you Victor.
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