The Astor Theatre is one of Melbourne’s last remaining (and much-loved) Art Deco cinemas. It remans as a single-screen venue – one of the last of its kind in Australia, and certainly the largest still-operating relic of the era of the picture palace in Melbourne. In recent years it has been the subject of a number of owners, both of …
Civic Hall, Ballarat (Summer 2015)
ADMS has lodged a nomination to the Historic Buildings Council for the inclusion of the Ballarat Civic Hall on the Victorian Heritage Register. The nomination was prepared by Simon Reeves who discovered a lot of new information about the hall that we hope will increase its significance as a historic building.
The Palace Theatre, Melbourne (Autumn 2014)
A sad day for Melbourne is just about to take place with the imminent closure of the Palace Theatre (formerly the Metro) at the top of Bourke Street. The owners wish to replace the building with a new hotel. It robs Melbourne of a major live music venue, much-loved by many. It began live as a live theatre in 1912, …
Civic Hall, Ballarat (Autumn 2014)
The major preservation battle underway in the regional city of Ballarat to prevent the Civic Hall, constructed in 1953 to a design by prominent local architect Les Coburn, from demolition by the Ballarat Council took another turn recently. Council received over 3,000 objections to its proposed demolition. Now the State government has entered the issue, with the Premier of Victoria …
Civic Hall, Ballarat (Summer 2014)
The preservation battle surrounding the Civic Hall in Ballarat continues. Constructed in 1953 to a design by prominent local architect Les Coburn and Melbourne architect Gordon Murphy, the hall is significant as the first steel-framed and reinforced concrete building constructed in Victoria, outside of Melbourne. The Ballarat Council has now lodged an application to demolish the building. ADMS will be lodging an …
Civic Hall, Ballarat (Spring 2013)
A major preservation battle is underway in the Victorian regional city of Ballarat. The Civic Hall, constructed in 1953 to a design by prominent local architect Les Coburn and Melbourne architect Gordon Murphy, is significant as the first steel-framed and reinforced concrete building constructed in Victoria, outside of Melbourne. Now it is under threat from its owners, the City council, who …
Eastwood Lodge, Glenside Mental Hospital, Adelaide (Winter 2013)
In the Summer 2010 edition of Spirit of Progress we featured an article by Marcus Beresford about a modernism nurses home built in the early 1950s at Glenside Mental Hospital in Adelaide and the efforts to preserve the building. Eastwood Lodge was provisionally state heritage listed, but the listing was then rescinded after pressure was applied to the State government, …