We are delighted to report the official re-opening of the Horsham Town Hall. A few years ago, ADMS joined in with a group of dedicated locals in a successful preservation battle to retain the 1940 hall.
Asbestos House, Southbank (Summer 2016)
Another Harry Norris building has been demolished, this one on the corner of City Road and Clarendon Street, Southbank. Designed by Norris in 1936 as the headquarters for James Hardie and Co, it was named Asbestos House, as many of the major building products manufactured and sold by the firm contained asbestos. Of course, this was in the days when …
Capitol Bakeries Building, cnr Chapel St & Toorak Rd, South Yarra (Summer 2016)
After a decade-long battle to preserve the Capitol building, demolition has commenced on this prominent South Yarra corner. The building started life as one of Melbourne’s cable-car engine-sheds before being converted to a bakery in 1936 after the trams were electrified. The makeover was designed by prolific local architect Harry Norris. The massive development of apartment blocks in South Yarra …
Rootes Factory, Port Melbourne (Winter 2015)
A major part of Port Melbourne’s industrial and military history is currently under threat. The former Rootes building (19-25 Salmon Street, Port Melbourne) was constructed in 1941 and was the site for the design and development of prototypes of tanks. In 1943, the tank project was terminated and the building was used for the Maintenance section of the Department of …
Civic Hall, Ballarat (Winter 2015)
After a lot of hard work by many people in Ballarat (principally the Save Civic Hall group), it appears that the Hall is no longer facing demolition. A lengthy and extensive public consultation process has resulted in a number of adaptive re-use options being presented to Council, the owners of the building. ADMS is still awaiting the outcome of our …
Astor Theatre, Chapel St, St Kilda (Autumn 2015)
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 …