Sunday, September 30, 2012

A Swimming Pool in London

Deco  Swimming Pool

In 2001 I was able to see this fabulous Art Deco swimming pool at one of those private London clubs because they had decided to be part of the Open House London programme. It was great to see somewhere that under normal circumstances I would not otherwise have been able to visit.

Deco  Swimming Pool

Friday, September 28, 2012

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Harbour Bridge

This is one of the most iconic structures in the world, the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It took a long time to complete a bridge between the CBD and North Sydney. As early as 1815 Francis Greenway proposed a across the harbour and a royal commission in 1890 led to the construction of a series of bridges to help relieve the heavy level of ferry traffic on the harbour. These bridges may have helped for a while but by the turn of the 20th Century proposals for a new bridge were requested. It took eleven years for a formal proposal to be accepted and another year before John Bradfield was appointed as the Chief Engineer of the bridge project. Bradfield completed a design for the bridge in 1916 but mainly due to the effects of the First World War the plans were shelved until 1922.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

The construction period started in 1923 with the demolition of 800 homes and proceeded for almost a decade before the Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened on 19 March 1932, first, unofficially by Captain Francis de Groot, a member of the New Guard, a right-wing paramilitary group and then shortly afterwards, officially, by Jack Lang, the Premier of New South Wales.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Today, the bridge is a major tourist attraction and the centrepoint of Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks display. You can even climb to the top.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Reference:
SydneyHarbourBridge.com.au

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Bridgestone Service Centre, Gundagai

Bridgestone Service Centre, Gundagai

Just up the street from the Niagara Cafe is this wonderful piece of modernist confection.

Bridgestone Service Centre, Gundagai

Monday, September 24, 2012

Ceiling Details, Warragul

Ceiling Detail, Warragul

I love these ceiling 'roses' in a house in Warragul.

Ceiling Detail, Warragul

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Niagara Cafe, Gundagai

Niagara Cafe, Gundagai

I hope you saw my post the other day showing some the Art Deco features inside the Niagara Cafe in Gundagai. Well, this is what the outside of the building looks like. Very good a street level, if you can ignore the small blue tiles at the foot of the building.

Niagara Cafe, Gundagai

The façade above the verandah could be sensational but needs a bit of work. A lick of paint would improve it immensely.

Niagara Cafe, Gundagai

But I'm sure you'll agree this set of three curved windows stepping into the doorway are brilliant.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Interior, Niagara Cafe, Gundagai

Interior, Niagara Cafe, Gundagai

If you are making the long drive between Melbourne and Sydney along the Hume Highway then you really need to take a break at Gundagai. Perhaps a burger and a milkshake at the family-run Niagara Cafe while you admire the original deco interior.

Interior, Niagara Cafe, Gundagai
Interior, Niagara Cafe, Gundagai

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Sunday, September 16, 2012

First Church of Christ∙Scientist, Perth

First Church of Christ∙Scientist, Perth

This is the First Church of Christ∙Scientist in Perth Western Australia. It was designed by architectural firm Ochiltree & Hargrave with the first church services held there on Sunday 25 June 1939.

First Church of Christ∙Scientist, Perth

Reference:
History of the Christian Science Church in Perth, First Church of Christ∙Scientist website

Saturday, September 15, 2012

former Ocean Hotel, Saltdean

Ocean Hotel, Saltdean

I took these photos of the former Ocean Hotel in Saltdean around 2001. It was opened as he Ocean Hotel in 1938 but was taken over by the Auxiliary Fire Service during WWII and later became a fire service college. In 1952 the lease was acquired by Billy Butlin and operated as a Butlins Holiday Centre until 1999 when it was sold to the Grand Hotel Group and it remained as a hotel until 2005. Since then the Grade II Listed main building has been converted into apartments.

Ocean Hotel, Saltdean


References:
Butlins Ocean Hotel, Saltdean, Butlins Memories.

Friday, September 14, 2012

A House in Saltdean

Modernist House, Saltdean

An interesting Modernist house in Saltdean in the south of England.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

cnr Kinghorne Street & Egans Lane, Nowra

cnr Kinghorne St & Egans Ln, Nowra

The shopfronts at street level are quite modern but the façade and roofline above them point to an older, more beautiful (I think) building.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Deco Windows, Moruya

I found these fabulous Art Deco windows on a former bakery in Moruya on the southern coast New South Wales.

Deco Window, Moruya
Deco Window, Moruya
Deco Window, Moruya

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Halsbury House, Goulbourn

Halsbury House, Goulbourn

This is Halsbury House in Goulbourn, New South Wales. As can be seen, it was built in 1938.

Halsbury House, Goulbourn

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Albion Hotel, Finley

Albion Hotel, Finley

This is the Albion Hotel in Finley in rural New South Wales.

Friday, September 7, 2012

A Building in Tulsa

A Building in Tulsa

I wish I could remember something about this building. I know it is in Tulsa but whether it is a house or a commercial building has leaked from my memory.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

A House in Hobart

A House in Hobart

I suppose those trees have grown a lot in the six years since I took this photo so you don't get such a nice view of the house now.

Monday, September 3, 2012

former Royal Western Australian Institute for the Blind, Maylands

former Royal Western Australian Institute for the Blind, Maylands

This wonderful Art Deco building is the former Royal Western Australian Institute for the Blind at 134 Whatley Crescent, Maylands. It was designed by A E Clare and built in 1937. It is listed by the Western Australian Heritage Council and is currently the home of the West Australian Ballet.

former Royal Western Australian Institute for the Blind, Maylands
former Royal Western Australian Institute for the Blind, Maylands

Reference:
Royal WA Institute for the Blind (fmr), WA State Heritage Council

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Conargo Shire Chambers, Deniliquin

Conargo Shire Chambers, Deniliquin

The foundation stone of the Conargo Shire Chambers was laid be Percy Landale esq on 20th December 1930. Another stone set in the wall, informs us that A C Fitznead was the Engineer and W J Caddy was the Builder.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Another Building in Bega

Brick Building, Bega

Here's another building in Bega with some crazy brickwork.