Lonsdale House, Melbourne

I G Anderson, 1934-35

Lonsdale House is a fantastic moderne building in Lonsdale St, Melbourne. If you look carefully, however, you might be able to see that it is actually an update of two earlier buildings.

Architect, I G Anderson designed the renovation creating an asymmetrical building that has become an Art Deco icon of Melbourne.

The most striking feature is the geometric tower, a pile of squares and discs supporting a flag pole. A vertical band of decoration partially running down the front of the tower mirrors a similar element on the centre of the parapet on the right hand side of the building.

Viewed in isolation, this right side of the building can clearly be seen as a separate building with a symmetrical parapet. The discs on the corners are matched by the design of the left hand corner of the entire structure.

Spandrels below each band of windows are used to unify the two previous buildings. The two lower bands on the left form balconies of differing sizes.



The name, Lonsdale House, is rendered across one of the spandrels on the right hand side in stylised lettering.

Myer are planning an extensive re-development of their Lonsdale Street store, which is next door to Lonsdale House. Their plans include the demolition of this wonderful building which they own.

The Art Deco Society oppose the demolition and has nominated Lonsdale House to both Heritage Victoria and National trust for inclusion on their Registers.

I hope that Myer can alter their proposal to retain this impressive building. It would be a shame to lose such a unique Melbourne building.

Lonsdale House, Melbourne

Just on a year ago I wrote about Lonsdale House in Melbourne and its possible demolition as part of the redevelopment of the Lonsdale Street Myer store.

As reported in today's Age the battle to save the building continues with the Art Deco and Modernism Socety and National Trust on one side, Colonial First State Management Company and Myer on the other and the State Planning Minister, Justin Madden in the middle.

In 1934, architect I G Anderson combined two earlier structures to create this unusual building which explains the asymetrical look.

Colonial have applied to the State Government for permission to demolish Lonsdale House. They are quoted as saying "Caledonian Lane needs to be widened to cater for the servicing requirements of this part of the city's retail core, and this necessitates the demolition of Lonsdale House". In other words, we need to destroy this beautiful building so we can get the trucks into the back of our shop.

Colonial go on to say "We are proposing to retain the major heritage facades to Lonsdale Street and Little Bourke Street without compromising the future functionality of the redevelopment of this iconic site."

No doubt the 'major heritage facades' refer to the Myer itself, not Lonsdale House.

The geometric tower on Lonsdale House is a Melbourne icon. I urge Colonial First State Property Management and Myer to find a way to retain this iconic building rather than have their names forever associated with this act of corporate vandalism.

I further urge Minister Justin Madden to reject their application and protect this wonderful piece of Melbourne heritage.

Lonsdale House, Melbourne - Demolition by Neglect?

In recent weeks graffiti has appeared high on the side wall and upper floor windows of Lonsdale House, a fabulous Art Deco building in Melbourne. Even the iconic tower now has graffiti.

I have written about Lonsdale House before. The building is owned by Myer who along with their corporate bankers, Colonial First State Management Company, want to demolish the building to give their trucks better access to their nearby department store. They have now applied to the Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, for a demolition permit.

In the meantime though, while the Minister determines what decision he will make, shouldn't the owners have a duty of care to secure the building and protect it and those who gain access to it from coming to harm.

Today's photos, especially compared with an earlier shot at bottom, paint an ugly picture. Are these signs of demolition by neglect?

Lonsdale House, a Sad Day for Melbourne

The Age is reporting that the Victorian State Government through Planning Minister Justin Madden has approved the demolition of Melbourne's iconic Lonsdale House to allow Myer to widen the laneway so they have better access for their delivery trucks.

Justin Madden said Lonsdale House would 'make way for an iconic new entrance and improved access'. Time will judge whether this becomes an icon or just another entrance to a shopping centre.

President of the Art Deco and Modernism Society, Robin Grow, was very disappointed by the decision to demolish Lonsdale House and that the City of Melbourne had done little for the building which is protected by a heritage overlay.

He said 'If the City of Melbourne isn’t prepared to defend buildings that are subject to heritage overlays than what is the point in having the heritage overlays, it is outrageous.’

This is a very sad day for Melbourne.

Lonsdale House - R.I.P.

February 2007


July 2009


February 2010


March 2010

Lonsdale House - Alternatives to Demolition

If there is any doubt that Lonsdale House has been approved for demolition because a lane-widening project you have to look no further than the words of the developer Colonial First State Management Company. They are quoted as saying "Caledonian Lane needs to be widened to cater for the servicing requirements of this part of the city's retail core, and this necessitates the demolition of Lonsdale House".

Shaun Carney has written an opinion piece 'A piece of history is demolished for a slice of retail sameness' in The Age this morning which outlines why he thinks the 'reasons given for revamping this part of the city are spurious'. I find it hard not to agree with him but read the article and make up your own mind.

If the developer can get their head around preserving Lonsdale House and finding another way of getting the goods to the shops efficiently, what can they do?

They don't have to look very far for inspiration. These are examples of Art Deco buildings in Melbourne that have all found a new life, while maintaining their historical and architectural context.

Middle Brighton Baths with contemporary additions

former factory, now BYFAS Apartments

former BALM Paint factory, now a self storage company

former McPhersons Hardware Showroom, now a gym, food court & offices

former garage, now Mosskito Restaurant

former United Kingdom Hotel, now the most beautiful McDonalds in the world

Save Lonsdale House

Lonsdale House Community Rally
Saturday 22nd August 2009, 12 Noon
cnr Lonsdale St & Caledonian Lane

Coverage of rally from ABC TV on Facebook


www.savelonsdalehouse.com


www.redbubble.com/people/dct66

Lonsdale House Demolition Commences

Colonial First State Management Company and Myer have started their demolition of Lonsdale House this morning. Katya has posted a photo on her Bosco Parrasio blog.

There is a community protest planned for 6pm tonight at Lonsdale House to voice community anger over Colonial First State Management Company, Myer, the City of Melbourne, Planning Minister Justin Madden and the State Government to allowing this iconic building to be obliterated from our city.

Mitchell House, Melbourne

Mitchell House is a landmark Art Deco building at the intersection of Elizabeth and Lonsdale Sts in the Melbourne CBD.

The building was constructed in 1936 and the design of Harry Norris has produced asymetrical building which is 'squared off' at the extremities of its 'L' shape yet it curves around the corner site.

It features strong horizontal lines in the horizontal spandrels and bands of windows punctuated with main tower on the Elizabeth St facade topped with the name 'Mitchell House' in gold lettering and a lesser tower marking the entrance to the lift lobby on Lonsdale St.

The ground floor consists of shops including this sandwich bar which could have been here forever.

Note that the name of the building is spelt out in deep relief lettering above The Little Tuckerbox takeaway and an 'MH' monogram is incorporated into terazzo flooring of the entrance.

Dorijo, East Melbourne

The entrance to Dorijo, a block of flats in Victoria Parade in East Melbourne, only hints at what a spectacular Art Deco building it is.

It was designed by I G Anderson in 1934 the similarities to his, now doomed to demolition, Lonsdale House are most obvious in the tower.

A minor design aspect that attracts my eye is the reduction in the size of the three balconies as they progress up the facade. Each succeeding level is slightly smaller that the preceeding one.