Avalon Theatre, St Lucia

I just started reading Robert Forster's book, Grant & I - Inside and Outside The Go-Betweens.

In the second chapter, Robert writes about a subject, EN170, Drama 1A, that he and Grant McLennan took while studying at the University of Queensland.  His words raised a glint of recognition in me.

"Unbeknown to ourselves we had landed in the perfect place to foster a friendship. Drama tutorials broke from the university; being held off campus in the Avalon Theatre - a small, timber and brick building not unlike a suburban house, five hundred metres from the entrance of the university on Sir Fred Schonell Drive." 

A few pages later another passage confirms the location in my mind.

"If the first image I have of Grant is him sitting a few places down from me in class, the second has him standing at the bottom of the steep concrete stairs that lead up to the Avalon."

I know this building.  I have been there, in 2015, and photographed it looking somewhat worse for wear.

Forty years earlier it served as the place where two of the key Go-Betweens members studied drama and formed a friendship (and probably a band but I haven't go to that part yet).

The Avalon was constructed in 1923, seemingly serving as a church hall before becoming a cinema during WWII.   In 1962 it was taken over by the University of Queensland.  For more information see  the Brisbane Art Deco website. 

Avis Building, Launceston

Bellevue Court, Clayfield

I don't know anything about these flats in Clayfield, Brisbane. I don't like the fence at all, hides too much of the building but it looks like there is a good side entrance.

6 Arlington Street, Back Bay

58-60 Queen Street, Auckland

This is 58-60 Queen Street, Auckland. It was original built in 1936 but in recent years has been transformed into a hotel. When I took these photos a couple of years ago it was the Park Regis but it has since become the Grand Windsor Hotel.

Bank of China, Nanjing

For the start of the new year, I thought I'd add a new city to my blog - Nanjing, China.

This is the Xinjiekou branch of the Bank of China in Zhongshan E Road in Nanjing. A very faded sign indicates that the building was formerly a branch of the Xinye Bank and was built in 1937.

The decoration is very subtle but you can see some of the detail in the panels below the windows.

A much clearer sign promotes the building as the Lady's Bank incorporating a female face in the letter 'B' of the logo.

former Regent Theatre, Deniliquin

The Regent Theatre in Deniliquin probably wasn't that flashy when it opened in 1956 and there is no way that is going to change with the current tenants, the Deni Baptist Church. But even on that simple façade there is the hint of deco with the 'rule of three' employed for the placement of the square windows and the small vents below.

References:
Deniliquin and District Historical Society Facebook page

Bulolo Flats, Fortitude Valley

Bulolo Flats in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley were named after the Bulolo Goldfields in Papua New Guinea. Designed by architects Hennessy & Hennessy they were built in 1934 as residential flats for single young women who worked at the department store of building owner T C Beirne.

References:
Brisbane Art Deco, Edited by Kimberley Wilson - Bulolo Flats by Amelia Lacey