Former Foundry, Richmond

In an industrial area of Richmond, quite close to where Dame Nellie Melba was born, there is a grey, non-descript single storey building. A former foundry. It has rounded corners on the walls at the loading bay entrance and may even have a simple stepped parapet, I don't recall.

It does, however, have a wonderful frieze depicting well-muscled workers in various aspects of building construction.

In the foreground, one man is sawing timber while two others empty a wheelbarrow. If you look closly at the top centre, there is also a man riding a large girder, perhaps the product of this foundry, as it is lifted into place by a crane.

Hoddle Bridge, Richmond

In 1837-38, surveyor, Robert Hoddle laid out a grid of streets for the new settlement of Melbourne then just a few years old.

A century later, Hoddle Bridge was completed at the bottom of Punt Road hill where in Hoddle's day, a punt would have been the only way to cross the Yarra River.

The bridge named in his honour, inscribed with the year 1938, bears many deco features.

The pylons cut through the water like ships bows. Each one supporting not only a span of the bridge but an ornate street light supported on an art deco column.

The metal railings, shown below, carry a simple geometric design.

Below the road level, the bridge looks a bit sad but the elegant lines shine through the flaking paint.