The Menzies Hotel (1867 -1969)

Built in 1867 in time for the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh in the unusual electic style of the Second Empire ornamental style.The commissioned architects were Reed & Barnes who made the Classic State Library of Victoria and the historic Rippon Lea Estate in Elsternwick. In fact, they used the Second Empire style on the Melbourne Town Hall & Exhibition Building also. The Menzie's Hotel operated as a hotel and on the most lavish-style Coffee Palace and was considered a Melbourne landmark (but even this could not save it from the dreaded skyscraper influx taking over the CBD.

It stood at 140 William Street, it was only only 5 stories in height and built in 6 months, the facade was evenly spaced windows alternating between arched and square to give it a ornate style and deviate from the french mansions in the Second Empire Style and crowned by individually gabled windows on the topmost floor.It has a central shingled tower and the simple mansard roof.

The interior was in the standard style to compliment the exterior. The roofs were low and deep segmentation that were simplistic and even spaced with geometric details.

It was considered one of the worlds suavest & grandest hotels and had a bevy of famous names signed it register including Alexander Graham Bell, Herbert Hoover, Dame Nellie Melba and warhorse, General Douglas Macarthur.The Menzies was demolished in 1969 to make way for the BHP tower.

Melbourne Safe Deposit Building

Located at 110 Queen St, MELBOURNE located right next door to the world-renowned highly overexposed Melbourne Gothic Bank. Being situated beside the Gothic Bank in Melbourne means it gets overlooked by all the tourist photos.

But this sublime example of true ornate Neo-Gothic Architecture. Built in 1890 and designed by the Melbourne’s premium architect of the time William Pitt. Other that the highlighting of red brick beside the untreated concrete mouldings. The facade is not flush and appears off centre due to the elevate bay window (?), this is a major feature in Neo-Gothic architecture. I used to know what it was called but for the life of me, I can't remember its techinical name at the moment.

The one thing I like about the building is the assymetry that each floor offers. The exterior window moulding are different on each floor from the standard gothic arch two fold to the gothic arch three fold to the standard window frames and so forth, I can only imaging offer the tenants a very different framed view of the tree lined Queen Street that occupied this building when it . Topped by dormer windows and gables

I came across this sublime shot on flicker which may or may not be digitally coloured. I myself am not a photographer but appreciate those with the eye to capture a unique view.

Check it out On Flicker below or Click on the Post Title

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phunnyfotos/5596469787/