Corinthian Column

From Footscray in the east to Fremantle in the west, Australia's suburbs are dotted with them. You know the ones. The ones with the white colonnades out front. Having first emerged in the early 1950s, and as strong as brick shithouses, most of these abodes survive to this day. And best of all, they're still popping up all over the place! This blog is a tribute to that special kind of Aussie home known as the Mediterranean mausoleum.

Friday, January 04, 2008

Cop a deco at this.

Why limit yourself to just the Corinthian look, when you can bestow a bitta art deco on the Hampton Road streetscape as well?

The original owners must've been Freemasons.

Not that I've got anything against Freemasons.

(In the same kinda way they've got nothing against Catholics).

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Row of columns

Cast from iron, these tall old Corinthians in Fremantle are a bit like the ones immediately below in Kalgoorlie.

Like the Kalgoorlie ones, they were erected in the late 1890s. Unlike the Kalgoorlie ones, they're at the hotel formerly known as The Federal, in William Street.

The Federal is now a faux Irish pub called Rosie O'Grady's. Check the sinister CCTV camera at top of shot. Only a few years ago, these were taboo in lefty old Fremantle. Now they're everywhere and part of the furniture.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Kalgoorlie columns


A bitta stylish Corinthian for ya, straight from Western Australia's goldfields.

Funny how money could buy style back in the very early twentieth century. These days it buys you a date with Urbane Developments.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Urbane planning

This beauty by Profane Developments is indicative of the kind of stuff being erected in Rockingham - Australia's own Little Britain.

Less than five years ago, the foreshore at Rocko - where this mausoleum is rising - was one part ramshackle and one part charm. Now, with the advent of stuff like this, and the recently erected high rise blocks, the Rockingham esplanade is one part Surfer's Paradise and nine parts shite.

The thing is, it didn't need to stay like it was. Nor did it need to turn into Miami overnight. Channelling the development dollars into a six storey Sound-side strip would have energised the foreshore in style.

But that chance has been lost, now Cockburn Sound is Coolangatta.

Saturday, July 22, 2006

That seventies house


This one in Grosvenor St, Beaconsfield (WA), has more of a seventies flavour.

Don' worry about it!!


I love how this masterpiece was created by concreting over the original limestone blocks of a worthless Federation number.

It's on South Street in White Gum Valley.

Villa Costalotta


Thought I'd kick off with this one from Douro Rd, South Fremantle.

It reminds me of a time back in Brisbane when I was cruising around in the passenger seat of a Sicilian mate's Mazda.

As we zoomed past a monolith quite similar to this beauty, my mate exclaimed: "We've got one one those!"