The Nolan Building is is a distinctive landmark in the Newquay precinct of the Melbourne Docklands. Opened in December 2003, the Nolan comprises 204 apartments, ranging from 1 bedroom, through to luxurious penthouses, with sweeping views out over Melbourne’s beaches and mountains.
The Nolan building incorporates a striking piece of artwork. This three-dimensional frieze is inspired by Sidney Nolan’s 1946 Ned Kelly paintings. The Australian landscape is represented by the undulating façade walls, which are treated with a unique ‘pixelated’ perforation method that produces complex shadow plays. The helmet-like corner nodes are references to the Kelly masks; they frame the mirrored sculptures within, reflecting a morphing vista of sunlight and sky that moves gently in silent tribute to the waves of the sea.
This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme.
Yesterday and today I was attending a conference at the Crown Conference Centre n Southbank. As I am an early riser, I took the train into Flinders Street Station and despite the nippy winter morning, I thoroughly enjoyed the walk along the Yarra River banks. And what a reward to observe these magnificent skies this morning!
This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme,
and also part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Sunday Bridges meme.
Rendezvous Hotel is one of Australia’s finest historic hotels. Built in 1912, this meticulously restored hotel retains the elegant style of the early 1900s while providing guests with all the convenience of 21st century technology and amenities. It is located on Flinders Street overlooking the scenic Yarra River and the historic Flinders Street Station. It is in a prime location in the heart of the central business district that’s well suited for both business and leisure.
Rendezvous Hotel’s excellent service and attention to detail ensures that guests enjoy a superior stay. It is equipped with quality amenities, and each of the 340 comfortable rooms and suites express a stylish individuality highlighting the hotel’s rich heritage. This historical authenticity carries through to the classical surroundings of The Grill Restaurant, where fresh local produce and the best Australian and international wines take centre stage.
The domed foyer with its rows of columns and balcony provides a focal point for the magnificently restored art nouveau décor, which is a recurrent architectural and decorative theme throughout the Hotel.
This post is part of Lesley's Signs, Signs meme,
and also part of Pat's Things in a Row meme.
Abbotsford is a suburb in Melbourne, Australia, 2 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra. At the 2006 Census, Abbotsford had a population of 4,327. Abbotsford is bounded by Collingwood, Richmond and Clifton Hill and separated from Kew by the meandering Yarra River. Formerly part of the City of Collingwood, it is now part of the City of Yarra.
Some well known Abbotsford landmarks include the Skipping Girl Sign, Dights Falls, the former Collingwood Town Hall, Victoria Park Football Stadium and Abbotsford Convent. Abbotsford is designated one of the 82 Major Activity Centres listed in the Metropolitan Strategy Melbourne 2030. Abbotsford takes its name from the estate of John Orr, which in turn is named after a ford in Scotland's Tweed River used by the Abbott of Melrose Abbey.
Abbotsford was a light industrial, working class, inner suburb. In the last couple of decades the industry moved and the gentrification process began. It is now an expensive address with numerous swanky apartments/warehouse conversions, beautifully restored and renovated Victorian properties and also many brand new units built on former industrial sites. The proximity fo the suburb to the City and also to the river with its adjacent parklands have made it many people's residential preference (as long as they have a deep pocket!). I took these photos last summer, hence the lush vegetation and sunny weather!
This post is part of Kim's Water World Wednesday meme,
and also part of Susan's Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of Nature Footsteps Waters meme.
Sassafras is a locality and township within Greater Melbourne beyond the Melbourne metropolitan area Urban Growth Boundary, 43 km east from Melbourne’s central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges. At the 2006 Census, Sassafras had a population of 968. It is located at an altitude of approximately 500 metres, near the top of the ridgeline of the Dandenong Ranges, a few kilometres south of the highest peak of Mount Dandenong.
The area was named Sassafras Gully, after the trees, which grew abundantly in the area. The land was opened to small scale farming in 1893 and a small township developed. The Post Office opened on 1 June 1901 and has always been known as Sassafras Gully. In the early 1900s tourism began to increase and the township consequently grew.
Today Sassafras is a tourist destination with several boutique stores including Devonshire tea outlets, antique shops and nurseries. Sassafras is home to an alternative school, Sherbrooke Community School. The area has had a history of bushfires, and areas near the town are known to have been burned out since the 1850s. Numerous small cottages are found in amongst the lush forest and several larger houses have been converted to Bed and Breakfast establishments.
This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme.
On Queen St, near the corner with Little Collins St is an interesting establishment called Mosaic Republic. This is a studio/gallery that specialises in creating mosaic artworks in the classical as well as modern style. The work they produce is all hand-made and created by master craftspeople (mosaicisti, as they called in Italian). Under the guidance of award-winning mosaic artisan, Fabian Scaunich, clients have access to exceptional Italian and locally-made mosaics for any environment. Fabian obtained a Maestro qualification from the world-renowned Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli, Italy.
In the foyer of this building are two, large, stunning mosaic murals as a sample of the work this studio produces. I love mosaic as an art form and the colours and textures of a mosaic on a wall can be one of the most spectacular and eye-catching decorative coverings that you can possibly devise. Enjoy!
This post is part of the Monday Murals meme.
In one of the side aisles of St Paul's Anglican Cathedral in the City is this devotional painting and a place to sit, pray and light one's candle.
This post is part of the Psalm Sunday meme hosted by Robert and Louis,
and also part of Charlotte's SpiritualSundays meme.
And here is Brahms' "Schaffe in mir, Gott, ein rein Herz" op. 29 nº 2 (Psalm 51, v.v. 12-14)
Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex is a large casino and entertainment precinct located on the south bank of the Yarra River, in Melbourne, Australia. Crown's current casino complex opened in 1997, after moving from its original location from 1994 on the north bank of the Yarra. It is one of the central features of the Southbank area in the central business district and the Crown Promenade fronts onto the waterfront as part of Southbank Promenade. The entire complex has a space of 510,000 m² which is equivalent to 2 city blocks, making it the largest casino complex in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. Here are some shots of one of the fountains in the foyer area.
This post is part of James' Weekend Reflections meme.
Bank Place is one of Melbourne's picturesque laneways. It is a short, narrow lane, running south from Little Collins Street between Queen Street and William Street in the central business district of Melbourne. Located in the heart of the financial sector, Bank Place (which incorporates several smaller lanes, such as Mitre Lane) is an oasis of heritage buildings dating from the 1860s through to the 1920s. Looking north, a vista is framed by Normanby Chambers.
The precinct is subject to heritage restrictions, and some of the significant buildings include: Mitre Tavern, historic pub established in 1868 and remodelled in the Queen Anne style between 1900 and 1910. Mitre Tavern was a popular 'bohemian' hangout for many of Australia's most prominent artists of the early twentieth century, alongside the neighbouring Savage Club.
12-16 Bank Place was built 1884 - 85 for Australia's first baronet Sir William Clarke. His son, Sir Rupert Clarke's mistress Connie Waugh is said to have lived there. The Melbourne Savage Club purchased the building in 1923. The building is classified by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).
Stalbridge Chambers (1891) corner of Little Collins.
Bank House, 11-19 Bank Place Melbourne, built for businessman Charles Victor Robertson to house his Hemingway Robertson Institute.
The lane also includes several ornate heritage lamp posts and bluestone alleys. It is home to several bars and cafés which serve many of the nearby office workers. Many of the taller old buildings have been converted into loft style apartments.
This post is part of the Challenge Walk in the Street meme.
