Hidden Melbourne Blog
1856-1870 Parliament
Historic panoramas of Melbourne taken between 1856 and 1870 from Parliament.
1855 Woodbury from Gasworks Tower
Historic panorama taken by Walter Woodbury in 1855 from the Melbourne Gasworks tower.
1861 Kerr from Melbourne Club
Historic panorama taken by J H Kerr in 1861 from the Melbourne Club.
State Library of Victoria
The State Library of Victoria is the oldest public library in Australia and one of the first free libraries in the world.
Labassa
Labassa is one of Melbourne's most elaborately decorated Victorian mansions. It survived a period when it was divided into flats.
Capitol Theatre
The Capitol Theatre opened in 1924. It was designed by American husband and wife architects Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin.
Steamrail Victoria
The workshops of Steamrail Victoria where they work to preserve our steam train heritage.
Telstra Heritage Museum Museum
The Telstra Heritage Museum (now closed) is a hidden gem that features the history of Telstra including a working telephone exchange.
Hotel Windsor
Hotel Windsor is a gold rush treasure and Australia's only surviving 19th century city hotel. Opened in 1884.
Victorian State Parliament
Our State Parliament first met in November 1856. The building was constructed between 1856 and 1930.
Royal Exhibition Building
The Royal Exhibition Building is a World Heritage-listed building built in 1879-80. Architect: Joseph Reed.
AMI factory
The AMI factory was one of our first ventures, hence the sparsity of panoramas. An old factory in Docklands used to manufacture Toyotas.
Fire Services Museum
The Fire Services Museum is staffed by former fire fighters and showcases memorabilia from Australia and overseas.
Collingwood Technical School
The Collingwood Technical School opened in 1912 and closed in 1987. It is now identified as an arts hub.
Army signals museum
This fascinating museum is only open on Tuesdays or other times by special appointment.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground built in 1853 is the largest sporting stadium in the Southern Hemisphere.
Sailors & Soldiers Memorial Hall
The now derelict Collingwood Sailors & Soldiers Memorial Hall in Abbotsford was opened by Jacka in 1924.
California hotel
Yes, it really was called California Hotel (not “Hotel California”). Closed in 2008 the site has descended into ruin.
Bradmill
The derelict Bradmill cotton factory in Yarraville is a massive site now falling into ruin.
Box Hill brick works
This virtual tour is of the derelict factory called Box Hill Brickworks which was first opened in 1884.
Larundel mental asylum
Larundel, a former mental hospital, built in 1938 is being redeveloped into 550 new home sites.
Auburn Uniting Church
The Auburn Uniting Church was built 1888-89 and has a magnificent tower. Architect: Alfred Dunn
Max New Textiles
Max New Textiles in Collingwood, long abandoned, was the site for some wild graffiti including a “Symbolic room”.
St Kilda vaults
The St Kilda vaults were formerly shops dating from the 1890s but made unusable by road widening in the 1970s.
Melbourne Town Hall
Melbourne Town Hall is a magnificent Victorian-era building opened in 1870. Architect Joseph Reed.
Hawthorn Town Hall
Hawthorn Town Hall is a magnificent Victorian-era building built between 1888 and 1890. Architect John Beswicke.
North Melbourne Town Hall
North Melbourne Town Hall is a magnificent Victorian-era building built in 1876. Architect G R Johnson.
Prahran Town Hall
Prahran Town Hall is a magnificent Victorian-era building built in 1861. Architects Crouch and Wilson.
Fitzroy Town Hall
Fitzroy Town Hall is a magnificent Victorian-era building built between 1887 and 1890. Architect George R Johnson.
Malvern Town Hall
Malvern Town Hall is a magnificent Second Empire and Italianate style Victorian era building built between 1885 and 1886. Architects Wilson and Beswicke.