An empty shell

As I l meandered from Leichhardt to Newtown the other day, along Norton Street, Parramatta Road, and then Australia Street, I was overwhelmed with the amount of building work I passed. I though we were in a recession, being pummled by the 'patchwork economy'. There were numerous shabby, vacant shop fronts, but they were matched by factory conversions into living units and trendy workplaces.

Here is one such. Along the lower end of Australia Street stand these old warehouses. Only the facade of the original remains, the guts to be renovated to within an inch of its life, no doubt. I have seen so many of these go pear-shaped, be insensitive to the original, be PC-heritage.

I will come back and look at these apartments in the Spring, and see if they get MY tick of approval.

Gargoyles in shining armour

Both the State Theatre and the old Gowings Building in Market Street are undergoing extensive renovations both inside and out. Both are keeping their iconic neon signs, even though Gowings went bust!

I have photographed the State Theatre facade before but do not remember this heraldic motif. But I cannot find my previous shots. Is this the genuine article, or is this some tacky, post-modern plaster-of-paris arty-farty crap??!!??

Not to put too fine a point on it ...

A sincere form of flattery

It is often said that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

I have long admired the work done by our fellow CDPBr Phil over at The Daily Dublin Photo Blog and have followed and commented for quite some time. I am intruiged by two things: his subjects, and his style. His style is very understated and he eschews flourish, ornamentation and excess. His subjects are the grotty areas of his city: the run-down, the abandoned, the dejected. His is a wonderful eye in action.


Whilst ambling (okay, meandering) through The Rocks & Millers Point yesterday, I had a PJ moment. This area was the origins of convict settlement in my city. However, the run-down, the abandoned and the dejected have undergone gentrification (okay, urban renewal). And I am no PJ.

I want my eye to be able to see in its own way but keeping in mind the PJ principles. This is my first attempt at an occasional new style.

Paying our respects

Although this building in King Street was built to honour J. Palmer, Esq. in 1886, by the time of the Newtown jubilee in 1912, the main tennant was one P. Gleeson, Esq. a "Grocer & Provision Merchant" who was shamelessly pushing "Green Coupons". Burnished by late afternoon light, the facade has been lovingly restored through the years.


Meandering eastward along King Street, with the sun streaming over my shoulder, my breathing became sharper with each fine example that I came across and my shoulders sagged with every 100 yard patch where the past had been obliterated by some modern abomination.


Although incomplete, the final restoration may just be an example of biting off more than one can chew. However, it was one of the few "antique" facades dedicated to a woman.