Post / /
Scheduled for demolition, one of the oldest prefabricated buildings we’ve seen. Every beam, post, truss, and chord is bolt fastened together.
The North Melbourne Flyover is a sublime example of rhythmic, detailed, and hand built architecture on a colossal scale. More suited to a cathedral than a rail yard, this majestic old gem will sadly be demolished next week, along with the iconic Laurens Hall, to make way for the metro tunnel Arden Station.
While public transport is an excellent investment of public funds, and some old dilapidated building must be sacrificed, the demolition of such a unique example of Inner-city industrial architecture, fit for repurposing and adding to public amenity, is a travesty.
Time again we see the fabric, grain, and historical context of this great city swept away. Architecture of this nature tells the story of Melbourne’s inner suburbs and provides an excellent opportunity to enrich the new proposed development of the Macaulay precinct.
We have seen what happened in Docklands when much of the rich texture of industrial Melbourne was bulldozed.
Architecturally, this building is as significant as any church in its Basillica inspired form, and should be treated accordingly. Precedents the world over exist in how to repurpose such wonderful spaces for public benefit. The proximity to a major residential and transport development hub provides the perfect setting for a repurposed publicly accessible space.