New Book About the Architects of the Incinerator @ Moonee Ponds


The Moonee Valley Library Service has a new biography Grand Obsessions : the life and work of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. Walter Burley Griffin won an International competition to design the nation's capitol Canberra. The book investigates their early life in the United States and the influence of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in developing their philosophy on the role of the environment in their architectural practice, their time spent in Canberra and the challenges of taking creative ideas and a vision into the reality of a built environment. Walter Burley Griffin's experiences in Australia have striking similarities to another architect Jorn Utzon who also won an International competition for the design of the new opera house in Sydney in 1957.

Popular posts from this blog

Historic Homes of Essendon "Mar Lodge"

"Mar Lodge" was built in 1860 and was originally the residence of James Robertson, a wealthy pastoralist who used it as his hunting lodge and later owned by his son Francis Robertson. In 1888 the McCracken Brothers purchased "Mar Lodge" and it became a gathering place for the parties and dinners for the colony's elite. By 1919 the entire estate was sold to the Todd family however by 1929 the entire property was sold and on the 18th November, 1929 the Mar Lodge Estate was officially created, with 316 allotments available from 90 pounds.
Read more

History Mystery Monday: Where did Rosemary go?

Image
If you’ve ever visited Victory Park in Ascot Vale, you've probably noticed a bronze statue of a smartly dressed lady on the corner of Epsom and Langs roads, keeping watch over the intersection. She’s mostly known as Rosemary, or Rosie to her friends. Of the Australian soldiers who returned from the First World War, tens of thousands had suffered physical or psychological injuries which required much care and support. Once they were back home, this role mostly rested with the supportive the women in their lives- mothers, wives and sisters. The Rosemary monument is a life-sized representation of such a lady, dressed in the fashion of 1918. She was erected in honour of these caring women in August of 2015, commissioned by the wonderful organisation Women Caring for Veterans of War after 18 months of fundraising. Rosemary- photograph by Moonee Valley City Council Devastatingly, just 6 months later, the statue was stolen by thieves- leaving behind only Rosemary’s bronze shoes. Where did...
Read more

Malakoff Castle, Maribyrnong

Image
Raleigh's Punt on the Maribyrnong River, Malakoff Castle in background. c. 1870-1900. Image belongs to the Sam Merrifield Library Local History Photo Collection. Malakoff Castle was built in 1846 by Mr Joseph Raleigh and was a well known landmark which stood on the summit of the Maribyrnong hill overlooking the Saltwater River now called the Maribyrnong River. The building initially was used as a shepherd's lookout by the owner of a station property which surrounded Maribyrnong. In shape it resembled a castle-like appearance with a tower and a weather-vane, the tower was built in the late 1840's or early 1850's and was built of bluestone from the quarries nearby. The building was demolished in the 1920s.
Read more