Old Canberran’s Old Photos - Part 8 - Civic of long ago

I can see it clearly on the linked larger version, but not at all on the small embedded pic.

old canberran said :

you should be able to make out the dome of the AWM. If not, I’ll rescan it but it’s definitely there.

Yes please.

I assume that is that the same (Terry) Snow family, who owns the airport now ? An empire built from the clothing shop ?

Avy said :

There’s no way that’s the War Memorial. Is there?

Click on the photo above to get a larger version and you should be able to make out the dome of the AWM. If not, I’ll rescan it but it’s definitely there.

Wow, just checking Google maps, I never noticed that relationship before! That’s town planning for you.

The shape looks like it is the War Memorial.

I worked in the Sydney Building a couple of times. One of the jobs was near the TAB when it was still there and there were often quite a collection of “colourful sorts” out the front in the mornings. Was very convenient for my annual Melbourne Cup betting, though.

Come to think of it, the other job I had there, a part-time job while studying, also introduced me to some pretty colourful chaps at 6 on weekend mornings, haha.

The angle is right – that part of London Cct lines up perfectly with the AWM.

There’s no way that’s the War Memorial. Is there?

OMG! There’s a telegraph pole in the picture, a TELEGRAPH POLE!!

I haven’t seeen one of those in years… (does that say something about my age?)

And whoever say they can see the War Memorial in the picture… you’ve go better eyes than me (I can’t see it – unless its the ghostly white dome against the bushes).

Interesting. The dunnies (in the Melbourne building) would have mostly been added quite recently. We had most of the western side (facing the Canberra Arcade), and used the toilets upstairs, which looked out over the central laneway. Although the Career Reference Centre (now Mezzelira) had its own toilet in the back of the tenancy.

It’s sad to think of the basement as being ruined, as it was fascinating down there, nothing had been done to it since the 60s. Or earlier.

I’ve heard tales (from plumbers) that it’s full of sewage from the cafes.

Maybe one day the basement will be tenanted as shops, like the basement shops opposite Flinders St Station in Melbourne.

Keep ’em coming OC, thank you!

I worked in the Melbourne Building for years (yes I know the pic is of the Sydney Building) and ran several offices there. For some years, my office (now Mezzelira) didn’t have air con or heating… the design and construction of the building made it quite pleasant in summer, you could open the top windows with a string arrangement. Winter was a bit chilly though and eventually we got heating.

There is a whole network of basement cellars underneath. Some got walled up and are like a time capsule from when the building was first tenanted. My office was a bank, and still has the massive vault in the main bit, and also downstairs.

They are nice buildings.

I’m not a fan of pine trees tho.

I think if we cut down most of the pines in Haig park and put in some play equipment and bbqs, people might actually use Haig Park.

I seem to recall Mooseheads having balcony areas pre Gods Wrath fire.

Interesting how those buildings used to have balconies.