Where in Melbourne Puzzle - August 2013

Where in Melbourne Puzzle - August  2013.
 

THIS PUZZLE HAS BEEN REVEALED

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

 

Clue 1 This is a place in the heart of Melbourne that except for a brief period in its history is still being used for what it was originally built for.

Clue 2 One of the most distinctive Edwardian Baroque buildings in Melbourne, originally built because people did something in the Yarra river which at the time was quite unhealthy. Patronage of the establishment dropped off significantly after the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956.

Clue 3 At the time the building was built, it provided segregated facilities for men and women.

LAST CLUE This building was a necessary feature of daily life in early Melbourne when many houses had little provision for private bathing facilities.


 And now, for the puzzle solution :

The picture is of Melbourne City Baths at the top of Swanston Street, Melbourne.

 

 

This popular health and fitness centre opened for public bathing on 9 January 1860, when Melbourne's primary water supply, the Yarra River, was polluted, water-borne diseases were endemic and bathrooms were rare.

 

 

Goodman Teale artist

born 1819; died Kyneton, Victoria, 1885

Nathaniel Whitlock engraver

active London c. 1830–1860

The city of Melbourne, Australia 1855

engraving and watercolour

29.1 x 53.4 cm

The University of Melbourne Art Collection. Gift of the Sir Russell and Mab Grimwade Bequest, 1973



 

In the first year a reputed 79 096 males and 2950 females enjoyed the new amenities, located on the triangular site at the corner of Swanston and Franklin streets.

 

 

The building included a swimming pool, public washhouse, family bathrooms, and first- and second-class 'slipper' bathrooms all with separate male and female facilities. Municipal baths were a common and necessary feature of daily life in early Melbourne when many houses had little provision for private bathing facilities.

 

However, by 1886 the facility was in decline. Inspectors reported 'an unwholesome scum' on the surface of the water and general dilapidation, and the building was closed in 1899.

 

 

The current building opened on 23 March 1904, to a competition-winning design by E.J. and J.J. Clark. Mixed bathing was introduced in 1947. It included two large swimming baths and associated changing facilities, as well as slipper baths, spray baths, Jewish Mikva baths and Turkish Baths. The symmetrical front façade clearly indicates the division of men's and women's facilities on either side of the entry bay.

 

The City Baths were very popular throughout the early twentieth century, however by the 1940s the facility had once again fallen into disrepair. Degradation continued after the Olympic Games in 1956 as the construction of suburban pools reduced patronage at the City Baths.

 

Attempts to close and demolish the building in the 1970's failed when the Builders' Labourers Federation stopped Melbourne City Council's planned demolition by designating the site a 'worker's pool'.

 

 

 

Following a $4 million renovation the baths were officially reopened on 14 August 1983 including the addition of spas, saunas, squash courts and a gymnasium.

 

Edwardian Baroque in style, the City Baths building is distinctive in its use of red brick and contrasting cement render mouldings. The two storey central entrance bay incorporates arched openings emphasised by banded voussoirs, a broken pedimented entry and roofed belvederes. Flanking single storey wings also incorporate cupolas at the corner bays.

Today, Melbourne City Baths is a privately owned leading health, fitness and wellness centre and the building has become a  significant historical icon visited by thousands of national and international tourists. The uniqueness of the building and the significance it holds for so many Victorians has also prompted theatre groups, television programs and fashion magazines to use the baths as the setting for their productions, films and photographic shoots.

 

The building is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

   

 research links :

onmydoorstep

insidehistorymagazine issue 17

melbournecitybaths-history

Wikipedia

This page was last updated on the 2nd of September 2013.

Where in Melbourne Puzzle - July 2013

Where in Melbourne Puzzle - July  2013.
 

THIS PUZZLE IS REVEALED

DIFFICULTY LEVEL
 

 

For the rules, see the latest puzzle.

 

CLUE 1 This musician supports the Hawks.

CLUE 2 This musician has a rooftop garden.

CLUE 3 This musician spruiks the tradition of fine string instrument makers.

LAST CLUE  Here you will find Melbourne's finest luthier.

And now, for the puzzle solution :

The picture is of Benedict G Puglisi's workshop in Church Street Hawthorn.

...

 

The word 'luthier' comes from the French word luth, which means lute. The term is used interchangeably with any term that refers to a specific, or specialty type of stringed instrument, such as violin maker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc.

 

In the case of Benedict G Puglisi, a luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments.
 

Benedict is Melbourne's own human treasure and part of the fabric that makes up our interesting city.

Benedict was also kind enough to reveal the history of the bass player (subject of this month's puzzle).

 

The sculpture was given to Benedict in 1997 as a gift. It was made by Mitch Mitchell and Roger Mitchell and was given to Benedict in return for help that he provided them with on some of their other sculpture work.

Benedict's workshop

Zoom out.

Zoom out a bit more.

  

A framed collection of newspaper articles in Benedict's shop window.

Benedict's shop window includes a collection of instrumental figurines.

Benedict's web page is a window into the fascinating world of instrument making.

 

 research links

 

Benedict G Puglisi

Fancy your self fiddling

Wikipedia - Luthier
 

Next puzzle will be posted on 5 August 2013, 1st Monday in August.

 

This page was last updated July 30 2013

Where in Melbourne Puzzle - June 2013

Where in Melbourne Puzzle - June  2013.
 

THIS PUZZLE HAS BEEN REVEALED

Clue 1 - Look up.

Clue 2 - This this clue reveals a significant moment in Australian history.

Clue 3 - This object weighs 220,000 tons.

Clue 4 - This object gets its name from an event that took place in in Ballarat many years ago and is the tallest of its kind in Melbourne.

 

SOLUTION REVEALED

 

The June 2013 puzzle is an image of the crown of the Eureka Tower.

 

 

When measured either by the height of its roof, or by the height of its highest habitable floor, Eureka Tower was the tallest residential building in the world when completed in 2006. It is also currently the building with the most floors available for residential occupancy in the world. The building stands 297 metres in height, with 91 storeys above ground plus one basement level.

 

 

It is one of only seven buildings in the world with 90 or more storeys and is the equal 77th tallest building in the world. It is also the second-tallest building in Australia and the tallest building in Melbourne.

 

Eureka Tower is named after the Eureka Stockade, a rebellion during the Victorian gold rush in 1854.

 

Eureka Stockade Ballarat by Beryl Ireland (1891)

Eureka Stockade has been incorporated into the design, with the building's gold crown representing the gold rush and a red stripe representing the blood spilt during the revolt. The blue glass cladding that covers most of the building represents the blue background of the stockade's flag.

 

The the white lines also represent the eureka stockade flag and the white horizontal stripes represent markings on a surveyor's measuring staff.

 

 

 

The façade of the building consists of 52,000m² glass and 40,000m² of aluminium panels. The glass is specially designed to reflect heat in the summer but retain heat in the winter and also to be light and durable.

 

The top ten floors of the tower have 24ct-gold-coated glass as a façade. The gold glass covers level 82 to the roof on level 92 and the north-east and south-west faces of the tower have gold double glazing. The gold glass was manufactured in Canada by AFGD and shipped to Melbourne.

 

The window panels weigh between 150kg and 200kg each depending on their size and more than 400 were installed.

 Eureka Tower from the Kew Boulevard. 

Reflection of the Eureka Tower in the Merrill Lynch building

Eureka Tower through the Melbournian forecourt

Eureka Tower, Melbourne



 

Research links :

 

GoogleEarth

eurekaliving

Wikipedia

The Eureka Stockade image of Beryl Ireland's painting (1891) is classified as being in the public domain because its term of copyright has expired according to the Australian Copyright Council (ACC), Information Sheet G023v16 (Duration of copyright) (Feb 2012)
 

This page has last been updated July 8 2013.

Where in Melbourne Puzzle - May 2013

Where in Melbourne Puzzle - May  2013.
 

THIS PUZZLE HAS BEEN REVEALED

Clue 1 - Carved between 1931 and 1934, many children have seen it.

Clue 2 - "... the old sorcerer spider in his large web is still weaving fantastic shapes and humming strange mystic tunes, always working and never being still ..."

just a short walk from the city

Clue 3 - Only a stroll away from Shakespeare's House.

Clue 4 -

"I have carved in a tree in the gardens for you, and the fairies,

but mostly for the fairies and those who believe in them,

for they will understand how necessary it is to have a fairy sanctuary.

A place that is sacred and safe as a home should be to all living creatures."

                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                       - Ola Cohn

SOLUTION REVEALED

 

The May 2013 puzzle is an image of the Fairies Tree in Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne.

  

Where in Melbourne Puzzle May 2013 revealed

The Fairies' tree - plaque

 THE FAIRIES' TREE
CARVED BY OLA COHN, M.B.E., A.R.C.A
FROM 1931 - 34
A GIFT TO THE CHILDREN OF MELBOURNE

FOREWORD FROM HER BOOK "THE FAIRIES' TREE"

I HAVE CARVED A TREE IN THE FITZROY GARDENS FOR YOU
AND THE FAIRIES, BUT MOSTLY FOR THE FAIRIES. AND THOSE
WHO BELIEVE IN THEM, FOR THEY WILL UNDERSTAND HOW
NECESSARY IT IS TO HAVE A FAIRY SANCTUARY - A PLACE
THAT IS SACRED AND SAFE AS A HOME SHOULD BE TO
ALL LIVING CREATURES.

THEREFORE I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO CHILDREN AND FAIRIES
AS IT IS TO THEM I OWE MY INSPIRATION.

MELBOURNE 23 MAY 1932 OLA COHN

  

The Fairies' tree - East side

The Fairies' tree - North side

The Fairies' tree - Fitzroy Gardens

The Fairies' tree story has been put most eloquently by Walter Jago.

A FAIRY TREE.
Carved, by a Woman.
TREASURE FOR CHILDREN.
(BY WALTER JAGO.)

 

"Miss Cohn was born in Victoria. She went to London to study, and returned with her degree from the Royal College of Art. She returned also with the inspiration to give the children of Melbourne a Fairy Tree.

In the Fitzroy Gardens stood a tall stump of red gum, said to be 700 years old. It was stark and unsightly, and might any day have been grubbed out.

 

But now it is a monument, guarded by the City Council, cherished by the people, for Miss Cohn has materialised her dream by turning the stump into the Fairy Tree. On half the surface for about ten feet high she has carved a multitude of animals, birds, insects, reptiles, fairies, and imps. Ivy, growing to the top, covers the other half.

There is a story connected with each character, and the old sorcerer spider in his large web is still wearing fantastic shapes and humming strange mystic tunes, always working and never being still, but the web is a friendly playground for the fairies who swing from the heavy strands and turn somersaults.

 

An opossum, hanging by his tall from a knot of the tree, watches them with envy, for the web is not strong enough for him. The imps are not so fortunate, and one has been caught in the web. He is held there until Stoutheart comes with his magic bulrush, and charging on his gallant frog, forces the wicked sorcerer to flee.

Stoutheart is the Australian Peter Pan. He is the joy and pride and protector of every fairy and imp. He keeps the Sneaky Snake in check, and if It wasn't for Stoutheart the snake would sneak out of the knot-hole and devour a grand old frog. But with Stoutheart about the frog just looks out of the corner of his eye and smiles, and has no fear.

 

In carving the fairy story Into the tree she used the natural shape of the trunk economically, and all the irregularities yielded to her chisel to pro- vide the forms she wanted. For three years she worked to turn the dead stump into a living universe, and then, as though to acknowledge her achievement, a swarm of bees came and filled the old hollow trunk with golden honey."

Fairies' Tree, Fitzroy Gardens.



Research Links

East Melbourne Historical Society - catalogue

East Melbourne Historical Society - catalogue images

National Portrait Gallery

Wikipedia

Only Melbourne

Trove

 

The next Where in Melbourne Puzzle will be published on 3rd June 2013.

 

This page was last updated on the 27th of May.



 

Where in Melbourne Puzzle - April 2013

Where in Melbourne Puzzle - April 2013.

THIS PUZZLE HAS BEEN REVEALED

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

Clue 1 - Originally erected as a timber structure in 1839, it was the first of its kind in Victoria.

Clue 2 - This is a heritage listed site. The location served  a number of early government activities related to defence and the penal system, as well as the first astronomical observatory in the Colony.

Clue 3 - The building has had a unique function of accuracy and still operates today, but it is no longer relied on as it once was. The site also included the first defensive shore battery to protect Melbourne from attack by hostile warships and a of the first telegraph station in Australia.

Clue 4 - The tower's unique feature is a large copper sphere mechanism mounted around a mast.

 

SOLUTION

 

"... and a beacon or tower should be erected at this point ..."

 

Governor Bourke, 1837

Williamstown time ball tower

History

The original lighthouse was constructed in 1840, right on the point of Gellibrand's Point. It is most likely Victoria's first navigational aid of any distinction, though an unlit beacon had been on the site since 1835. It also may have been the first harbour light of its kind in Australia.

 

It was timber skeletal structure on a bluestone base with a fixed white light and claimed a visibility of 5 leagues (approx 15 miles).

 

The cost of construction was £50 (£500?). A further £85 was allocated for the annual wage of the Keeper.

 

In 1848, tenders were called for a new lighthouse on Gellibrand's Point - this is the bluestone section of the tower that remains today.

 

The successful tenderer was James Linacre who built the bluestone lighthouse in 1849 at a cost of £925. With the tower there was also accompanying timber keepers' quarters. It commenced operations in 1849.

 

It is interesting to note that the old lighthouse was advertised for removal by auction 'as is' a month after the new light commenced.

 

It appears that the second light may have been red in colour.

 

The second light operated until 1859 when it was replaced by a floating lightship anchored off the point in 4.5 fathoms of water.

 

The tower was yet to become a lighthouse again in 1934, but not before it served in an interesting role as a time ball tower.

 

In 1853, a Mr R. L. J. Ellery, the first Government Astronomer, commenced determining accurate local mean time, and established a time ball so that shipmasters to correct their chronometers "at the fall of the ball" at exactly one o'clock each day.

A time ball was a large copper sphere mounted around a mast.

 

After the discontinuing of the bluestone tower as a lighthouse, the time ball mechanism was moved to the top of the tower around 1860. It is definitely known to have been operating there in 1861.

 

The time ball operated from then until 1926 when the keeper fell ill and died. By then most ships had the more advanced technology of wireless communication time-signals. It is said that when the time ball was turned off not one person in Melbourne even noticed!

By 1934 the time ball had been removed. In this year the bluestone tower was extended by 30 feet with a circular brick tower on top. The extension was then painted with a coat of aluminium paint.

 

The tower operated as a lighthouse from 1934 to 1987. It is believed the lighthouse was re-established due to the loss of singularity against the light of the City behind the Point Gellibrand Pile Light.

 

It was electric, gave a green and red light and had a visibility of 15 nautical miles.

The Time Ball Tower, Williamstown, 1985 by Rick Amor (born 1948) 

oil on canvas

70.5 x 91 cm

signed and dated lower left: RICK AMOR '85
Sold for $9,600 in Auction 2 - 29 August 2007, Melbourne

Between 1987 and 1989, the brick extension was demolished and a functional new replica time ball mechanism was reinstalled restored by the Point Gellibrand Rotary Club to commemorate the history of the site. This was officially opened in 1990.

 

Under threat of subdivision and redevelopment the whole site was declared an historical site by the Premier, Steve Bracks, in 2000.

 

The tower today is operated by a computer, which drops each day at 1pm as when it was in the 19th and early 20th centuries. 

 Information sign at the Williamstown Ball Tower.

 Location Satellite.

research links 

Deutscherandhackett

 Military History and Heritage 

Lighthouses of Victoria

 Wikipedia 

Museum Victoria

 Next Where in Melbourne puzzle will be published on Wednesday 1st of May 2013.

This page was last updated on the 22nd of April 2013