Lonsdale House, Melbourne

Just on a year ago I wrote about Lonsdale House in Melbourne and its possible demolition as part of the redevelopment of the Lonsdale Street Myer store.

As reported in today's Age the battle to save the building continues with the Art Deco and Modernism Socety and National Trust on one side, Colonial First State Management Company and Myer on the other and the State Planning Minister, Justin Madden in the middle.

In 1934, architect I G Anderson combined two earlier structures to create this unusual building which explains the asymetrical look.

Colonial have applied to the State Government for permission to demolish Lonsdale House. They are quoted as saying "Caledonian Lane needs to be widened to cater for the servicing requirements of this part of the city's retail core, and this necessitates the demolition of Lonsdale House". In other words, we need to destroy this beautiful building so we can get the trucks into the back of our shop.

Colonial go on to say "We are proposing to retain the major heritage facades to Lonsdale Street and Little Bourke Street without compromising the future functionality of the redevelopment of this iconic site."

No doubt the 'major heritage facades' refer to the Myer itself, not Lonsdale House.

The geometric tower on Lonsdale House is a Melbourne icon. I urge Colonial First State Property Management and Myer to find a way to retain this iconic building rather than have their names forever associated with this act of corporate vandalism.

I further urge Minister Justin Madden to reject their application and protect this wonderful piece of Melbourne heritage.