This is a shot of the The Guildford Hotel c1941, look at those fabulous old beauties parked out front! Built on this spot in 1883, renovated in 1913/15 in the Italian Renaissance style with an octagonal 'Belvedere' on the north east corner inciting the then chairman of the licensing board to declare it 'a splendid edifice erected'! Below is a shot I took of the hotel yesterday....
Tragically the hotel was gutted by fire in 2008, circumstances considered suspicious! Even more suspicious is that even though the redevelopment was given the green light well over a year ago this is how the hotel still looks today. Frustrated, the community would like the present owners to restore or the State Government to purchase and bring this old heritage listed building back to it's former iconic self before it's too late and it becomes a case of 'demolition by neglect'. Old socks attached to the scaffolding send a message to the owners and the Premier (say no more Grace) that 'the game is up' and that it's 'on the nose'.. Phew! I'll say it is, I smell a rat! I hope your week has started well, take care!
It's hard to fathom the depths of corruption that exists in various governmental entities. A shame. Re the cars in that first shot. Had one just like it. My first car was a 1937 Chevy! Bought it from the proverbial little old lady who drove it only to church on Sundays in 1952. It was great!
ReplyDeleteYour right. The place is obviously worth more to be redevloped with a new building than to go to the hassle of retoring the old one. So they leave it till it gets in such a state it has to be demolished and they get their way
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame to lose beautiful, historic buildings like this one. I would be surprised if it has any restoration work. Looks like all that is left is the facade, so a new building would need to be constructed inside this facade. There is a whiff of rat in these photos. (Love the old cars!)
ReplyDeleteoh gosh, it's a pity! Sad to see the building with lots of history and beautiful style in this way!
ReplyDeleteLéia
By the way, love the vintage picture!
I do agree with the others that it is indeed a shame to lose such a wonderful old building and leave it to the rats!!! Does sound like government to me! Rats indeed!! Great captures as always! Hope your new week is off to a great start! Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteIt's sad and disappointing when amazing old places like this are allowed to fall into ruin. Even sadder when the are demolished for more modern structures. It does sound like something fishy is going on...
ReplyDeleteIt really is a shame that this is allowed to happen....
ReplyDeleteDevelopers here often use that ploy of neglect to get around heritage designations here! It's a beauty, Grace.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad...it's a beautiful building. In SoPasadena there is an old theater that is just gorgeous, but falling apart at the seams. Unfortunately, it is privately owned by 12 different people who can't or won't get together to do something about it. As a result, it sits in a state of constant decay. I do hope your community will get it together and get this building back into shape....I'll bet it's beautiful inside!!!
ReplyDeleteA splendid edifice neglected.
ReplyDeleteVery sad! such buildings have a soul..
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't bear thinking that authorities will allow this beauty to simply crumble...
ReplyDeleteIt would be a shame to let that building fall completely apart.
ReplyDeleteI can just visualize how grand that charming building could look! Really sad that it isn't being renovated. Good on you to feature it on your blog!
ReplyDeleteWe also have a couple of buildings in our town that this is happening to. It really is a shame and more people should petition for something to be done with it.
ReplyDeleteMersad
Mersad Donko Photography
While many might agree with the sentiments, I am not sure that writing graffiti on the stonework is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteSome developer will remove this and erect a glass monstrosity! Terrible!
ReplyDeleteSure is a shame to let the building fall apart. This is what happens to places in the USA. Sad to see other countries following suit.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you will be able to bring it to life.
ReplyDeleteI'm on your side, Grace. This is a beautiful structure and should be properly renovated. Let me know when you will be picketing there, and I'll join you!
ReplyDeleteLooks like it was a nice place.
ReplyDelete«Louis» posted another in his series on the cars of Australia.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you... SAVE that historic treasure!! I do hope that they restore it to the architectural perfection of the original.
ReplyDeleteBises,
Genie
Oui c'est un très bel édifice, tu as bien raison de te mobiliser pour qu'il soit restauré... C'est toujours un bonheur de suivre ton blog et de t'accompagner dans tes déambulations dans your lovely city
ReplyDeleteOh what a shame. The grandeur and majesty of the splendid original structure is gone and replaced by a modern monstrosity ! Hope it is saved and restored to its old glory. Ram
ReplyDeleteThat is a shame indeed. They have to treasure those old beautiful buildings.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a shame to lose such a gorgeous old building. I hope the people are heard.
ReplyDeleteA lovely place and I hope it gets saved. Why can't the powers that be get things right for once?
ReplyDeleteThat´s really, really beautiful, Grace. That´s what I also love about Perth, old and new side by side.
ReplyDeleteoh no, we can't have that! i hate when they destroy beautiful old buildings like this....i hope it is saved...seems like a lot of people are in its corner!
ReplyDeleteI think I can smell the rat all the way over here!
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame it lost it's look out tower.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very familiar... The building is a beauty and I also love the vintage shot.
ReplyDeleteUmmmm that is a shame and suspicious. Hope it is not the end for such a grand old building.
ReplyDeleteThat seems a shame and I also smell a rat or three.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame. That building has potential, but it's not being put to good use.
ReplyDelete