Friday, January 16, 2015

Past, present and future..



I'm a sucker for old black and white photos so when I spotted this image of how the area here being demolished revamped for Elizabeth Quay was back in the late 1800's I braved my fear of heights and stepped out onto the grilled viewing ledge on the top level of the The Bell Tower. If you pull the shot in a bit you can see the beautiful old Moorish style pavilion of the old Perth City Baths (better photo on link) opened in 1898. If only that could have been revamped, unfortunately it was removed in 1920.. tragique! Most of those old buildings are still around though..  


Above the site as it looks right now. A lot of the underground foundations have been completed so it's onwards and upwards. Below as it's going to look by the end of this year.. yeah right, like that's going to happen :) Can you see the blue balloon, that's where I'm taking these shots from, the Bell Tower will be dwarfed by highrise. Still trying to be positive but must say this vision doesn't make me 'sigh' like the old pavilion! TGIF, have a good one, take care and stay safe..

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30 comments:

  1. RedPatJanuary 16, 2015 at 12:10 AM

    Progress?!? I share your misgivings about the whole project - or maybe you have influenced me, Grace!

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  2. Iris FlaviaJanuary 16, 2015 at 12:17 AM

    Aww, Grace! The City Baths sure do remind me of Sellin Pier, where we went to a last holiday with our Mum! So sad the City Baths are gone - these piers are so dang beautiful!
    Sad the bell tower will cease being the proud setting it now is!

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  3. VPJanuary 16, 2015 at 12:30 AM

    Everything sounds so familiar, But I hope it goes better down under...

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  4. William KendallJanuary 16, 2015 at 12:33 AM

    I know the feeling. The project here they're putting the final touches on is still an abomination in my eyes. Public lands now benefitting a gang of developers for the remainder of their natural lives.

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  5. LOLfromPasaJanuary 16, 2015 at 2:08 AM

    'Demolish' is the right word here! Now that lovely sight you share in that great b&w photo is a thing of the past, I really hope that something positive will come from its very modern replacement. Time will tell.

    We have a program here called 'Wanted Down Under'. It is about people relocating to Australia. They featured Perth this week. I did smile and think of you. Sorry my presence in Blog World is very hit and miss. Struggling to find the time but I won't give up!!!

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  6. Billy Blue EyesJanuary 16, 2015 at 2:50 AM

    Great opertuity for you to follow the construction like I do round here. Before & after

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  7. RevrunnerJanuary 16, 2015 at 2:58 AM

    Lots of changes in the works.

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  8. LowellJanuary 16, 2015 at 3:18 AM

    Uh oh...the final product looks a lot like the east coast of Florida and that's not a good thing! I shall look forward to more of your photos as things begin to take shape, though.

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  9. Taken For GrantedJanuary 16, 2015 at 3:29 AM

    So sad when those historic buildings disappear under the wrecking ball, but perhaps this large, ambitious project will bring new life and glory to the river front. Your photos do set the stage. Bet you will document changes as they happen.

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  10. SharonJanuary 16, 2015 at 5:24 AM

    I hope that bell tower will still have some views worth climbing up there to see. I must say, the future picture doesn't blow me away. It just looks like most developments. It really is a shame about that bath house. What a grand looking building that was.

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  11. AnonymousJanuary 16, 2015 at 6:03 AM

    The loss of such history is awful, but I predict the area will be quite successful with visitors.

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  12. cieldequimperJanuary 16, 2015 at 6:24 AM

    I can't help preferring the late XIXth century...

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  13. Gemma WisemanJanuary 16, 2015 at 6:45 AM

    I hate losing old architecture ... be it grand or humble. The old is the footprint of where we have been. It should be treasured. But perhaps linking this area back with the river may still establish its own visual appeal.

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  14. LoisJanuary 16, 2015 at 8:44 AM

    Glad you were brave enough to step out there Grace. It does not look like progress to me, but I guess change is inevitable.

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  15. CloudiaJanuary 16, 2015 at 9:30 AM

    I too lament the lost buildings of the local past. Old photos and drawings will have to do!


    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    <3

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  16. RandyJanuary 16, 2015 at 10:03 AM

    I prefer old architecture.

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  17. AngieJanuary 16, 2015 at 10:26 AM

    Progress? Ba humbug!!! I'm just an old softie.

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  18. JackJanuary 16, 2015 at 10:42 AM

    I am still optimistic that it is going to be fine when it is finished. Let's hope that you are pleasantly surprised.

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  19. diane bJanuary 16, 2015 at 12:48 PM

    Wow they are doing amazing things in Perth. It has really boomed since the mining started. It is going to be a first class city. Must go and visit again one day.

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  20. Oakland Daily PhotoJanuary 16, 2015 at 1:07 PM

    At this point all we can do is hope for the best. Sometimes we are pleasantly surprised.

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  21. CarraolJanuary 16, 2015 at 1:12 PM

    Architecture is always beautiful, when it was done the right way. I try to imagine the future, when this project under construction have to be demolished by ancient to build any other project with an architecture that nobody not even imagine! Cheers and thanks a lot for visiting!

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  22. MalyssJanuary 16, 2015 at 4:45 PM

    Sometimes it's hard to see old things disappear , I agree so much . But , as you can't do anything against it , try to find a positive thing in those changes ..
    Thank you for climbing , with your vertigo !

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  23. AimeecakesJanuary 16, 2015 at 8:55 PM

    Oh mum... maybe one day you'll accept the whole Elizabeth Quay thing...

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  24. NormaJanuary 16, 2015 at 9:51 PM

    And they do it in the name of "progress." That sucks.

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  25. BirdmanJanuary 16, 2015 at 10:26 PM

    Some construction is quite beneficial. Sometimes it gets a bad rap. Not all is bad. I like this look.

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  26. KarlJanuary 16, 2015 at 11:07 PM

    Big and expensive work, hopefully it works out well...

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  27. Rob SiemannJanuary 16, 2015 at 11:44 PM

    Quite a change indeed!

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  28. SamiJanuary 17, 2015 at 6:53 PM

    I didn't know of the former existence of the Perth Baths pavilion, it sure was a nice building!

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  29. UnknownJanuary 18, 2015 at 6:36 PM

    OT. Agnieszka Radwanska won recently in Perth important tennis tournament. For the first time in his career won the match against Venus Williams.
    I saw a beautiful tennis stadium in Perth.

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  30. Stefan JanssonJanuary 19, 2015 at 6:52 PM

    That is progress for you.

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