Fitzroyalty » Fitzroy

Fitzroy history – from draper to bank

brian — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:05:33 +0000

The 10 Collective recruitment agency recently wrote about moving into the building at 141-145 Brunswick St, which houses the Fitzroy and Carlton Community Credit Cooperative on the ground floor, and they summarise the history of the building.

They also linked to a panoramic drawing looking north over East Melbourne, Fitzroy and Collingwood from the point of view from the roof of St Patrick’s Cathedral. The panoramic drawing details 8 significant Fitzroy buildings, including their building, which originally was a shop combining drapery, carpets and clothing.…

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

the results of yesterday’s City of Yarra meeting about food truck policy

brian — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:11:07 +0000

Subject to some relatively minor amendments, the City of Yarra last night voted to approve their revised policy for food trucks, which will allow for greater flexibility for operators. Read the 21 May agenda (197kb .pdf) and the food truck attachment (165kb .pdf).

Trucks will be allowed into residential areas (subject to council approval) and if approved will trade for a 3 month trial period that will be reviewed before an annual licence for the area is granted.…

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posted in Business by brian

lunch at the new Birmingham hotel on Smith St

brian — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:05:19 +0000

The Birmingham hotel has had a poor recent past. Live music has come and gone, a campaign proclaiming ‘it’s not shit anymore‘ a few years ago didn’t last and it slipped into irrelevance before closing. Now it has reopened after a complete refurbishment featuring a vintage industrial theme based on the industrial heritage of its namesake city.

The interior walls have been stripped back to bare brick and the floors to bare timber, and there’s a pressed tin lined bar with stools and table with chairs and high tables with stools throughout.…

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posted in Business by brian

happy Mothers’ Day

brian — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:14:06 +0000

Yes I know it was last week but I only found this portrait yesterday. It’s in the laneway running parallel to and just east of Nicholson St between Westgarth and Leicester streets.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

a response from the City of Yarra about food trucks trading from private property

brian — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:38:31 +0000

I received a response to the questions I asked the City of Yarra that were included in my previous post about the issue of the legality of food trucks trading to the public from provate property.

First, the City of Yarra says that no planning permits have been issued to allow food trucks to trade on private property. I actually asked if any had been applied for, but never mind. I am sure none have been applied for because no one has been advised to do so as this advice is not in council’s documentation.…

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posted in Business by brian

City of Yarra admits food trucks are trading without permission on private property in Fitzroy

brian — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:05:39 +0000

The consultation period for people to comment on the new draft rules for food trucks in Yarra has closed. The City of Yarra website article on the issue has not been updated with details on which forthcoming meeting will have the issue on its agenda, so the issue has an indefinite future. If you need a refresher on the issue read my April post.

First, the council staffer collecting the submissions replied to my emailed submission by denying any knowledge of the submission I made to council in person at the March meeting (as documented in my April post).…

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posted in Business by brian

Woolworths Fitzroy breaches Australian consumer law by refusing to offer a refund for faulty goods

brian — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:41:08 +0000

Some time ago, perhaps a year or a bit more, I bought 4 Woolworths ‘essentials’ brand AAA 800mAh NiMH rechargeable batteries, made in China, from Woolworths on Smith St in Fitzroy. They recently failed to charge and are dead.

NiMH rechargeable batteries are supposed to be capable of dozens, if not hundreds, of recharge cycles, and should have a life of several years. I would have recharged these batteries only about 5 or 6 times. They can be reasonably considered to be faulty and unfit for purpose.…

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posted in Business by brian

all that glitters

brian — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:30:44 +0000

This is on Victoria St near the corner of Brunswick St. Glitter camel cum is so hot right now.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

Shoe Fitz is closing

brian — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:19:24 +0000

This is one business closure I am genuinely sad about, because I walked past yesterday wearing boots bought at Shoe Fitz to discover they are closing. I’m hearing more and more comments from locals that retail is seriously struggling on Brunswick St.

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

fire at The Commoner restaurant on Johnston St

brian — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:26:32 +0000

There was a fire in the kitchen of The Commoner restaurant on Johnston St last night. Chef Adam Lister reports that the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the oven. The restaurant was closed at the time, and it reports on Twitter that the dining room was not damaged, no staff were injured and the restaurant will be closed for approximately a month for repairs.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

art on Fitzroy St

brian — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 02:53:22 +0000

These are on the wall between Leicester and Westgarth streets.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

rainbow crossing

brian — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:56:43 +0000

This is on the corner of George and Rose streets – a reference to recent protests about a rainbow crossing in Sydney.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

Citro motors on Smith St has closed

brian — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:19:05 +0000

I loved walking past here and seeing the various cars being worked on in this garage, which specialised in Citroens. Fitzroy still has lots of car workshops but this was probably the most interesting.

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posted in Deadpool by brian

an update on the City of Yarra’s food truck policy

brian — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:10:08 +0000

Since the March meeting of the City of Yarra, there has been some progress on the issue of food trucks being permitted to trade in Yarra. Council announced that three permits had been approved at a meeting held on 9 April, where it also voted to publish a revised draft policy for food trucks for public consultation.

Don’t hold your breath about seeing more food trucks in Fitzroy however. As I understand it, the locations approved for these permits are on Bridge Rd and Swan St in Richmond.…

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posted in City of Yarra by brian

what’s happening at Ziegote cafe on Johnston St?

brian — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:03:00 +0000

Ziegote cafe on Johnston St had broken, or so I thought, the curse on one of the least successful business locations in Fitzroy. I’ve enjoyed my Indian spiced breakfasts there, and hoped it would last, but now it seems closed with a notice in the window stating ‘renovation in progress’ and that it will reopen with a Spanish menu. ~~This suggests it’s unlikely to be run by the Ziegote owner and sadly I think his business has closed.~~…

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posted in Business by brian

window antics

brian — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:05:41 +0000

In the space of the former Lion in Love, something new is happening. Sort of. At the moment the window features Lego figures staring out at the street while soft toys are busy fucking.

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

open space on Brunswick St

brian — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:43:15 +0000

I love the open space alongside the new ACU building on Brunswick St.

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

veiled

brian — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 14:40:36 +0000

Another huge new mural by Adnate on the back of the BSG building on Brunswick St, as viewed from Argyle St.

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posted in Argyle St by brian

how much frozen yogurt does Brunswick St need?

brian — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:07:04 +0000

Berrisimo frozen yogurt opened recently on Brunswick St next to Babka. At the time it was the only shop of its kind in the immediate vicinity and added something new to Brunswick St. However, just across the road, in the location of the former Cruzao, a direct competitor called Frolic will soon open.

We’ve seen similar competition lead to the failure of a competitor in the past. Trampoline icecream opened on Brunswick St in 2004 and was followed by Timis gelato some time later.…

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

goodbye Nena, hello Kismet

brian — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:09:44 +0000

Nena pizza on Johnston St lasted about two years after taking over from Mario’s and attempting to astroturf the comments on this site. Now the space is Kismet pizza and kebabs.

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posted in Deadpool by brian

has Cafe Nova closed?

brian — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:05:08 +0000

Last winter Cafe Nova on Brunswick reduced its trading days – an admission perhaps of poor profitability, where wages cost more than a cafe earns. Now the cafe is closed and the entrance is boarded over. Is it closed for good? According to a business for sale listing (taken offline within the last few days), the business is currently for sale with 19 years remaining on the lease.

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

Marmalade and Soul in North Fitzroy has closed

brian — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 14:09:05 +0000

Thanks to regular reader David for alerting me to the fact that Marmalade and Soul on Queens Parade in North Fitzroy closed around the time of the Easter long weekend. It’s been open for little more than a year and seemed to be doing alright, but evidently not.

The redevelopment of the former pub into a restaurant and apartments has been a slow process with the apartments yet to be finished. It’s not clear if the closure of the restaurant is related to its profitability or to issues with the broader development of the whole building.…

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posted in Alexandra Parade by brian

lunch at Industry Beans on Fitzroy St

brian — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:26:27 +0000

I first visited Industry Beans for coffee a few days after it opened, and while I was satisfied I was not seriously impressed and thought I would leave a couple of weeks for them to settle into trading before returning to eat. On my second visit the coffee was the same but I also ate and now have a sufficient impression of the place to write a review.

My lunch companion and I marvelled at the large and diverse menu.…

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posted in Coffee by brian

splat

brian — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:12:02 +0000

On the wall of the laneway parallel to and west of Brunswick St near the corner of Leicester St.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

Raimond Gaita on Spring St

brian — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 13:32:27 +0000

A portrait of Raimond Gaita on Spring St near the corner of Rose St.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

go fuck yourself

brian — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:28:53 +0000

I think it looks better like this, not new and undamaged. On the wall of the laneway parallel to and west of Brunswick St near the corner of Leicester St.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

bureaucrazy

brian — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:22:40 +0000

In the window of Palookaville on Brunswick St.

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

Woolworths on Smith St bullies local government representative

brian — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 13:41:31 +0000

The City of Yarra councillor Steve Jolly, of the Socialist Party, is more active than most councillors in engaging with residents and ratepayers. He sometimes has a stall outside Woolworths on Smith St, and it was there on Thursday 14 March that Woolworths management called the police in an attempt to evict Jolly from the footpath.

Courtesy Steve Jolly / Twitter / photographer: unknown / copyright: used under the fair dealings provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 / 2013

Jolly reported on Friday 15 March on Twitter that ‘Wollies @ Smith St called police on our 8-yr long stall yesterday!…

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posted in Business by brian

new works on Leicester St

brian — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:29:04 +0000

Two of several new works on Leicester St.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

two portraits of Lewis Marnell

brian — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:34:40 +0000

Two portraits of the late Lewis Marnell, on Rose and Spring streets, the top one by Dvate and the bottom one by his brother Jonas.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

con men

brian — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:17:28 +0000

This is on Spring St.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

shrieking at the void

brian — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:04:38 +0000

An impressive if bleak painting on the corner of Rose St and Napier St.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

wasted

brian — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:42:48 +0000

This is on Rose St. Ghostpatrol, Kaffeine or a copyist?

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

fatal

brian — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:57:45 +0000

The QR code opens a message that says ‘The doctor say: You are a fucking cell phone junkie! Switch off your phone and start to life!’ A link points to Germany’s Fatal Boy. On several walls around Fitzroy.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

Mr Lincoln has closed

brian — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:51:16 +0000

Gertrude St florist Mr Lincoln closed recently. Their 5 year lease must have concluded. There’s no sign yet of a new business opening in its place.

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posted in Deadpool by brian

if you want food trucks in the City of Yarra, come to the Fitzroy Town Hall tomorrow

brian — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 13:22:50 +0000

Mobile food vans (commonly known as food trucks) have supposedly been allowed to operate in the City of Yarra since 1 July 2012, yet to date none have been approved by the City of Yarra, despite them operating widely in neighbouring local government areas like Moreland and Darebin. The City of Yarra has conceded that its guidelines may be too strict. Some people consider the current rules to be so strict that they form an defacto ban on trading.…

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posted in Business by brian

Lush is closing

brian — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:48:18 +0000

Lush women’s fashion shop on Brunswick St is closing.

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

lunch at Alpha Ouzeri on Brunswick St

brian — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 13:43:31 +0000

This post will not be subtle. My girlfriend and I walked into the Greek restaurant Alpha Ouzeri on Brunswick St and were barely able to waddle out after taking the $39 set menu challenge. Add a bottle of the very pleasant Darley pinot gris from Mornington Peninsula and you have an impressive meal for two for $120.

From the top down: dips; mezedes; saganaki (mostly eaten before I remembered to photograph it); seafood; roast meat, lamb cutlets, skewers and wonderful lemon potatoes (also recommended by Where Adles eats); salad; and desserts including galactoboureko and loukoumades (loved by Egg tarts and apple pie).…

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

summer in Fitzroy

brian — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 13:28:12 +0000

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

collaborative

brian — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:11:01 +0000

Collaborative art projects on the hoardings on the vacant lot at the west end of Rose St courtesy of CDH Art.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

tshirts

brian — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:30:51 +0000

The Tshirt Automat on Johnston St.

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posted in Business by brian

koalas

brian — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 13:25:32 +0000

Koalas at the Ktena thermal underwear business on Napier St.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

breakfast at Hammer and Tong on Westgarth St

brian — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:12:58 +0000

Hammer and Tong is a new daytime cafe on Westgarth St located in the space of the former Brix restaurant that opened on 11 February. Like Bar Paradiso on Greeves St, which took over the space of the former Felice’s, Hammer and Tong has not wasted money removing an excellent existing fitout and replacing it with something else. It seems to have done only a minor refresh.

Instead they have moved in and started trading, which is smart.…

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posted in Business by brian

Whatever

brian — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:15:40 +0000

The Lumpy Space Princess and friends on the corner of Westgarth and Young streets.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

new gallery on Johnston St

brian — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 13:37:14 +0000

Last year Zakkaya closed on Johnston St. A florist, Little Shop of Posies, opened so briefly I didn’t even have time to take a photo of it before it disappeared, then Auguste Clown gallery opened.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

Shire cafe on Victoria St has closed

brian — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:26:26 +0000

The writing in the window of Shire cafe says ‘closed for a brand change’. Strange wording – you don’t need to rip the place apart to redo the signage, which is what has happened – the interior has been stripped back to the bare walls.

It opened in 2008 and at first it was very enjoyable. Subsequent visits suggested a decline in quality and the proliferation of back street cafes delivered increased competition.

In October 2012 it was offering voucher meals, a sure sign of impending business failure, as L’Angolo and Cruzao demonstrate.…

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posted in Business by brian

volcanic

brian — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:04:01 +0000

This is on St David St near the corner of Gore St on the wall of the former church. I can only describe it as one of the greatest works of street art I have ever seen.

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

the Birmingham hotel is closed

brian — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:33:08 +0000

Over two years ago I wrote about the struggle of the Birmingham hotel on the corner of Johnston and Smith streets to determine a sustainable business model. I suspect that the search continues as the pub is closed for what looks like a major renovation of the interior. Hopefully it won’t be another soulless faux-southside job like the Royal Derby…

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posted in Business by brian

brunch at Bar Paradiso on Greeves St

brian — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 13:49:52 +0000

The East Brunswick Bar Idda’s Sicilian deliciousness has been brought to Fitzroy with their creation of Bar Paradiso in the former home of Felice’s. They’ve retained the lovely interior and focused on the food, which is reassuring compared to places that seem to spend more money on the fitout than on the quality of the food. My poached eggs with cheese and olives was impressive, with the coffee also good.

My friend’s poached eggs with fresh ricotta.…

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posted in Coffee by brian

new backpackers hostel on Hanover St

brian — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 13:11:18 +0000

A former hostel for the down and out above My Beautiful Laundrette closed some time ago after a history of trouble, including a fire in 2007. It has now reopened as a backpacker hostel called Tram Stop 14 (after the tram stop in front of it on Brunswick St). It features a huge dragon mural along its Hanover St side wall.

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posted in Brunswick St by brian