Quote:
The "faux" heritage addition (which is now like 60 years old in its own right)...
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This is not quite correct. Yes, ~60 years ago the magnificent 1890s post office was replaced by a bland modern office block, but the faux-heritage dressing was not added to the bland modern office block until the 1990s.
Timeline:
1890s - magnificent post office is built
1914 - less magnificent "customs house" addition is built
1950s - demolition of magnificent post office/replacement with bland modern office block
1990s - bland 1950s office block gets faux-heritage dressing
2016? - demolition of bland 1950s office block in faux-heritage dressing
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From "Exploring Victoria's Architecture" by Martin Segger:
"Dominion Custom House - 1914
This was built as an addition to the 1894 Second Empire Post Office which stood at the Government Street corner. Demolition of the Post Office in 1965 (
aastra says/asks: should that be 1956?) and replacement with a bland modern structure constituted a major loss to Victoria's grand processional entrance as seen from the Inner Harbour. The surviving addition utilized the Edwardian palazzo form but quoted many of the Classical elements from the wall surfaces of the old Post Office. Interestingly, the Federal Government recognized its symbolic faux pas and in time for Victoria's hosting the Commonwealth Games in 1994 had the modern building reclad..."
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Original 1890s Post Office:
pic from BC Archives...
pic from BC Archives...
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1890s Post Office and 1914 Customs House addition beside:
pic from BC Archives...
pic from BC Archives...
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Demolition of 1890s Post Office (leaving the 1914 Customs House addition):
pic from BC Archives...
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Bland modern office block that replaced the 1890s Post Office:
pic from BC Archives...
Bland modern office block beside the 1914 Customs House:
pic from BC Archives...
Another pic:
http://s266.photobucket.com/user/smw...n0002.jpg.html
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Bland modern office block in 1990s faux-heritage dressing, as it looks today (beside the 1914 Customs House at left):