The Flickr Lygonstreet Image Generatr

Trades Hall was built incrementally in approximately ten phases, primarily between 1874 and 1925, during which its notable classical facade along Lygon and Victoria Streets took shape. Predominantly a two-storey structure resting on bluestone foundations, it features an imposing facade marked by Corinthian elements, including two distinct towers flanking a central triangular pediment at the Lygon Street entrance. Large decorative urns atop the parapet characterize the Victoria Street section.

The architectural firm Reed and Barnes, alongside its successors, oversaw the early phases of construction, which extended from 1873 to 1926. However, later additions, notably the 1960s office block at the rear, contrast unfavorably with the original architectural vision.

Trades Hall holds considerable historical, social, and architectural importance in Victoria. Historically, it symbolizes Victoria’s pioneering role in the eight-hour day movement, reflecting its significance as a landmark for labour achievements. Constructed on the site of the initial 1859 temporary Trades Hall, it has continuously served as a central gathering place for pivotal events and movements shaping trade union and working-class history, including the origins and early developments of both Victorian trade unions and the Australian Council of Trade Unions. The building notably commemorates leaders and achievements of the labour movement through honour boards, flags, and banners preserved within its interior.

Politically, Trades Hall played an important role in the birth and growth of the Australian Labor Party, housing its headquarters until 1972, and supported significant political groups, including Berry's Liberal protectionist faction in the turbulent politics of the 1870s. Trades Hall remains today an active focal point for union activities and progressive politics.

Socially, the building acts as a living centre of radical political and union traditions. Its collection of banners, flags, and honour boards offers tangible insights into over a century of Australian labour history.

Architecturally, Trades Hall is celebrated as an exceptional example of 19th-century institutional architecture designed by the eminent firm Reed and Barnes. Its conservative style expresses the respectability sought by its founders, while construction records highlight the pride Victorian building unions took in its construction. The building is recognized as a rare intact example from this period, featuring superior craftsmanship, local materials, and skillful execution. Architect Joseph Reed significantly influenced Melbourne's architectural heritage, contributing to iconic buildings such as the Melbourne Public Library, Rippon Lea, Melbourne Town Hall, and numerous other significant structures throughout the city's period of rapid growth in the late 19th century.

The complex, situated on land originally secured by Victorian trade unions, was progressively developed between 1873 and 1926, evolving from a modest initial structure to an extensive complex. This staged construction culminated with final additions in the early 1920s, resulting in a coherent architectural ensemble recognized today as a prominent Melbourne landmark and testament to the region's vibrant union history.

Lygon St., Carlton is the central street of Italian neighbourhood not far away from CBD.

Church Of Christ & Organ or Lygon Street Christian Chapel

Originally constructed in 1865 and designed by architect W.M. Moore, this church exemplifies classical architectural styles associated with nonconformist denominations. Its facade, ingeniously remodeled in 1889, features an attractive bichrome brick design, flanked by square turrets, while the interior maintains good proportions.

A distinctive feature of the church is its two-manual organ, which has 14 speaking stops. Although the exact provenance of this organ is uncertain, it is almost certainly attributed to the renowned makers Fincham & Hobday and dates back to the early 1890s. The instrument was subsequently installed at Carlton in 1913. Remarkably, it retains its original mechanical action, console, pipework, and case. Particularly notable are the gilt facade pipes, which were likely originally diapered, making this organ an excellent representation of late 19th-century organ craftsmanship.

Distinctive for their eclectic architectural style, the Lygon Buildings feature an unusual blend of Elizabethan and Flemish elements integrated within a classical framework. Notably symmetrical, the facade revolves around a central pavilion flanked by matching three-story end pavilions, with connecting two-story wings of four bays each. Decorative stucco and cement work embellish the buildings, including festoons, pilasters, and urns, crowned by Baroque-inspired parapets.

Remarkably well-preserved, the Lygon Buildings retain most original architectural elements, particularly the wooden joinery and extensive plate glass shopfronts. Although the original verandah was demolished, it was replaced in the 1970s with a new one adhering to Melbourne City Council guidelines, marking Melbourne's first major restoration of a post-supported verandah. Today, the Lygon Buildings stand as Melbourne's largest and most intact nineteenth-century retail terrace, vividly demonstrating the creativity and expressive qualities characteristic of boom-style architecture.

Carlton origins trace back to 1852 when surveyor Robert Hoddle mapped it as an extension of Melbourne's city center. Initially stretching northward from Victoria Street to Grattan Street and eastward from Elizabeth Street to Rathdowne Street, this plan included the Carlton Gardens, after which the suburb was named. Within five years, all plots within this area were purchased, prompting further development northwards toward Palmerston Street in the early 1860s.

From the 1860s onwards, South Carlton, especially around Drummond and Lygon Streets, gained prominence as a fashionable residential neighborhood. Commercial activity flourished, particularly along Lygon and Elgin Streets, transforming the area into Carlton’s bustling retail district. By 1867, Lygon Street boasted multiple hotels, underscoring its growing economic importance. The area's retail potential surged even further after 1870, notably boosted by the introduction of the North Carlton cable tramway in 1898.

Amidst this commercial expansion, the Lygon Buildings emerged as a significant architectural landmark. Constructed in 1888 under the guidance of architect William Pitt, and executed by contractors Cockram and Company, these buildings were designed by George de Lacy Evans. Evans, a distinguished architect celebrated for boom-style buildings such as the former Union Church in Elsternwick and Sum Kum Lee in Little Bourke Street, considered the Lygon Buildings a key achievement of his career.

Feb 2025, Ilford Delta 400, Ricoh 35 ZF. DSLR scan.
Lagoon Restaurant, Lygon Street, Melbourne.