In July 2002, when Japanese department store, Daimaru, closed its ambitious Melbourne Central store, it left most of the remaining tenants for dead.

Two years later the centre has re-opened with some of its original stores as well as a freshly minted but predictable collection of up-market fashion chains shops. Nothing new or that interesting really - and apart from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store - just a junior Chadstone.

The basic layout hasn't changed much but both the internals and externals have been re-skinned.


Inside the main Lonsdale to Latrobe drag, chocolate and cream regency stripes cleverly conceal the complex's water pipes, conduits and air-con.


In particular, I like the large bubbles that now cover the two storey walkway over the Little Lonsdale street. Here's Norman Day's take on Ashton Raggatt McDougall's makeover.

More photos & impressions soon.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 19.9.05. You can skip to the end and leave a response.