Does anyone know about this abandoned building on the corner of Spencer and Bourke Streets? I would love to know a little about it. It seems so odd that a single-storey abandoned property like this should just 'sit there' in this time of rapid inner-city development.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3977/carlyons18sp.jpg

I believe there used to be a Carlyons Hotel which once stood on this land (but I could be wrong about this). That is all I know.

http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/b/0/4/im/b04842.jpg

That's the Savoy site.

http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/120632.jpg

The Nauruan government used to own the site, and they sat on it for years until big badarse GE came knocking on their door for money.

site's been sold or is up for tender or something - anyhow, the proposal above is still valid (2007 I think?).

What was in the building before it was abandoned?
Looks like a Pizza hut or mc donalds.

dunno, but it's now a toilet :lol:

or at least it smells like one when you walk past.

It was a very dodgy hotel - lunchtime stripshows and all. You can still see some of the public bar signs etc. I've never seen that pic of Carlyons before - what were they thinking replacing it with that atrocity ?

wow is that savoy building thing gonna get built? looks good!

Does anyone know about this abandoned building on the corner of Spencer and Bourke Streets? I would love to know a little about it. It seems so odd that a single-storey abandoned property like this should just 'sit there' in this time of rapid inner-city development.


i think the reason why its sitting there is because it isnt a time of rapid inner-city development.Melbourne is coming to the end of its b0om. its just had 40 skyscrapers added to its skyline since year 2000.an amazing feat.
It will be fairly quiet over next couple of years but no doubt it will b00m again and im sure this site will be developed into another tall block of flats. pity savoy didnt get built this cycle.

site's been sold or is up for tender or something - anyhow, the proposal above is still valid (2007 I think?).

Yep site was sold in April to some businessman, and permit is there for a 47 storey tower. There's an Age article about the sale.

Yes your right Mr C, Melbourne is coming to the end of a wonderful boom. There are a number of projects that have started but there are a hellof a lot more that have finished or are about to finish. The lul will be good because people can consolidate their future directions for yet another boom in 2 or 3 years time.

Here is a pic of the Savoy Plaza Hotel dated 1965. Just to the left of it you can see Carlyons Hotel, probably the only color photo of it out there....

http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3413242-v.jpg

http://www.thecollectormm.com/gallery/postcards/1920s-1980s/slides/Carlyon's1.jpg
A clearer shot of Carlyon's Hotel.

It was an run down seedy bar. I visited there in the 88 when I was in Melb for the Melbourne Cup. Very dodgy place and didn't stay too long either.

We should have a photo thread of the butt-fugliest one-story abominations in our CBDs.

http://www.spencerstreetstation.com.au/images/gallery/fullsize/imageN3337087686.jpg

site sticks out like dog's nuts. _____________________________________________ ^

Looks like a prime site, what with the new station and all. Was that what greeted train arrivals for years? :)