I’ve always been interested in the facade of the building where White Tomato has been for about 20 years, it’s a purple building with a cool late 80s vibe. Does anyone know much about what used to be located here? Found an late 1980s archival photo, and what it looks like today.
Posted by kmaltsy
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[The Exhibition Boot Company building](https://melbournebuildings.com.au/mcbdbd-160-162-bourke-street)
“The Exhibition Boot Company Building was designed by William Webb and built by James Seccull in 1904 for the eponymous Exhibition Boot Company, an old colonial boot manufacturer with many shops across Victoria. The shop was later occupied over a long period by successive generations of the Coon family, also as a shoe shop. In 1984, a distinctive and visually related tile design was added to the tympanum, depicting a broad rising sun with yellow rays and a tiled blue sky above, a motif used in the Arts & Crafts movement. Bartizan elements flank the façade in shaped red brickwork while boldly modelled cement work adorns the upper-level. The street façade has English Queen Anne revival façade styling, with red brickwork and Arts & Crafts cement detailing featuring the broad arch across the shopfront.”
([source](https://melbournebuildings.com.au/mcbdbd-160-162-bourke-street))
A little goggling around seems to align with this, hope that quenches your thirst for knowledge
[It was a boot maker](https://melbournebuildings.com.au/mcbdbd-160-162-bourke-street). Built in 1904 but the tiling was done in the 80s.
The Exhibition Boot Company Building was designed by William Webb and built by James Seccull in 1904 for the eponymous Exhibition Boot Company, an old colonial boot manufacturer with many shops across Victoria. The shop was later occupied over a long period by successive generations of the Coon family, also as a shoe shop. In 1984, a distinctive and visually related tile design was added to the tympanum, depicting a broad rising sun with yellow rays and a tiled blue sky above, a motif used in the Arts & Crafts movement. Bartizan elements flank the façade in shaped red brickwork while boldly modelled cement work adorns the upper-level. The street façade has English Queen Anne revival façade styling, with red brickwork and Arts & Crafts cement detailing featuring the broad arch across the shopfront.
The House of Merivale and Mr John. Sold trendy clothing with a Carnaby Street vibe.
I am pretty sure that before White Tomato, it was a bridal dress store for a while. Perhaps Mariana Hardwick? It is a lovely building.
Just did a Google search for the address on Trove. In 1868, if it was the same building, it was occupied by David Moyes, the business listing says “Nursery and Seedsmen”. Maybe that’s why there’s a decorative sun, or part of a sunflower above the doors. I’ve always been curious about this building as well.
I remember it was a Pizza shop in the 90’s.
Rohan Storey had this on his insta recently. Fabulous little building both inside and out.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DOSyu3NkVQj/?img_index=3&igsh=MTNxdGVza3lpajNkeA==
Is that the old Marianne Hardwicke shop ?
Before she took it over it was a squat I don’t know what it was before that.
Geez what the hell happened to the paint on the exterior. I think the tiles look really beautiful and as vibrant as they were a hundred yrs ago.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DOSyu3NkVQj/?igsh=MTlzZjBvNnQ1enkyZw==
They rendered the brick??