Melbourne CBD eyesores ordered to clean up

These concrete eyesores are familiar to most Melburnians, having lain dormant for years and become covered in graffiti. But the owners of derelict CBD buildings have now been ordered to clean up their act.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp is ordering owners of abandoned, derelict buildings to clean up their act. Picture: Jay Town

Owners of abandoned, derelict buildings in Melbourne’s CBD have been ordered to clean up their act and fix the concrete eyesores.

As thousands of Melburnians and tourists prepare to descend on the city’s premiere shopping strips, Lord Mayor Sally Capp has urged developers to take responsibility for the graffiti-riddled and potentially dangerous buildings that have become a “blight on the city”.

Vacant buildings, both on the main city drags and hidden in laneways, are being vandalised and broken into. Many are regularly occupied by squatters.

IS THIS MELBOURNE’S UGLIEST LANDMARK?

HOARDING COVERS GATEWAY EYESORE

Ms Capp highlighted key sites in desperate need of makeovers, including a decaying backpackers on Spencer St and the former Cancer Council building in Carlton that has fallen into disrepair after years of disuse, saying “it’s time for a makeover”.

“All owners of unused buildings have a responsibility to properly secure their buildings,” she said.

Graffiti on Inshop fashion in Bourke St Mall.

“Key eyesore properties around the city should be cleaned up, refurbished, activated and, if necessary, redeveloped,” Ms Capp said.

Buildings along the Bourke St Mall have caught the attention of shoppers and tourists, including the building opposite the tourist kiosk that is covered in graffiti.

“I’ve been here for years and I don’t think it’s a great look. I think buildings like this could do with a tidy-up,” Jo Price, 64, said.

Kellie Paterson, 41, agreed. “It’s pretty sad when buildings are like this; it just looks ugly, and could really use a clean-up,” she said.

Steve Lambrick, 62, said he did not mind street art but the scribble on the building needed to go.

“I would rather buildings were painted with more formalised graffiti, more artwork; this is just messy,” he said.

Graffiti on the former Cancer Council building at Rathdowne St. Picture: David Crosling

Development has stalled at the Duke of Kent at 293-303 La Trobe St. Picture: David Crosling

Adam Moss, 29, said the graffiti ruined the city’s image.

“This city is so beautiful, and a building like this takes the balance from it; the city is so clean and it just doesn’t fit in,” he said.

The Lord Mayor set her sights on other eyesore buildings including the Job Warehouse in Bourke St, the once colourful fabric shop’s windows now boarded up.

But a clean-up of the site is underway with plans to restore the historic building to its former glory.

Ms Capp said more needed to be done to transform the city’s ­streetscape.

“So much vibrant activity happens on our streets and laneways in Melbourne and the best buildings are those that open up, engage with people,” she said. “Over the years we’ve seen some great examples of derelict sites transformed into visually appealing buildings at a street level that function as office, education, hotel or residential spaces above.”

WHICH IS MELBOURNE’S BIGGEST EYESORE?

FORGET ME NOT: MELBOURNE’S GLORIOUS BUILDINGS

LORD MAYOR SALLY CAPP’S HIT LIST

CANCER COUNCIL BUILDING, 1 RATHDOWNE ST

The abandoned office block opposite the Carlton Gardens has been vacant for more than five years with no applications for development.

JOB WAREHOUSE, 52-64 BOURKE ST

The old brick building now features boarded-up windows and ugly graffiti. A clean-up of the site is underway with plans to restore the historic building to its former glory.

The derelict Job Warehouse building in Bourke St. Picture: David Crosling

The Sir Charles Hotham Hotel at 2-8 Spencer St. Picture: David Crosling

DUKE OF KENT AT 293-303 LA TROBE ST

Development at the former pub has stalled and the building has sat dormant for years.

SIR CHARLES HOTHAM HOTEL AT 2-8 SPENCER ST

The art nouveau hotel built in 1913 is now accommodating backpackers. The historic Melbourne building has “huge potential” to be cleaned up and transformed.

[e-mail]