Goodbye Larundel

•May 31, 2011 • 14 Comments

Larundel, one of Melbourne’s most well-known psychiatric institutions, is in the process of being redeveloped into townhouses and retail spaces.

The sprawling buildings occupy a massive piece of land in Melbourne’s north.  The buildings were constructed in 1938, with the asylym itself closing for good in 1999.  People used to be institutionalised for things that you’d never dream of locking them up for these days (think depression, post-partum depression, etc).  I hear a lot of bad things went on in the place and I’d be interested to hear any stories if anyone knows anyone who used to work or reside there.

Here are some Incident Report Forms that were apparently found after Larundel closed.

The buildings are extremely decrepit now, and at least one – possibly two – have been restored, with new windows and tiles and solar panels on the roof.  The ward where patients were kept in their cells rooms still stands – just – but it is completely trashed.

It’s bizarre to imagine a place like this in operation as recently as 12 years ago.

x Kitten of Doom

Posted in Melbourne misc suburbs, Things I see, Urban exploration
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Fibre Femmes opening night at Surface popup shop!

•May 28, 2011 • 1 Comment

After weeks of anticipation, Fibre Femmes, an all-female stencil and pasteup exhibition, opened last night at the Surface exhibition and popup shop.

So much Kaff-eine!

Exhibiting artists are:

  • Kaff-eine
  • Suki
  • Be Free
  • Doctor
  • Fresh Chop
  • Precious Little
  • Baby Guerilla

Part of Baby Guerilla's "Falling Women" series

It was so packed that it was hard to move through the room.  Good to see a terrific turnout!

Suki

Doctor

Precious Little

If you are in Melbourne, you will have seen a lot of these stencils and pasteups around the city’s streets and laneways.  You may remember a Kaff-eine wall I posted about a few weeks ago.

Awesome to see all these wonderful works in the same room together!  A lot of them were sold, I believe.

More from Baby Guerilla

The exhibition is on until June 5th and is at Surface exhibition and popup shop, 20-28 Chatham Street Prahran 3181.  During the day the shop is also a cafe, and I saw a lot of awesome silver jewellery I want to go back and buy!

Sorry I didn’t get photos of every artists’ display… you’ll just have to go and check it out for yourself!

x Kitten of Doom

Kaff-eine, and Suki wall

Posted in Artyness, Melbourne misc suburbs
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Islington Silos floorplans are IN

•May 27, 2011 • 3 Comments

Here are the floorplans for the former James Hood Maltsters residential construction, the Islington Silos.

I fucking love floorplans! 😀

Warehouse and penthouse floorplans on the left; two different silo floorplans on the right.

Floorplans from http://www.islingtonsilos.com.au

I think I want that penthouse after all, or even just a silo apartment.  I want views towards the city of course, preferably more towards the Yorkshire Brewery side.

I have a question though – where are the doors in the silo bedroom walls leading to??

Might check it out this weekend and see how construction is coming along.

In the meantime, check out the Islington Silos website, it has some lovely old pics and history of the James Hood Maltsters, and click on “Views” down the bottom of the main page for a wonderful 360 panoramic view from the penthouse.

x Kitten of Doom

Posted in Collingwood, Real estate
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Ghostpatrol – “If We’re Going, Then Let’s Go”, opening night at Backwoods Gallery

•May 27, 2011 • 1 Comment

Flashback to last Friday.  I was so excited for this show, I can’t remember being so excited for an opening before.  Ghostpatrol is a well known street artist who hails from Hobart but now resides in Melbourne.  He is well known for his characters who range from the playful to the scary, stuff of childhood dreams really (you know those dreams you used to have as a kid that were deliciously scary?) His show “If We’re Going, Then Let’s Go” is more of a world than a random assortment of his characters.

Entering Backwoods Gallery, we were greeted with two of Ghostpatrol’s well-known witchy-type characters, extra-large.  Beyond these two was a yarn “tent”, an entrance to what might very well be another world.  Through here was the rest of Ghostpatrol’s works, making up his signature triangle (pyramid maybe, or witch’s hat?); different sized framed characters of delicate detail.  Some painted entirely out of tiny little trees.  Each had their own personality.


There were even cushions!


Weed man, ready to save the day!

“If We’re Going, Then Let’s Go” runs until June 4th. Do yourself a favour and get down to Backwoods Gallery (25 Easey St, Collingwood) to see the show, because it’s great, and if you’re one of those people who didn’t get me a birthday present yet, I like the cat that’s painted out of lots of little trees. Just sayin’.

x Kitten of Doom

Posted in Artyness, Collingwood
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Upcoming SIETTA tour!

•May 19, 2011 • 1 Comment

That awesome duo sietta is launching their very first album next month!

They’ll be playing in Melbourne on Thursday June 9th at Red Bennies.

Normally I’d whinge about Adelaide getting the weekend gigs and Melbourne having to get the Thursday  gig, but I’m  back working weekends again as of this week, so Thursday works out just fiiine anyway.

If you haven’t heard sietta yet, you can listen to their tracks here.  Seriously check them out, they have the funkiest beats and Caiti’s voice soars.

Still gotta get myself a singlet!

x Kitten of Doom

Posted in Muzak
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Jun Inoue “New Yellow 01” opening night

•May 19, 2011 • Leave a Comment

The opening night of Jun’s exhibiton at Backwood’s Gallery was Friday May 6; it finished a few days ago.

I love the simplicity of his pieces, and also the colours.  I know it sounds boring to carry on about liking simplicity and minimalism, but… I do.  I also like red and black together, which was the main colour scheme of his exhibition.

I really wouldn’t mind a feature wall by this guy in my (future) house!

I probably should have blogged this earlier while the exhibition was still on.  Regardless, keep an eye out on the internets for Jun Inoue.

He walked into the room just as I was taking a picture and I jumped, hehe.

x Kitten of Doom

Posted in Artyness, Collingwood, Things I see
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Planet Love Sound – single launch down, final shows to go

•May 12, 2011 • Leave a Comment

Planet Love Sound are playing their last Australian show at the Workers’ Club in Fitzroy on Sunday May 22nd.

After that they will be heading back to Berlin for about six months, so if you miss this show, you won’t get to see them for awhile.

I wish I could go wherever summer is, too!

If you haven’t seen them before, or even heard one of their songs, just go anyway.

They are also playing a show in Sydney tomorrow night at Oxford Arts Factory in Darlinghurst (it’s Friday the 13th so make sure you’re wearing your finest goth gear), and also a show in Brisbane on May 21 at X&Y Bar.

I saw them again at the single launch for ‘On the Run’ last Friday night, excellent as always; so much energy!  Tehachapi were supporting and they are great, another Melbourne band you need to go and see!

'On the Run' single launch at the Grace Darling Hotel.

x Groupie Kitten of Doom

Posted in Collingwood, Muzak
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Mr Scribble the man from Footscray!

•May 12, 2011 • Leave a Comment

I seriously cannot get enough of this video.

It was made, and I presume posted by, Lush – a fairly prominent street artist-slash-vandal down here in sunny Melbourne.

It’s not safe for work, and not safe for anyone who’s offended by four letter words beginning with “f” or “c'”.

But it’s funny as fuck, so enjoy.

Mr Scribble from Zonk Vision on Vimeo.

Posted in Artyness, Melbourne misc suburbs
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Vote for my photo! Pleeease!

•May 8, 2011 • Leave a Comment

  I posted this photo in my very first blog entry.

Now I have entered it in a photo competition.

Please vote for my photo!

You can win an awesome Canon 7D just by voting!

😀

Thanks! xx

Posted in Random shiz, Things I see

From James Hood Maltsters to Islington Silos

•May 3, 2011 • 3 Comments

This is what the James Hood Maltsters site is to become:

Pics from realestate.com.au

It does make me sad to see this beautiful building gentrified and made into an apartment complex, as seems to be the go  these days with everything.  However I am glad the silos and facade are being kept.   I guess it would be too much cost/effort to pull those silos down.  (Also at least part of  the building is supposed to be heritage listed.)

I think I’d feel a bit strange living in one of them!

I could maybe get used to it with this view…

I took this pic of the silos like last week.

To see some great pics of the place when it was derelict, check out these sets by Blacklodge!! and FloydTheBarber88

Adieu to one of my favourite abandoned buildings!

Ciao for now,

Kitten of Doom

Posted in Collingwood, Real estate
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