Sunday, 20 March 2011

Sign extravaganza!

I've been wandering about a lot in the past few days taking photos of signs I've seen along the way - and, as always, spotting new signs I'd somehow not noticed before - but I haven't had a chance to post them until now, so this will be quite the epic...

J Higson and Sons, on the side of a fantastic late 19th
 century warehouse  on the corner of Flinders Lane and Higson Lane.


The 131 Flinders Lane frontage. I'm very curious about
its current use but there are no clues.


Remnants of its life as a warehouse remain on the Higson Lane side.
I'm not sure what business J Higson was in. Walking Melbourne says the
building is a "rare survivor" up the eastern end of town and was
 built in 1857 for importers and wholesalers Levy & Robertson.


I think this is the remnants of a sign too.


This is on Hosier Lane. I'm usually too busy
looking at the  street art to notice old paintwork.


Gertrude Street, Fitzroy


Smith Street on the Fitzroy side. I spotted this sign
 after seeing a very faded Moran & Cato sign on Brunswick Street
when I was sitting in the window of Bean & Bagel on Johnston Street.
 I forgot to take a photo though. The interwebz tell me Moran & Cato
was the largest chain of grocery stores in Australia in the late 19th
and early 20th centuries, with two stores in Fitzroy.


A side street off Smith Street, Collingwood.


Smith Street, Fitzroy. R H Brooks Furniture?

4 comments:

  1. Hoiser Lane is SO pretty!<3

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just found this page through Google - I just brought a vinatge hat box made by J Higson & Sons. The label says "Manufacturer of high class ladies handbags" :) Thought you'd like to know!

    ReplyDelete
  3. When I moved into the area 15 years ago, the painted Higson sign was very faded and peeling but complete and readable. Over time taggers and (mainly) the council have all but obscured it. Thank you for the page & photos.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have an old polish mop (the type used for polishing floors) in a round tin, on the side only obtainable from J Higson & Sons, Flinders Lane Melbourne.

    ReplyDelete

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