Apple Australia faces Melbourne art deco protest over retail store

Jonny Evans
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August 10, 2009
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Australian news just in: local history buffs are up in arms over a new Apple retail store, part of a new shopping centre development that’s going to see the demolition of one of Melbourne's finest examples of art deco architecture from the 1930s.

Mall organisers have been given the green light to flatten Lonsdale House, on Lonsdale Street near Caledonian Lane as part of the development. And artist’s impressions of the future complex include a mult-floored Apple retail outlet within the picture.

Darren Steinberg, head of property at developer Colonial Global Asset Management, responsible for the development, confirmed that the company was in talks with Apple over hiring out space in the development.

“We're in discussions with a number of major international tenants, but at this stage there are no tenants committed to the project because we haven't formally started the leasing campaign yet," Steinberg said.

Apple now has five retail stores in Australia. This news emerges as Apple recruits top flight talent to help drive retail store expansion in Europe and beyond.

Comments (4)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | August 10, 2009 - 8:57am

that looks amazing. I love the apple stores like this. they are the epitome of what modernist architecture was supposed to be.

zato (not verified) | August 10, 2009 - 12:38pm

"local history buffs are up in arms over a new Apple retail store,..."

More total BS from 9to5Microsoft Propaganda.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | August 11, 2009 - 9:54am

the apple store is architecturally modern, true. but replacing a classic piece of art deco to achieve another glass facade isn't particularly imaginative nor progressive. much of modern architecture gets a bad enough rap as it is for being cold, inaccessible and uninviting. no, the smarter thing to do for apple would be to look elsewhere. pick a skyscraper from the 1960s-1970s that's due for a refurb and sit the store on the first three levels, as was done in sydney. now, that's much cooler and far more interesting to style up a bland bit of modernism. check out the building (corner george+king streets, sydney cbd) more importantly, it doesn't offend anyone.

dave (not verified) | August 13, 2009 - 2:09pm

If the local community wishes to keep the existing building's appearance, they have a very simple avenue. Pony up the cash to keep it that way.

They might have a reasonable argument if this site was actually designated an historical landmark site, but these people seem to be saying "well, we like how it looks now, don't change it".