Autumn Leaves and Architecture of the 'Hood

Earlier in the year I rummaged in the drawer, found my camera, purchased a new battery for it, resurrected it from the dust and went out into a beautiful May autumn day and familiarised myself with it all over again.  Here are some shots around and about my local Seddon streets from then, in autumn.

Decoratieve Fretwork on the Federation Cottages

In the area the houses are a mix of Victorian, Federation/Edwardian and more modern. Many of the houses were built as workers cottages between 1885 - 1910 and have been renovated and/or restored in the last fifteen years.  They're very pretty boxes all in a row taking on the look of a set of little dolls houses.  The fretwork or lacework trim in the earlier periods was cast iron and later, wooden, as seen here.  Although some of the houses are brick, the majority are timber.

An Old Edwardian Dame

As yet un-restored and in "original condition". The lacework is wrought iron, not the reproduction aluminium stuff.  Note the block weatherboard, which I believe to be an imitation of stone. It's all wood. The blocks are on strips that slide into each other, locking together in rows. These days they reproduce them to look the same but as block pieces nailed on board. The edge of the blocks is 3-5mm and they're a *%$^$#@ pain to sand and paint. You have to get all around and in between the blocks. Also note the speckled chimney matching the cable and chimney pots (unusual in Aus.)

REALLY WEIRD!

 OK, here is a really perculiar renovation that stopped me in my tracks. It's a double fronted, block weatherboard Victorian house. Lovely lace work, and the've gone to great pains to paint the details in contrast; i.e. highlighting small detailed trim above the lacework and below the roofline in Indian Red. Very typical of the area. But they've re-located the main entrance from the front to the side, filling the space with bock weatherboard.  It looks really odd. That's all I'm sayin'.

Stone Chimneys

There are a mix of european and native trees in the surrounding streets. In fact the natives took over the roads and pulled up the pavement and many have been replaced.  The European trees have struggled through the summer, dropping leaves in the drought. Now that true autumn has come there is a wonderful  vista of gold and red.  Unlike in their native climes, the European trees do not lie dormant in winter. It does not get cold enough. So they grow all year.