Recent times find Newcastle city a year-round construction zone. While the heat is on Wharf Road and Honeysuckle, Hunter Street’s fabulous old facades are tumbling to developer’s whims.

Some have survived as aerosol and traditional art canvases, but many increasingly succumb to vandalism from the late night alcohol-fuelled pathetics, while other more significant structures have yielded to the even less subtle hands of developers.

A building frenzy of high-rise apartments drive the city’s skyline dramatically up - sadly terminating in square hulks of greyish and stainless, no more attractive than (and probably of similar fashion brevity to) this decade’s vehicular indulgence whose bulky bling  will soon fill used car yards as  a worse styling joke.

Significant demolition victims include the State Rail training rooms in May ‘05 and early 2008 the marvelous Palais Royale.

So, too, the S & W Miller facade gracing one corner of Hunter Street and Stewart Avenue seems inevitably to fall.

With a great story to offer,  far predating the long-expired electrical retailer’s brief glory, and though a relatively  unimpressive building,  it would be sad to see it go.

Such ornate fascia - for no aesthetic reason a thing of architectural past - add delightful texture to increasingly drab cityscape.

We shall miss its humble SINGLE LEVEL complement to the magnificent ex-brewery/museum.  One would have imagined this the perfect 7-day venue for Newcastle’s Paddys Market or China Town equivalent.

The building forms part of the former Newcastle Regional Museum site. In late 2007 Expressions of Interest were called for this site and a number of proposals were received.

Results of the EOI were reported to Council on 4 December 2007 and three proponent were asked to provide detailed proposals for consideration. The detailed proposals need to be submitted to Council officers by the end of February and then a report will be prepared for Council’s consideration.
[ Newcastle City Council report ]

"Expressions of interest" range from 3-storey mixed-use residential to a not-for-profit housing trust with shared equity ownership. Considering workers lucky to be grossing a $grand a week have a snowball’s of even  half-way financing themselves into the plethora of half-$mill.  condos crowding out the city’s scenic edge, to have 50 poor families with inner city digs is some meager advance.

Millers buildings, btw, includes a majestic restored commercial premises over the road displaying a 45 yo commercial rendition of the Admiral (no-name) who inspired branding of some sixties vacuum tube tele.

As a billboard Millers has a  history back to 2002 when Fiona Whitton and Saul Standerwick led a group of Youth Venue artists on an original work (I believe; correct me).

We find in April 2008  the most recent effort unmistakably and artistically promoting a certain website.