The Nicholas Building on the corner of Swanston Walk and Flinders Lane is a living cultural center. I'm often going there to see exhibitions at Pigment Gallery, Blindside or Stephen McLaughlan Gallery. Many artists, fashion designers and jewelers have their studios and exhibition spaces in the rooms of the Nicholas Building. The late, eccentric and artist Vali Meyers once had her studio on the 8th floor of the building. It is also the home of Collected Works bookstore, the best bookshop for quality literature in Melbourne and many other interesting shops.
It is a wonderful old building, even in it's partially decaying state that is well worth a visit itself. Entering Cathedral Arcade with its set of boutique shops and the wonderful lead light ceiling. I have the choice of taking the stairs or one of two old lifts. One of the lifts has a lift attendant and the lift attendant has decorated the small lift with postcards and pictures. The other lift is also manually operated and you have to open and close the doors yourself. Walking down the stairs I notice the defunct mail chute in the stairwell and the antique elevators speak of another era of city office life. Many of the tiles are falling off, some of the stair rail has gone in places, but the building still has great character. read more
