Question: when is an apartment block not an apartment block? Answer: when it is a garage, a car park, or a motel.

The site at 5 Ward Avenue is like a chameleon and has changed its complexion since being erected in sections in the early 1960s.

It was initially a garage and was much needed after World War II when cars dominated our urban landscape during an economic boom.

In 1950 we produced 58,00 cars but by 1970 we produced a staggering 475,000 cars per annum, putting Australia in the top ten of world manufacturing. In 2005 this had dropped to 388,000 and by 2016 was down to 167,000.

Unsurprisingly a two-level car park was then built on top of the garage to cater for demand. The facade of Clairmont shows this stratification of previous uses. It was then converted into a motel and then a further two top floors were added separately.

It was then converted to apartments with retails shops such as a ground floor video rental store (remember those?) and cosmetics shop, among others.

No wonder the end result is a higgledy-piggledy appearance with more layers than a lasagna.

It doesn’t claim to be an item of architectural significance but, rather, is a product of its time.

by Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions

with thanks to Mr John Howard, local resident