TWiSK #326
Historic Eildon’s new owners revealed
Marina changes waved through
Council writes about bike lane wrongs
Former Mayor to stand for Brighton in State election
Historic Eildon’s new owners revealed
The Real Estate Source website has revealed that former Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Gary Singer and his partner, Geoffrey Smith have purchased the Eildon mansion (formerly Alliance Française de Melbourne) on Grey Street for nearly $10m.
Speaking directly to TWiSK, Gary Singer CEO Smith & Singer said they were committed to preserving Eildon but didn’t yet have any firm plans.
‘It clearly needs some TLC, we are working with architects on conservation, heritage and planning ideas,’ he said.
But it seems conversion to their residence is not on the cards, the pair having purchased an equally impressive historic residence in Toorak’s (Trawalla c1867) for a reported $22m last March.
Clearly Singer & Smith are collectors on a grand scale – not surprising when you own a business formerly known as Sotheby’s.
Read the Real Estate Source story
Local openings @ Open House Melbourne
Saturday 30 July and Sunday 31 July
St Kilda Synagogue
Sunday 31 July
Tours run at 12pm, 12.30pm, 3pm and 3.30pm
Running for 30 minutes
Bookings
Meet at gate 2, near the administration building. Men are required to wear head covering inside.
St Kilda Cemetery
Sunday 31 July
Tours run at 2pm and 3pm
Running for 45 minutes in groups of 10 people
The friends of St Kilda cemetery Inc. is open now for booking. Please Contact President Gabriel Hermes on 0451 831 102 to book or enquire about membership.
Meet at the Dandenong Road gates. Comfortable and sturdy shoes are recommended. 
All Saints Church East St Kilda
Saturday 30
Open 10am-4pm
Sunday 31 July
Worship featuring All Saints Choir, 10am. Visitors welcome
Open 11am-4pm
Representatives available for informal tours in the church on both days.
Jewish Museum
Sunday 31 July
Behind the Scenes with the Curator talks run 10am, 1pm, 4pm
Runs for approx. 30 min
Book 
Victorian Pride Centre
Saturday 30 July
Open 9 am-5 pm
Tours run 9am, 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm
Sunday 31 July
10am-5 pm
Tours run 11am, 1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm
Running for 40 minutes
Bookings available, or turn up on the day.
Tours will depart from the front desk.
Hotel Ghosts: Chris Womersley at The Espy
Sunday 31 July
1pm–3pm
Author conversation and building tour of The Espy.
Bookings required
$15 general admission, $30 with cocktail on arrival.
See the local Open House Melbourne program
Neil Hamburger @ St Kilda Sports Club
Thursday July 28, 7 pm
America’s Funnyman Neil Hamburger returns to St Kilda for his first show Southside in decades!
Joining Neil will be Australia’s ‘wokest’ parlour magician/social commentator Dr El Suavo, from America ‘Magic By Simone’ and local legend Fred Negro!
Info
Big League + Annual Leaf @ Espy
Thursday 28 July, 7 pm
Big League are heading to the U.S.A. again this August, this will be the last chance to catch them before they jet. Hear them with Annual Leaf. Free.
Espy Gigs
Eireborne @ Palais
Friday 29 July
Eireborne returns with 15 world-class Irish dancers from International Irish shows such as Lord of the Dance and Riverdance fill the stage with a fusion of Irish dance, tap rhythms and beats. $80
Tix
Bob ’Bongo’ Starkie’s Skyhooks Show @ Memo
Friday 29 July and Saturday 30 July, 7.30pm
Two shows with Bob ’Bongo’ Starkie – the guitarist from the Skyhooks performs the classic songs and a few more that need to be heard. In between songs Bob shares anecdotes and Insights into the inner workings of the band. $45 / $30
Tix
Monthly Mini Market @ Christ Church
Saturday 30 July, 9.30 am – 2 pm (weather permitting)
French crepes, waffles, plants and loads of books
14 Acland Street
Matt Walker @ George Lane
Saturday 30 July, 6:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Matt Walker (Lost Ragas, Fat Rubber Band) is a respected songwriter, producer, session guitarist and composer is credited on dozens of albums, films and documentary scores.
Tix
Casablanca – 80th Anniversary @ Astor
Saturday, 30 July at 4:00pm (single feature)
Round up the usual suspects for a B&W sensation at Rick’s.
Tix
Julie O’hara – ‘La Grande Soiree’ @ The Ruby Carter Jazz Lounge
Sunday 31 July, 3.30pm
Julie O’Hara’s ‘La Grande Soiree’ will transport you to the underground clubs of Paris in the 30s and 40s where music was elegant and swinging hot!
Tix
Memories of Elvis @ Memo
Sunday 31 July, 3.30 pm
A celebration of Elvis’ earliest recordings to his final concert tour with acclaimed performer is Rick Charles, backed by Michael Zammit & The Tequila Brothers band. $59 / $49
Tix
Harvest Moon – A Neil Young Tribute @ George Lane
Sunday 31 July 31, 4 pm 8 pm
Neil Young celebrated by J.D. Delves with his five-piece band ‘Harvest Moon’.
Tix
Sunday Blues | Shaky Stills @ Espy
Sunday 31 July, 6 pm
Shaky Stills – playing 3 sets of our original country western, tex mex, trucker and western swing songs along with a bunch of the classic dancing & drinking songs. Free.
Espy gigs
Threads of Light Art Exhibition by Karen Hopkins @ Space2b
Until Saturday 27 August
Space2b showcases artworks from Karen Hopkins’ recent solo show at Motsalvat Long Gallery. Inspired by the light we see around us in varying landscapes and in each other.
Info
144 Chapel St, St Kilda, Sunday & Monday: Closed, Tues – Fri 10 am–5 pm, Saturday: 10 am–2 pm
Soon
Memorial for Ron Walker aka Miss Candee @ St Kilda Town Hall
Monday 1 August, 4 pm
The life and times of Ron Walker, celebrated drag performer, who died earlier this month will be celebrated in style. Followed by a celebration of Miss Candee at Chasers 6.30 pm – 10.30 pm
Christ Church St Kilda’s Trivia Night @ Middle Park Bowling Club
Saturday 6 August, 6.30 pm for 7pm sharp start
Tables seat 10, you may book a table, join a specific table (advise us when booking), or let us seat you and have fun making new friends. $30
Need more information? Contact Robyn on 0408 536 241
Book (no walk-ups) .jpg)
Jane Burton > Kingdom of Pleasure @ Linden
Opening Thursday 4 August, 6 pm – 8 pm
Exhibition Until 4 September 2022
Local artist Jane Burton expands upon her ongoing exploration of memory, desire and mortality with a new suite of dream-like photographs offering a darkly ambiguous, enigmatic, and provocative take on Luna Park.
Details
Linden Projects Space, Rear 26 Acland St, St Kilda
No wheelchair access 🙁
Last call for writers @ Port Phillip Writes Writing Awards
Entries close Friday 29 July
Stop dreaming and finish writing – see your work in old-school print.
Application form
Community Directory @ Council
Recently launched
With over 220 listings, the Community Directory supports our community with information about social and learning opportunities, local service providers and community groups.
Link
Get grants off your Chest @ South Melbourne Community Chest
Applications close Monday 8 August, 5 pm
South Melbourne Community Chest distributes proceeds from its OpShop, financial donations and bequests as grants to community organisations.
Not-for-profit community organisations across the Port Phillip are encouraged to apply for a grant to assist in the funding of a project, activity or program that will benefit the local community.
Read about the many diverse projects that have been funded in the past .
Application forms can be found at their website
or by emailing smccgrants@gmail.com or pick up a form from Anita at the Op Shop 200 Banks St, South Melbourne.
Express interest for 23-24 seasons @ Theatre Works
Deadline Friday 19 August
Theatre Works is now accepting project proposals for their 2023-24 mainstage seasons. Victorian and interstate indie artists, companies, collectives, directors, writers, producers and makers are invited to apply.
Download info pack 
Bob Gibson Exhibit @ Vivien Anderson Gallery
Vivien Anderson Gallery we are highlighting the direct, instinctual and highly dynamic art and personality of Bob Gibson.
Bob paints his father’s country at Patjantja, a remote site in the Pintupi lands on the edge of the Gibson Desert.
Ground Floor 284–290 St Kilda Road
Marina plan waved through pending planning approvals
Despite community concerns reported last week, the bulk of changes requested by the St Kilda Marina developers were approved pending the next stage of planning approvals.
Aside from the proposed private beach and helipad, most councillors felt the changes were within the scope of the project. Specific plans and designs would still need to go through the usual planning approvals and community consultation.
More info
CoPP to write to DOT about bike lane wrongs
Motions by Cr Bond and Cunsolo to effectively halt pop-up bike lanes were merged into a successful Urgent Business motion calling on Department of Transport (DOT) to urgently provide more information on their merits to Council.
Council resolved to ask DOT to “review and justify” location of speed humps, concrete barriers and bollards. Information would also be sought on alternatives to aspects of the pop-up lanes.
Council requested DOT respond by August.
During the at times fractious debate, Cr Baxter expressed frustration with the suggestion that the changes should be ripped up.
“DOT wants to work with us to make this work, so let’s work with them,” he said. Cr Copsey stressed that this is trial and we can expect positive outcomes by trialling things and tweaking. “More bike riding was one of the few silver-linings of the pandemic,” she said.
Cr Sirakoff said the changes were a disaster. “They have created a problem where no problem existed,” she said.
Council was told by officers that DOT has probably spent about $4.9 million on the 38 kms of pop-up lanes in Port Phillip.
Email DOT with your comments
Cr Crawford will be ALP candidate for Brighton
Former Mayor and current councillor Louise Crawford will be the ALP endorsed candidate for the State seat of Brighton (which includes most of Elwood).
Louise lives in Elwood and has been a long-time climate change activist, with an obvious and understandable concern about flood risk in Elwood.
She will take leave as councillor during the pre-election caretaker period – which is most of November.
Meanwhile, Greens and Liberal parties are yet to endorse candidates for Albert Park, where its expected that current MLC Nina Taylor will be the ALP candidate.
Greg Day
Happy to chat anytime 0418 345 829
Content suggestions and community questions are always welcome.
gday@archives.gdaystkilda.com.au
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This Week in St Kilda respectfully acknowledges the Yaluk-ut Weelam Clan of the Boon Wurrung.
We pay our respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We acknowledge and uphold their continuing relationship to this land.