In the 1850s Melbourne was the fastest growing city in the world. "They dreamt big, they built big....it was a city jumping out of its skin". As Melbourne grew, it became an epicentre of film culture and its hotels, restaurants and cafes became world renowned. But, in the 1950s, with the impending Olympic Games, Melburnians felt embarrassed about how they'd be perceived on the world stage. Our buildings were deemed too Victorian, the opposite of a modern metropolis and Whelan The Wrecker's demolition blitz began that paved over a century's worth of built heritage. Featuring rare archival video, the film is a revelatory work that allows its audience to reimagine the former glory of the lost city of Melbourne.
The Lost City of Melbourne
The attempted modernisation of Melbourne in the 1950s destroyed much of the city, including its elegant cinemas and picture palaces. Now, a new Melbourne-made documentary brings them back to life.
