painter and architect, painted a gigantic simulation of the façade of the Melbourne Public Library on canvas in 1867 in partnership with Freyberger . It was stretched across the front of the unfinished building during the Melbourne visit of the Duke of Edinburgh in 1867. The design echoed that by Joseph Reed for the real building of course, together with some additional ornamentation for the occasion: 'eight Corinthian columns, with caps and entablature, the ornamental portions, such as the caps and dentils, being painted, and the pediment filled with a transparency of the Royal coat of arms’.
Kursteiner had a 40-year-long practice as an architect and surveyor in Melbourne (1853 93). Mr Spencer was a partner in 1856, then he was in partnership with C.H.O. (Ohlfsen) Bagge until 1859. He then practised alone, apart from a brief partnership with J.E. Austin in 1869-70 and his one illusionistic collaboration with Freyberger. He normally designed houses and commercial buildings. Two of his larger projects were the Roman Catholic Church, Epping (Victoria), and the Royal Polytechnic Institute, Melbourne.
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- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 2011
