Cairo Flats, Heritage apartment building in Fitzroy, Australia
Cairo Flats is a residential building in Fitzroy with a U-shaped structure of blue clinker brick, curved balconies, and cantilevered concrete stairs across two floors housing 28 apartments. The building provides shared spaces including a dining room, laundry service, central heating, and a communal roof area.
The building was designed by architect Best Overend in 1935 and completed in December 1936 by Blease Macpherson & Co. It was constructed during a period when new residential approaches for single people were emerging in the city.
The apartments reflect how single residents lived in Melbourne during the interwar period, with shared spaces and services that made communal living practical. These facilities show how residential life had transformed during that era.
The building is located on Nicholson Street in an inner-city area with good access to public transport. Visitors can view the exterior and notable architectural features from the street.
The site once held Uxbridge House, a private residence later used as a private hospital; it was demolished for Cairo, and only the 1870s Hanover Street brick wall survives. The building has housed architects John Mockeridge and Frederick Romberg, and Philip Goad placed it in his Australian Modernism: Top 10 series.
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