Capitol Bakeries site - last rights for South Yarra landmark

The Capitol Bakeries site at 257 Toorak Road on the corner of Chapel Street is a large eclectic building featuring significant 1933 art deco design on the corner facade, large door motifs of moorish and byzantine inspiration and an early modern tower. It also includes a two storey Victorian renaissance revival mansion at the rear which is slightly hidden and hemmed between a nasty looking brown bricked Telstra Exchange tower. Formerly a tram shed which embraced the street at Toorak Road, many aspects of its early design are still evident and it is one of the few remaining former tram sheds in the inner city, with the demolition of Penfold's building in Fitzroy.

The most distinctive features are the moderne and art deco patterns in the corner facade and tower which include jazz era columns and rams head motifs and both sections include the inscription "Capitol Bakeries". The current cream monotone paint job, presumably applied in the 1950s unfortunately does little to highlight the heritage features of the building.

In the 1980s the building was converted into an amusement parlour known as the "Fun Factory", which heavily modified the interiors and added a additional levels. It has been home to the Soda Rock Diner, an American style cafe and Freedom Furniture. The redevelopment included a tunnel for pedestrian access through the building.

The Capitol site on the corner of Chapel Street and Toorak Road and includes an impressive .

The site was one of the first victims of the Melbourne 2030 planning policy which defined South Yarra as an "activity centre" ripe for multi-storey development later to be known as the "Forrest Hill Precinct" which has been progressively turned into hi-rise apartment buildings.

The City of Stonnington opposed a planning permit for the Capitol site in 2002, but lost its appeal to VCAT, which subsequently approved demolition of the landmark art deco building.

Development of the land for a 27 storey building (maximum height) for the accommodation of 213 dwellings, shops and food and drink premises and basement car parking (666 spaces) in addition to demolition of the existing buildings and use of the land for a residential building (78 serviced apartments) and the sale and consumption of liquor and the dispensation of car parking".

However the application stalled and several subsequent proposals including a Nonda Katsalidis designed tower - none of which retention of the art deco facades - have also stalled, giving the old building a temporary reprieve.


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The latest development is set to go ahead and again, does not preserve any of the Capitol, so it looks almost certain to be the final curtains for a South Yarra icon.

Tower may top Fun Factory

Development approval is being sought for a $A150m residential, retail and commercial project in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra. Dubbed "The Capitol", the proposed project on the Fun Factory site comprises a 38-storey apartment building, a six-floor office complex and a 3,471sq m shopping arcade. The site is jointly owned by APN Property Group and the founders of Freedom Furniture. There are also plans to construct an apartment building and office building on the site of South Yarra's Jam Factory.