Sign o' the times

There's a certain pleasure in not having to work on Monday. Still a busy day nonetheless... a leisurely brunch with a friend, followed by a spot of shopping.

While walking the length of King Street, however, I was struck by the number of empty shops and 'for lease' signs.

This is one of my favourite buildings in the area - it's actually a Federation building (locals may note the telltale kookaburra window on the side of the building) that was given a faux-Spanish makeover in the 1930s. When I first moved here, it made a vibrant contribution to the streetscape as a most distinctive service station, and had a line of Vespas out the front. Tres cool.

Now it's just quietly decaying. Such a waste.