Acheson Best Overend (15 October 1909 – 1977) was an Australian architect. He is best known for the Cairo Flats in Fitzroy, built 1935-6, a daringly Modernist design for Melbourne in the 1930s. Early life Best Overend was born in Launceston, Tasmania on 15 October 1909. He was the son of Harold Acheson Overend, a Methodist minister and Emily Trahair, a businesswoman, and was educated at Wesley College, Melbourne. In 1926 he became an articled pupil in the practice of architect H. Vivian Taylor, who was an expert in acoustics and specialized in the design of theatres and broadcasting stations. During this time, he worked on the additions of Station 2AY Broadcasting Studio in Albury, 1930, the remodelling of the Crown theatre for HO Peterson Esq. Overend was educated in architecture at Swinburne Technical College and later attended the evening classes at the University of Melbourne Architectural Atelier. Career Overend went to London in 1931, where he first worked for Raymond McGrath, a fellow Australian who was then working on the interiors of the BBC's Broadcasting House. Overend soon left in July 1931 to work for ‘Wonderful Wells’ (Wells Coates). He worked under Wells Coates as chief draftsman for over eighteen months when the office was developing the Isokon Flats. In September 1931 he received a job offer from Serge Chermayeff (whose office adjoined McGrath’s) to do the drawings and calculations for a house which he designed on his own. Wells later rejected the offer on behalf for Overend as he refused to let Overend work under Chermayeff as his subordinate. Overend passed his RIBA examinations in 1932 and joined the Architectural Association. Practice in Melbourne Overend returned to Melbourne in March 1933. He was then offered a partnership with H. Vivian Taylor and G. A. Soilleux, architects of 499 Little Collins Street in May. It was only shortly after he was elected as an Associate of the RVIA. The firm later known as 'Messrs H. Vivian Taylor, Soilleux and Overend' specialized in cinema design. Important examples included the Windsor Theatre, Albert Street, Windsor, 1936 and the Padua Theatre, Brunswick in 1937, both now demolished, with only the Rivoli Theatre in East Hawthorn still standing. Other commissions include service stations in Carlton and in Flinders Street at Queens Bridge in 1933. While working at Taylor & Soilleux he designed Cairo Flats on his won in 1935-6, the design for which