Architecture of Australia

at least in the early stages of the country's history shows the substantial influence of that of English architecture, and to an extent United States architecture. At best, Australian architects sought to be early adopters of imported styles and to put local interpretations on them. Contemporary Australian architecture post World War II reflects the multiculturalism of Australian society and an emerging identity as a melting pot of ideas.

Architecture of Australia

A 19th century engraving of an indigenous Australian encampment, representing the indigenous mode of life in the cooler parts of Australia before the arrival of Europeans

History

A typical Queenslander house in New Farm, Queensland. A unique regional style influenced by location and climate.

Collins Street, Melbourne. 19th century "boom style" buildings contrast with 20th century corporate skyscrapers in urban Australia.

History

In the period before european settlement of Australia in 1788, evidence of permanent structures built by Indigenous Australians in Australia is limited, much of what they built was temporary for housing and other needs. As a British colony, the first European buildings were derivative of the European fashions of the time. Tents and wattle and daub huts preceded more substantial structures. Georgian architecture is seen in early government buildings and the homes of the wealthy. With the Australian gold rushes of the mid-19th century major buildings, largely in Sydney and Melbourne and to a lesser extent in regional capitals such as Ballarat and Bendigo were built in the style of Victorian architecture. Other significant architectural movements in Australian architecture include the Federation style of the turn of the 20th century, which Australia began to play with the idea of a "style of our own", and the modern styles of the late 20th century which sought to reject historicism.

History

Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect and landscape architect who played a key role in designing Canberra, Australia's capital city. A legacy of his unique building designs remains in a small number of Melbourne buildings and the Sydney suburb of Castlecrag. Castlecrag was planned by Griffin and also features a number of houses designed in his signature Organic Modernist style.

Like elsewhere in the world, socio-political factors have played their roles in shaping Australian architecture. During the early 20th Century, cities across Australia had placed building height limits, typically 150 feet (45 m), thus hampering the development of American-style skyscrapers until the limits were lifted in the late 1950s. Likewise the popular notion of the "Australian Dream", in which families seek to own their free-standing houses with backyards, meant that high-density housings were rare in Australia until the end of the 20th Century.

History

Significant concern was raised during the 1960s, with green bans and heritage concerns responding to the destruction of earlier buildings and the skyscraper boom, particularly in Sydney. Green bans helped to protect historic eighteenth century buildings in The Rocks from being demolished to make way for office towers, and prevented the Royal Botanic Gardens from being turned into a carpark for the Sydney Opera House. In Melbourne a battle was fought to preserve historic Carlton, Victoria from slum reclamation for public housing, while gentrification played a big part in the suburb's salvation.

In the 21st century, many Australian architects have taken a more Avant-garde approach to design, and many buildings have emerged that are truly unique and reflective of Australia's culture and values. As a result, many Australian practices are beginning to expand their influence overseas rather than the reverse which was often the case.

History

Internationally, the Sydney Opera House is the most recognised symbol of Sydney

Australian architectural styles

The Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, built for the 1880s World's Fair is on the World Heritage Register

Australian architectural styles

Parliament House Canberra: The main entrance and the flag

Australian architectural stylesArchitectural styles have been basically exotic and derivative. Only recently have climate and environment played a major role.

During the nineteenth century, Australian architects were inspired by developments in England. From the 1930s on, North American and International influences started to appear.

There are 2 main categories: "Residential" and "Non-Residential". Residential styles are the most prolific and account for the majority of the buildings constructed in Australia.

Buildings were often heavily influenced by the origins of their patrons, hence while the British would like to be reminded of their Gothic churches and Tudoresque cottages of a perfect England, the Dutch, German, Polish, Greek, Italian and other nationalities would also attempt to recreate the architecture of their homelands.

Australian architectsSignificant architects include:

Harry Seidler

Robin Boyd

Roy Grounds

Francis Greenway

Glenn Murcutt

Joseph Reed

John James Clark

Nonda Katsalidis

Significant firms include:

Bates Smart

Denton Corker Marshall

Notable structuresthe Sydney Opera House (the original design being by Jorn Utzon)

the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne

Federation Square, Melbourne

Parliament House, Canberra.

Samples: (Victoria)Melbourne

Ormond College, Melbourne University

Melbourne GPO Olderfleet Building

Samples: (Victoria)Melbourne

The Rialto Government House

The Block shopping arcade

Samples: (Victoria)Melbourne

Shops in Inter-War Old English style, Toorak

Como, Como Park, South Yarra

Rippon Lea Hotel Victoria, St Kilda

Samples: (Victoria)Melbourne

Parliament House Shrine of Remembrance

Lycon Buildings (1888) Flinders Street Station

Samples: (Victoria)Melbourne

Home Exhibition Building

Samples: (Victoria)Ballarat

Ballarat Trades Hall

Ballarat Town Hall

Ballarat Post Office

Samples: (Victoria)Ballarat

Commercial buildings Commercial buildings

Old Colonists' Hall Commercial buildings

Samples: (Victoria)Sale

Court House, Princes Highway

Samples: South AustraliaAdelaide

Adelaide Town Hall

Carclew Greek Orthodox Church, Salisbury

Samples: South AustraliaAdelaide

St Peter's Cathedral

Carrick Hill St Clement's Church, Enfield

Samples: South AustraliaAdelaide

Ayre's House State Library of South Australia

St Peter's College St Peter's College

Samples: South AustraliaAdelaide

Old Government House, Bel Air Park

Hackney Hotel (1883)

Botanic Hotel, North Terrace Festival Centre

Samples: South AustraliaAdelaide

Eynesbury House Home,Glenelg

Tea Rooms, Semaphore

Samples: South AustraliaGawler

Commercial Building

Commercial Building

House

Samples: South AustraliaGawler

The Mill

Town Hall

Samples: South AustraliaBarossa Valley

Hotel building, Tanunda

Lutheran Church, Tanunda Arts and Crafts

Museum, Tanunda

Samples: South AustraliaKangaroo Island

Home, Penneshaw

Samples: QUEENSLANDBrisbane

Land Administration Building

Town Hall

Samples: QUEENSLANDBrisbane

Former Town Hall, South Brisbane

General Post Office

State Parliament House Customs House

Samples: QUEENSLANDBrisbane

house house

house house

Samples: QUEENSLANDRockhampton

Home, Rockhampton Home, Rockhampton

Restored building, Rockhampton

Customs House, Rockhampton

Samples: QUEENSLANDTownsville

Great Northern Hotel Customs House

Customs House