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