Australian architectural styles

Bonnington, Bellevue Hill, New South Wales, an example of the Inter-War Old English style, designed by Glynn Gilling circa 1935.

Australian architectural styles, like the revivalist trends which dominated Europe for centuries, have been primarily derivative.

Background

The Indigenous Australians were a largely nomadic people, so there was little indigenous architectural style or tradition to influence the ideas and knowledge that the British settlers brought with them when settling Australia from 1788.

During the nineteenth century, Australian architects were inspired by developments in England. This is in part due to a large number of architects coming from England to Australia to practice. In the twentieth century, American and International influences dominated. As Australia gradually became a multicultural nation in the late 20th century, the influences of immigrants also became evident. Imported exotic styles earlier than this can be found in a small number of historically significant Joss houses and synagogues. In more recent times, other global and South-East Asian influences have had a minor influence on Australian architectural styles.

Some architectural styles show the direct influence of local factors such as climate (directly resulting in the "Filigree", "Queenslander" and "Federation Home" styles) and local materials and skillsets. Some Australian Architects were also seen at the forefront of various movements, particularly residential architects like Harry Norris, Roy Grounds, Robin Boyd, Frederick Romberg and Harry Seidler.

Categories of styles

Australian Architectural Styles can be divided into 2 main categories: "Residential" and "Non-Residential". Residential styles are the most widespread and account for the majority of the buildings constructed in Australia, but non-residential buildings display the greater variety of styles.

Styles in detail:

• Australian residential architectural styles 30,000 BCE - present
• Australian non-residential architectural styles 1788 - present

See also

• List of Australian architects

Media related to Architecture of Australia at Wikimedia Commons

References

• Apperly, Richard (1989). A pictorial guide to identifying Australian architecture (Paperback, 1994 ed.). Sydney, Australia: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-207-18562-X. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Ulrike Laule, Rolf Toman, Achim Bednorz - Architecture of the Middle Ages - Background to the Gothic Revival style.
• George Wilkie - Building Your Own Home - Section on Architectural Styles
• Styles
• Canberra House
• Style resources

External links

• Australian architectural heritage - satire Interpreting paradise