Architecture of Australia has generally been consistent with architectural trends in the widerWestern world, with some special adaptations to compensate for distinctive Australianclimatic andcultural factors.Indigenous Australians produced a wide range of structures and places prior to colonisation. Contemporary Indigenous practitioners are active in a broad range of built environment fields. During Australia's earlyWestern history, it was a collection of British colonies in whicharchitectural styles were strongly influenced byBritish designs. However, the unique climate of Australia necessitated adaptations, and 20th-century trends reflected the increasing influence ofAmerican urban designs and a diversification of the cultural tastes and requirements of an increasinglymulticultural Australian society.
Iconic Australian designs include theUNESCO listedSydney Opera House, MelbourneRoyal Exhibition Building,Brisbane City Hall and the11 remnant penal colony sites selected for World Heritage protection in 2010.
Towards theFederation of Australia there was a concerted movements to create a distinctively Australian styles along with theAustralian nationalism movement, some of which incorporated decorativeAustraliana. While these attempts were largely unsuccessful due in part tocultural cringe, distinctively Australian styles of architecture had already evolved organically. Notable Australian architectural adaptations include theQueenslander andFederation styles of residential architecture.
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In the period beforeEuropean settlement of Australia, there were forms ofIndigenous architecture across Australia. Early colonists and explorers includingSir Thomas Mitchell andCharles Sturt recorded many Indigenous building styles including stone houses and houses grouped in villages.[1] As aBritish colony, the first European buildings were derivative of the European fashions of the time. As most of the colonialists where from England the first buildings reflected English ideas.[2]
Georgian architecture is seen in early government buildings and the homes of the wealthy. The architectFrancis Greenway, who appears on theAustralian ten-dollar note designed early buildings in the Georgian style. Examples include theHyde Park Barracks,St James' Church and St Matthews Church atWindsor.[2]
Another European style to gain favour in 19th century Australia, particularly in churches, wasGothic Revival architecture. Pointed arches, turrets, battlements and gothic ornaments could also be found on bank, insurance offices, university buildings and homes.[2] One of the best examples of this style can be seen at the lower end ofCollins Street inMelbourne.
With theAustralian gold rushes of the mid-19th-century major buildings, largely inMelbourne andSydney and to a lesser extent in regional capitals such asBallarat andBendigo were built in the style ofVictorian architecture.[citation needed] From about 1850 to 1893Italianate architecture was also popular as it allowed greater displays of prosperity through rich and ornate decorate features such ascast iron lace work and slate roofs.[2] Towards the end of the century the style was pushed to an extreme by some architects. Buildings became over-burdened with excess columns, balustrades, exaggerated entrances and other lavish decorations.Medley Hall inCarlton is an example of this style which became known as theBoom Style from 1880 to 1893.[2]
One of the most significant architectural movements in Australian architecture was theFederation architecture style of the turn of the 20th century, where 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.
Walter Burley Griffin was an Americanarchitect and landscape architect who, with fellow architectMarion Mahony Griffin, played a key role in designingCanberra,Australia's capital city. A legacy of their unique architecture remains in a small number of Melbourne buildings and the Sydney suburb ofCastlecrag. Castlecrag was planned by the Griffins and also features a number of houses designed in the organicModernist style they developed after thePrairie School architecture that marked his earlier career in theUnited States. The simple, flat-roofed cottages that the Griffins designed in Canberra used their innovative, patented techniques forconcrete construction.
One of the most important local introduction to Australian architecture was theverandah.[2] As pastoralists took up land and built solid, single story dwellings the addition of verandahs proved popular as they provided shade and looked attractive. They were often integrated into the symmetry of Georgian style homes.[2]
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-styleskyscrapers 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. The design of housing in Australia after World War II, which was mostly undertaken by builders, has been described as poor aesthetically and environmentally.[4]
Significant concern was raised during the 1960s, withgreen bans and heritage concerns responding to the destruction of earlier buildings and the skyscraper boom, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, but affecting other major cities including Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane. Green bans helped to protect historic 18th-century buildings inThe Rocks from being demolished to make way for office towers, and prevented theRoyal Botanic Gardens from being turned into a carpark for theSydney Opera House. In Melbourne a battle was fought to preserve historicCarlton, Victoria from slum reclamation forpublic housing, whilegentrification played a big part in the suburb's salvation. In Melbourne's city centre, the destruction was particularly profound:Whelan the Wrecker was a family owned and operateddemolition company that operated from 1892 until 1992, which became well known through the 1950s, 70s and 80s when signs stating that "Whelan the Wrecker is Here" appeared on many of the grand Victorian era buildings ofMarvellous Melbourne. One of the most lamented losses in Melbourne was theFederal Coffee Palace on Collins Street and theAPA Building (inspired by Chicago's early skyscrapers) at 49Elizabeth Street. Many of the destruction occurred after theInternational Modernism style arrived in Australia, making Australians particularly conscious about Victorian architecture they felt was "dated".[5]
In the 21st century, many Australian architects have taken a moreavant-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. Melbourne is seen as the city at the forefront of design ideas. Sydney is focusing on thehumanist approach tending towardsminimalism and architecture in Queensland is interested in outdoor rooms and the filtering of light.[4] Furthermore, greater appreciation for Australia's historic architecture has led to increased heritage protection for many buildings in Australia's cities, though not all buildings are protected, and some allow forfaçadism if the interior is unsustainable or unsafe.
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Architectural styles have been basically exotic and derivative. Only recently haveclimate andenvironment played a major role.
During the 19th century,Australian architects were inspired by developments inEngland. From the 1930s on,North American and International influences started to appear.
Buildings were often heavily influenced by the origins of their patrons, hence while theBritish would like to be reminded of theirGothic churches andTudoresque cottages of a perfectEngland, theDutch,German,Polish,Greek,Italian and other nationalities would also attempt to recreate the architecture of their homelands.
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Significant architects include:
Significant firms include:
There are many notable structures, of particular importance are:
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