Australian Architecture - 1800's to 1901

So you think you know about Australian Architecture…

Since the birth of Australia’s Colonial Style homes in the mid-1800’s to the current era of architectural style, our country has some simply stunning examples of homes, each proudly boasting their own distinct design features.

Here are the ingredients that make up each unique style of home:

COLONIAL (Pre 1840 – Mid 1800’s)

Mostly found throughout Sydney, New South Wales and Western Australia, the Colonial style home commonly had a brick façade and a balanced symmetrical design with the added feature of multi-paned vertical windows. These homes typified those of farmhouses often seen in England at this time.

In Tasmania larger Colonial estates showcased slightly larger dwellings and included timber walls with Sandstone exterior and pitched roofs. These properties were also home to workers on the estate and therefore out-buildings were a common feature. Typically these colonial estates were built by convicts.

PRE-FABRICATED (1830’S-1850’S)

Mostly found in Melbourne, Victoria, the pre-fab homes were not uncommon throughout this period, often being shipped to Australia from the UK where they had already been ‘pre-fabricated’ - almost like a flat-pack version which incredibly even came complete with furniture! Typically one story buildings but occasionally two, the pre-fab’s were built with timber or iron walls and were more compact than their colonial counterparts.

QUEENSLANDER (1840-1940)

As the name suggests, our beloved Queenslander is commonly found in Queensland and Northern New South Wales. While the era of the Queenslander is defined between the years of 1840-1940, we of course know that this style of home is still being replicated today with its modern counterparts adopting similar facades and layouts quite simply because of the unique presence and wide appeal.

The original Queenslander comprises of a timber construction with iron roofing and sits high on timber stumps to benefit from the circulation of air flowing through the floorboards and offering light relief from the tropical heat. Spacious verandas are the first indicator that the home is a Queenslander and again enabled the dwellers to sit in the shade while making the most of any breezes.

VICTORIAN (1840-1901)

Found in Melbourne, Victoria and New South Wales, the Victorian style penetrated Australian architecture with its bold facades and use of iron. The humble beginnings of the Victorian abode however commenced with subtle hints to its future grand designs. The original Victorian homes (often terrace houses but there are also examples of spacious freestanding mansions) were simple brick outer walls and pitched roofs with a picket fence. Gradually elaborate trimmings such as those seen edging roofs and verandas became common-place and went hand in hand with highly decorated brick facades and iron fencing harking to the Victorian Italianate style.