Influences of United States on South Australian Architecture

Running head: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

Introduction:
Australian architecture is considered to be consistent with architectural trends in the
broader western world in combination of special adaptation to compensate for distinctive
Australian climate and cultural factors1. Australian’s early history consist ingenious Australian
only for semi-permanent structures production available from readily available materials. During
the early years of Australia, the collection of British colonies existing in Australia influenced the
architectural styles by British designs. Although there was the influence from the colonial areas,
Australia’s unique climate demanded adaption. The 20th century trends of Australia’s architecture
reflected in the increasing influence of American urban designs. It also manifested cultural tastes
and requirements of diverse and requirements of an Australian society that is highly
multicultural. Through this essay the influences from the united states that are identified in the
south Australian architecture is focused. The architecture that the essay focuses are between the
ranges of 1890-1950. By the use of local building, describing the architectural climate the essay
describes the influences are represented. The essay is an attempt to understand the differences
and the influences of the colonial architecture that occurred during that period and in it way
contributed or shaped in the Australia’s architecture.
Influences of United States:
The architecture was used as a means of public relation in the early decades in order to propose
an impression of permanence and prosperity to likely immigrants and investors in Britain2. The
contribution to the architecture during the early decades is seen among the colony’s early
1 Othman, Zulkeplee. "Privacy, modesty, hospitality and the design of Muslim homes in Australia." PhD diss.,
Queensland University of Technology, 2016.
2 Atlagić, Siniša, and Milica Rašković. "British Public Diplomacy as a Means for Establishing Supremacy-Peaceful
Aspect." (2017).

building blocks. However, it was hardly outside the taste of English Victorian. In the 20th
century, the British stylistic were influenced by American stylistic. The part had a significant
influence on the latest commercial office towers of the city centre as well as private bungalows
in the Californian and neo-Tudor styles that are seen in most modern suburbs alike to Colonel
Light Gardens and Toorak Gardens. The formal registration began in 1939 for architectures. This
period personalities such as Louis Laybourne Smith overshadowed the architectural teaching.
Louis Laybourne Smith was the head of architecture at the University of South Australia for 40
years. The first appearance was of Modernism was in the late 1930s however the impact of
modernism on full strength was only after 1950. Within next few decades a style name as
Delaide Regional was identified Some of the exceptional building of this epoch are Jack
McConnell’s Bank of New South Wales in King William Street and the former David Jones
department store in Rundle Mall, Fitzgerald and Brogan’s Adelaide Boys’ High School in the
West Parklands, Guy Maron’s Bicentennial Tropical Conservatory in Adelaide Botanic Garden
and Rod Roach’s Metropolitan Fire Service headquarters in Wakefield Street.3 These building
are standing tall for past 70 years. Compared to the previous years, the modern era has turned
entirely internationalized. The period before is seen as the era influenced by the colonial stylistic
that led emergence of historical buildings 4.
Australia began playing with ideas from 20th century, this is considered as the most significant
architecture movements in Australia architecture called the Federation architecture. During this
time, Australia began to play reject he historicism. An American architect name, Walter Burley
Griffin played one of the key role in designing Australia’s capital, Canberra. The legacy of their
3 Darian-Smith, Kate, and James Waghorne. "Australian universities and the commemoration of the First World
War." History of Education Review 45, no. 2 (2016): 239-255.
4 Weiler, Betty, Brent Moyle, and Char-lee McLennan. "Disciplines that influence tourism doctoral research: the
United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand." Annals of Tourism Research 39, no. 3 (2012): 1425-1445.

unique architecture was confined within a smaller number of buildings in Melbourne as well as
the Sydney suburb of Castlecrag. Castlecarg was mainly planned by the American architect, the
Griffins and it featured various houses designed in the organic modernist style which was
developed after the Prarie school architecture. It was also a mark of his early career in United
States5. The simple cottages with flat roof that was designed by the Griffins designed in Canberra
patented techniques for concrete construction. To Australian architecture, one of the most
important local introduction was the Verandah. Verandah have always been featured very
prominently in Australian vernacular architecture. It became widely popular in the colonial
buildings during the 1850s.
Local building: Adelaide High School
Considering both local level as well as state level the Adelaide High School is historically
relevant. The reason this building is considered relevant is due to its link with the state’s first
high school. It is set as an example of post- war development. The design of the building and its
style reflects the influences of architectural modernism. Located in the Adelaide, the building
was built in the year 1947. The Adelaide High School was designed by Edward B Fitzgerald,
John K Brogan. Built in the 1947, the architectural style of the building is 4 post war period (c.
1940- 1960), 4.3 modern. The building has a high historical value as it was the first state high
school.
The 70 years old building is a notable building in the architecture history for it was the result of a
national architectural competition. Within the duration of 11 years, the building was completely
5 Vernon, Christopher. "Recovering Walter Burley Griffin's final American city plan." Planning Perspectives 30, no.
4 (2015): 625-637.