Book Description
"This book takes us on a journey through Australian architectural history, from the bark and split-slab cottages of the early colonial period to the sleek corrugated-steel pavilions of the twenty-first century. In between are country homesteads, city terraces, Federation villas, Californian bungalows and the austere fibro-clad cottages of the 1940s and 1950s. Sixty-three carefully-detailed drawings illustrate the characteristics of every style. The text and drawings combine authority and authenticity with sharp social comment and a wry sense of humour. As well as the typical architectural features of each era, popular period icons such as Afghan hounds in the 1960s and off-road vehicles in the late 1980s are recorded. The drawings and text combine to create a book which provides several distinct views of its subject. It is a field guide to old Australian houses, an illustrated glossary of building terms and a short history of our domestic architecture." -- Back cover.