Canberra, 1955: Home Beautiful special feature
In my large pile of vintage home and fashion magazines, which I am slowly scanning my way through, there is this:
A March 1955 special feature on Canberra. Canberra was a relatively new city, and after WWII, modern architecture sprang up everywhere alongside the original Californian bungalows and (almost Arts and Crafts) cottages. There are many excellent examples, and the best place to read about them is the Canberra House blog. One of these excellent houses is actually up for sale: an Alex Jelinek house at 10 Gawler St, Deakin. It comes with its custom made Krimper furniture! Price is ‘by negotiation’. Canberra prices are pretty outrageous even for ordinary houses, but if I was the kind of person who had a lot of money to spend on a house, I’d be up for this one. Looking at the pictures, I wonder if those are the original bathrooms. The fittings look kind of 1978 and out-of-place.
Anyway, the Home Beautiful feature has sections on public architecture, such as at ANU; private homes, including floor plans and interiors; and local craftspeople making pottery and furniture. I’ve put it all into a PDF for download, it’s 30MB: Home Beautiful Goes to Canberra – March 1955.
Tags: 1950s, 1955, acrchitecture, architecture, canberra, floor plans, furniture, Home Beautiful, houses, Housing, magazine, mid-century modern, modernist, pottery, retro, vintage
I had the pleasure of visiting Canberra, Australia 2 years ago. It actually still reminds me of these old magazines. The capital is so pristine and clean. We were there on a Sunday and it looked like we were in the middle of a Star Trek episode and all the people were zapped out of the city — but yet it stood there clean, modern and untouched. I have to add that the Aussie people were great. Also — they have a fabulous harp maker — Andrew Thom Harps (in Tasmania — yes like the devil). Uniquely designed harps with warm rich sounds. I have two of his harps and couldnt be happier with them.
Hi Lisa! I actually used to have an Andrew Thom harp, and it was brilliant. I only sold it because I am mostly concentrating on my pedal harp now and I wanted it to go to someone who would play it every day like harps should.
Hi could you please publicise this event amongst your members.
Looking Around Albury
Art Deco & Modernism Society and the City of Albury present a full-day seminar on Saturday 11 September. Why not join ADMS President Robin Grow and hear the following speakers.
• Dazzling Deco: The influences and international context of Art Deco styling
Speaker | Robin Grow, President, Art Deco & Modernism Society
• Decadent Deco: The Art Deco Pub
Speaker | Roy Lumby, President, Twentieth Century Heritage Society of NSW
• Domestic Deco: Social history in the Riverina
Speaker | Kate Luciano, curator, City Museum, Old Treasury, Melbourne
• Decorative Deco: Using Deco for the revival of a town – Moree NSW
Speaker | Sue Jackson-Stepowski, heritage consultant and secretary of ICOMOS
• Deliberately Deco: Architecture’s influence on Art Deco jewellery and fashion
Speaker | Tracey Judd Iva, curator, National Gallery Victoria exhibition, Art Deco 1910-1939
• Deplorably Deco: Griffins in the Riverina
Speaker | Noel Thomson, heritage advisor Leeton Shire
• Demandingly Deco: Facades and Fixtures – Stories of Albury’s domestic tradies 1920-1950
Speaker | Jan Hunter, member, Albury & District Historical Society
The day concludes with a guided tour of Art Deco buildings in Albury’’s CBD, led by Robin Grow. Cost of the seminar, which includes morning tea, lunch and a Walking Tour booklet, is a reasonable $80.
For the programme and booking details, go to http://www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/resources/documents/ART_DECO_SEMINAR.pdf
Robin Grow President ADMS