Australia Modern: Architecture, Landscape & Design 1925–1975

The definitive book on modernism in Australia from 1925 to 1975

From the Sydney Opera House and the National Gallery of Victoria to sought-after homes across the country, the pervasive presence of modernism is inescapable in Australia. Led by the likes of Robin Boyd, Harry Seidler and Walter Burley Griffin, modernist architects and designers set out to rebuild at all scales, from vast infrastructure projects, to public health and education institutions, to new centres of culture, consumption and leisure.

Australia Modern vividly captures this architectural legacy with a survey of 100 significant modern sites, richly illustrated with archival images and newly commissioned photographs. Contextual essays by leading voices in architecture and conservation explore modernism’s influence on every facet of life in Australia and the ongoing challenges facing preservation. Showcasing projects from the iconic and the urban to the everyday, the regional and the lesser known, Australia Modern cultivates an appreciation for the modern architects and buildings that will increasingly constitute the heritage of tomorrow.

'The title of this erudite symposium evokes a vision of the vibrant contemporary scene down-under … a valuable resource'
World of Interiors

Contents List

Introduction: Australian Idiom by Barry Bergdoll • Timeline 1925–75 • Australia Modern Health & Children • Education • Houses & Housing • City & Suburb • Work & War • Émigrés & Exchange • Interiors • A Nation at Play

Hannah Lewi is a professor of architecture at the University of Melbourne. She is a co-director of the Australian Centre for Architectural History, Urban and Cultural Heritage and current deputy chair of DOCOMOMO Australia.

Philip Goad is Chair of Architecture, Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor and co-director of Australian Centre for Architectural History, Urban and Cultural Heritage. He is co-editor of The Encyclopedia of Australian Architecture and co-author of An Unfinished Experiment in
Living: Australian Houses 1950–65.