As an intimate group, we Modernist Australians are always up for a chat about our favourite architects, design and furnishings with like-minded people. It’s in fact the sharing of information that helps us realise we are not alone and which bolsters the cause for greater appreciation for our local Mid-Century treasures, making us all feel warm and fuzzy.
As our Real Estate Pages are the focal point, we felt it time to open up the floor for discussion and a true divulging of collective knowledge by posing the question:
Where are the best Mid-century homes in Australia?
A heavy addiction to real estate websites reveals much about this topic, but local knowledge is invaluable. We can generally deduce that the best Mid-Century suburbs in larger cities are those ‘middle ring’ ones. Now leafy and shooting up the price scale, these suburbs were once the outer-reaches, developed post war in either ambitious housing estates or, in rare cases, the literal ‘home turf’ of progressive thinkers, artists and experimenters.
To get the ball rolling we’ll begin with MA’s home state of Victoria.
Modernist Australians of Victorian persuasion will know of the ‘3 Bs’ – Beaumaris, Balwyn and Brighton. With the enclave of Studley Park/Kew and suburb of Caulfield also making a regular appearance in MA’s listings. Caulfield is a particularly interesting example. As the location of many spectacular Mid-Century houses, it also claims a large (and now ageing) European population most of whom had escaped the ruins of WW2. MA has previously pointed to the undeniable influence of European Architects and style on Australian Modernism and here in Melbourne we have an entire suburb as testament to this.
In relation to progressive thinkers and artists, many of whom built for their lifestyle in the 1940s -70’s, there is the once bush retreat of Eltham (Just across the way from Sunday and John Reed’s Heide).
Regionally, there are many Modernist surprises in the classic suburban streets of Highton and Belmont in Geelong. And of course the beachside towns on the Victorian coast are still home to many fibro shacks, it’s just a matter of choosing your allegiance. Will it be Sorrento and Blairgowrie on the East Coast or Anglesea and Point Lonsdale on the West?
Over the past year and endless search for Modernist Homes to feature, MA has become more intimate with the Mod credentials of other states and cities. Sydney brings to mind the beautiful bush blocks of Wahroonga and Perth has given us possibly discovery of the year in City Beach. But ultimately we all require further education. So now it’s your turn – where exactly here are the top Modernist Australian Suburbs in this vast country? Which ones do you stalk online and in real life? Can you name a top 5 for your home state and tell us why?
We await your comments.
16 Responses to “Top Modernist Australian Suburbs – The MA Poll”
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I’d further specify and say North Caulfield (as opposed to just Caulfied) Well done on the site. Quality Street.
You’ve just about listed my top five, i.e.
Studley Park
South Yarra for apartment blocks
North Caulfield
Angelsea
Highton
Mt Eliza has to be included – not only was its Ranelagh Estate planned by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney – but it also has a fabulous history of experimental Modernist architecture. There are houses by Robin Boyd, Roy Grounds, (including his own house 1934) and Chancellor & Patrick. A lot of their work also appears at nearby Oliver’s Hill.
There was an official booklet produced for the 1956 Olympic Games, to explain the city’s architecture, which described the Ranelagh Estate as the “birthplace of Melbourne’s modern movement.”
My Top 5 would be:-
Mt Eliza
Caulfield
Studley Park/ Kew
South Yarra
Brighton
Aren’t we lucky in Melbourne to have such treasures?
I’ve most enjoyed driving around on ‘weekend modernist tours’ around these 5 suburbs
Eltham / Montmorency (Napier St is a favourite)
Kew (Studly Park)
Warrandyte
Beaumaris
South Yarra
My all time favourite modernist suburb is Kew.
I am also an admirer of 70s architecture. For some 70s residential gems try Elliston Estate in Rosanna for some Graeme Gunn designed Merchant Builders homes – exposed brick, timber, flat roofs and native gardens…gorgeous!
Lenah Valley, Tasmania – a whole street for the price of a single house in Brighton! Have lived in our ’63 gem for three months. 5 stars
In Victoria it’s definitely the 2 B’s and one past B.
For me its-
Beaumaris (more modernist homes still standing than any other area i’ve ever visited, Balwyn, but the 3rd B, poor old Brighton (poor in taste, not money) has had most of it’s mid-century homes torn down for Mc Mansions and sub-developments.
In its place –
Studley Park/Kew
Warrandyte
and, agreeing with Virginia Blue, South Frankston/Mt Eliza.
Perth : City Beach, Floreat, Dianella, Coolbinia
Iwan Iwanoff – Australia’s greatest!
Check http://www.6000times.com for proof….
PS, love your website, I work for Martin McIntosh over here in Perth.
As well as those listed above, other suburbs in Melbourne where I’ve enjoyed searching for Modernism include:
Templestowe
Blackburn South
Park Orchards
Agreed, this website is a fantastic resource!
There’s a bunch of mid-century homes in a particular pocket of the outer Western Sydney suburb of St Marys. They’re your basic suburban mid-century pads, some are in great condition and some are looking decidely average. The socio-demographics of the area aren’t great, so in those terms it’s the polar opposite of leafy and prestigious suburbs like Wahroonga. I wouldn’t say it deserves a guernsey in the list of the best suburbs for mid-century homes, but thought I’d add it as one folks might not be aware of.
Kudos to Hewey; St Marys has some crackerjack late 50′s 1960′s properties that are like those in Wahroonga, just smaller and less loved.
I bought a mid 1950′s C.H.I built home in mordialloc with all the classic mod features, slate fireplace, odd angles, non symmetry etc etc and adore it. The previous owners added to it 4 times (with yukky 80′s rooms) which we are now at pains to rip off and rebuild.
It has vertical purpose-cut weatherboards…can anyone shed some light on these as a style? They are not a prefab product.
In Brisbane, Kenmore, Fig Tree Pocket, St Lucia and the Gap are good spots for modernist (1950′s – 1960′s) finds, and there are some more obscure unknown areas like Carina Heights too. There are also a few choice houses at Tarragindi backing the nature reserve.
In Canberra, bush-clad Aranda is a definite highlight for late 60′s to early 70′s architect-designed delights. The suburb of Campbell has some exciting Robin Boyd and Harry Seidler designed abodes. Houses by Seidler, Sydney Anchor, Roy Grounds, Enrico Taglietti and others abound in this high-modernist city — a must see for afficionados.
My parents built a mid century modern house in St Lucia in 1958.I returned last week after 40 years and it holds up beautifully today and the present owners find it extremely comfortable in the Queensland climate. I was amazed to see every built-in feature and light fittings were still in place and used, except for the built-in radiogram.(that was so modern then)
The family still has much of the original furniture and offered it to the present owners.
Nothing has been added exept a double car port which was architect designed to match.
Much of the original landscaping ia still there and many of the original plants are still flourishing.
Cant believe that there is no reference to the many many Gold Coast suburbs still full of gems un diluted by ’80′s or ’90′s renovation. Perhaps the best loved is Chern Park locality in the suburb of Labrador.
I nominate Templestowe Lower. We bought a Merchant Builders House in this suburb last year, originally designed by Graeme Gunn. His signature/name as architect is on the original plans to the house, which we managed to obtain from Manningham Council recently. From what I have been able to find out, our house was based on Gunn’s Terrace project home. A series of renovations since, have not changed the basic plan but have opened up the living area (although I might have preferred the original dividing wall that was between formal living/dining and the family/kitchen area). The outdoors and indoors are beautifully integrated and the gorgeous landscaped native gardens on view from most parts of the house, the front yard being sloped and looks like an Ellis Stones design (with some changes by previous house owners). Previous owners also rendered the exterior which was a reddish brick.
East Lindfield! East Lindfield! East Lindfield! (NSW)
Because I live there jks.
(In an amazing 1970 6-split level house. I’d love to find out who designed and built it.)
Seriously, I can walk past a dozen beautiful modernist homes in any street here. All untouched.
Where can I find Sydney builders and tradies who are sympathetic to 1960s/70s architecture? Any help appreciated greatly.