Largest TV studio. Ceiling grid allows free movement of suspensions
of styles adopted by each era and gives convincing reasons as to the in- fluence of social conditions, building regulations, new materials and finance that produced them.
Starting with a brickmaker who was given the task of setting up a brick factory and was rewarded two years later for his efforts by being given the post of Superintendent of Buildings and a free pardon, we move on to Governor Macquarie, who for a decade after 1810, with the aid of his wife and a book of plans, originated several Government buildings.
The first architect of any merit was Francis Greenway who had been con- victed of bankruptcy and forgery. After an introduction to Macquarie he was allowed to practise and was given the task of building a light-house. Further commissions of an obelisk, a huge hos- pital, a large school, churches, town sewers, fortifications and bridges event- ually earned for him a free pardon.
Two items of Australian origin are brick veneer and the cavity wall, both quoted as Early Victorian inventions. An interesting part of the Mid-Victorian period is the proliferation of religious sects resulting in additions to Victoria's 2,600 churches of five new churches per week for five years in the 1870s.
In detail the few beautiful Regency buildings are given only as much space as the description of a post-war subur- ban monstrosity. This may be warran- table by volume of building produced, for historians should state the truth as they see it without concern of current prejudices. But while this may produce a book that is timeless and is legitimate practice for an historian, I would have welcomed the opinions of an archi- tectural historian whose prejudices would have shown through.
I would have welcomed more text relating to the photographs and vice versa; and particularly missed refer- ences to the popular Vacluse and Como residences and further information on the above average buildings of Tas- mania. The index is somewhat con- fusing in dividing types into various towns instead of the more usual and better system in reverse.
From the fate of Canberra's town planner, the American competition winner N.B. Griffin, who was driven out by jealousy, spite and obstruction, to that of Joern Utzon, whose name is now omitted from the publicity board outside The Opera House, the moral pointed out by the book is aliens should avoid entering Australian architectural competitions.
Far East BUILDER, December 1968
29