Inter War Period 1915-1940

The architectural period between the first and second world wars in Australian was an eclectic mix of styles and designs. Australians came back from the first world war with, apart from their war scares and injuries, a greater understanding of the world. The world was getting smaller with wireless, 78 rpm records on gramophones, telephone, movies from the US, aeroplane flight starting to exert itself as a main mode of travel. electric trains, and more households with cars.

Their was a feeling of optimism in the 1920s due to new technology and faster communication. Business flourished after World War 1, stock markets boomed, and money was freely available to assist new developments and a world rebuilding. The period of easily available money as was inevitable came to an abrupt end.

Faced with too much debt and not enough profit companies crashed on the world sharemarkets often reducing to 10-20% of their pre 1929 values. The world was thrown into depression and the main focus of people was having a roof over their heads and food for themselves and families. Architecture in this period of depression was restricted. Large public works, such as the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932, helped to reduce unemployment and provide essential infrastructure.

 Architectural styles in this period included California Bungalow housing, Spanish Mission style houses and commercial buildings, Art Deco inspired by Hollywood, Classical and Georgian revival styles, skyscraper with detail, Gothic and limited Modern International Styles.

Exapmples of buildings of the period included Bank of NSW Crows Nest, EL Apperley architect, 1920; City Hall Brisbane, Hall and Prentice architects, 1929; Castelcraig houses and Canberra master plan by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony; and Council Chambers, City of Port Adelaide, SA, by an unknown architect, 1938.

 
California bungalow style house in Concord , Sydney, with ash bricks, tuck pointing,
stained glass casement windows, gable detail, entry porch, terra cotta Marseille style,
roof tiles, architect unknown, 1929. (photo GBarr)