This colourful six-part series uncovers the hidden past of Australiaís most iconic houses. It provides a fascinating social history of Australia through the evolution of our houses and how the Aussie home has shaped the lives and cultures of present day.
The first episode looks at inner city living. Beginning with the speculative developments in Lower Fort Street in the Rocks area in Sydney and later moving to Melbourneís neatly organized squares.
From the inner city we move to consider how Australians have adapted to a climate with which most were initially unfamiliar.
The third episode investigates the style of probably the most romantic form of Australian house. As we learn from Palladian Camden Park the initial impulse was to build ìcountry homesî that replicated the fashions and the assertions of a class system.
Up until now, the houses weíve looked at were all meant as permanent residences. But, as the Labour Movement agitated for fair working conditions, including paid holidays and the five day week, leisure was on peopleís minds.
Beginning with the ìFather of Federationî, and Australiaís second Prime Minister, Alfred Deakinís Federation Bungalow ìBallaraî, Episode Five tells the story of the optimism and confidence that powered the movement to make Australia an independent nation.
While houses from the recently decommissioned airforce base in Tocumwal, New South Wales, delivered via-truck to Canberra went some way toward addressing the housing crisis in our nationís capital.