Streamline Tasmanian Tyre Service Building

The former Tasmanian Tyre Service Building (purpose designed) in the Launceston CBD is a wonderful example of streamline International Art Deco style architecture designed by GJF Amderson in 1938. It complements the former garage buildings opposite that were also built in the 1930s. Sadly most those structures have been demolished, but thankfully there remains enough to gain an appreciation of times past. This building has always fascinated me with it's smooth street corner curve and those original steel frame windows and mottled glass windows, of which sadly one has recently been smashed. I despair when I see this as I cannot imagine that the same glass originally used would now be even made. It has been adaptively reused over the years, including Pizza Hut, and was recently turned into a take-away pasta shop. A classic.

"Strictly No Admittance"

Whilst large developments and demolitions are more noticeable in large cities, smaller towns also have a rate of change that may happen on a smaller scale, but nonetheless does occur. And sometimes dramatically so.

The Launceston suburb of Invermay has had a series of building demolitions take place in just a matter of weeks. What were once 2 early 20th century timber homes (so typical of the suburb) along Invermay Road have since been removed. I heard that the houses were to be relocated, but upon trying to move them on a truck, the house broke up.

An even quicker and more dramatic demolition was on the corner of Invermay Road and Forster Street. Monday morning the Barbers shop and house to the rear were standing, but by afternoon there was no sign of what once stood, for the past 80 or so years.

Another house along Invermay Road (see above photo) is literally on its last legs. Having been empty for many years, it was recently gutted by fire and remains for sale, with the real estate sign stating "Strictly no Admittance". One can only imagine that this former home is awaiting the wrecking ball.

Art Deco Home Launceston

Taking a drive or walk around suburbia in search for some inspirational architecture, it doesn't take long to come across many interesting examples. This home in Launceston is such an example where design and decoration has not been left to one part of the building. The windows facing the front the are all lead lighted and there are decorative motifs under the windows as well. The designs features continue, noticeably in the fence detailing.

Hobart Technical College

The Hobart Technical College was designed by S W T Blythe in 1938. Blythe designed many Government buildings throughout Tasmania, with one of his most recognisable being the massive Ogilvie High School. The Hobart Technical College is an impressive Art Deco design in the central CBD. The building sweeps around the street corner, which I think often works very well for the Art Deco period buildings that use many curves in their designs. The building has many interesting features, including a wall above the entrances of square cube glass on both of it's North and East facing entrances, as well as an interesting combination of brick and sandstone being used to create the building.

Hidden Art Deco Entrance

It's often the smaller, unnoticed modernist buildings that grab my attention. This Art Deco Building and entrance in Launceston is such an example. Hidden, back from the main road, it exists within a series of other timber and brick buildings of different periods. It may be small compared to other larger Art Deco structures, but nonetheless this entrance is an important and is as visually appealing and exciting as its "bigger art deco brothers". To view more Art Deco & Modernist Buildings of Tasmania click here

Art Deco Residence

This home in Launceston is in a street that reflects the early 20th century period. There are also a set of red brick deco flats beside this house. To view more Art Deco and Modernist buildings of Tasmania click here

Penguin Shop and Residence

This neat little modernist shop and residence is in the town of Penguin. It's rigid form reminds me of the home built in a similar way in Launceston named "Mon-Chez". Just down the road from this modernist building is the local pub which is also in art deco/modernist style. To view more Art Deco and Modernist buildings of Tasmania click here

Telstra Exchange Building

The Telstra Exchange Building of Launceston was built in the 1960s/70s and has many interesting features. The main entrance (pictured) has many classic elements from this period. Although the use of aluminum windows may not be thought about much these days, a look back at architecture magazines from the period show many advertisements showcasing aluminum as a modern and sleek design of the future. Prior to this the use of steel frame windows was common, but the use of aluminum after the war made financial sense. The symettry in the the front entrance very apparent though the windows and the staircase on it's upward angle with its steel balustrades. Moving to the North facing side there are a series of windows, whilst on the Western facade the use of concrete combined with red brick break the buildings dominant use of red brick.

Art Deco Hobart Style

These Art Deco motifs are located on small commercial building in in Hobart CBD. They are not instantly recognisable as one has to look up to see the detailing. So often we don't look upwards, and if we did just a little more often there is a diversity of styles just waiting to be enjoyed! To view more Art Deco Buildings in Hobart and Tasmania click here

Industrial Seaport Buildings Bite The Dust

As cities and towns develop and change, so too does its architecture. The former wool sheds (pictured) in Launceston are part of a large maritime complex that was formed part of the old industrial trading port in Launceston. A walk around the precinct feels more like an industrial wasteland than a vibrant and busy industrial area as it once would have been. The Council has been buying up properties along the river over the past few years in order to create a flood levy barricade to stop a once in a hundred year flooding of the neighboring suburbs and city. As I write most many industrial sheds have disappered, including a wonderful little shed dating back from the 1950s. Many buildings have already been demolished, and the woolsheds (pictured) built on a grand scale have demolition notices pegged up on them. Whilst the notices do not directly relate to the woolsheds, their future remains uncertain as they are empty and vandalized. A walk onto the riverfront is more like a trap into rusting machinery and an overgrown blackberry den. Glimpses of old cruise boats can be seen amongst the mess, with seagulls making the large derelict cruisers their home. The Wheat Silos (pictured) are still full of wheat that must be years old, and just imagine the wonderful apartments they would make...after the area was decontaminated and cleaned up of course.....!

Lyprenny House - former Royal Derwent Hospital

Lyprenny House formed part of the massive complex that was the Royal Derwent Hospital in New Norfolk. The complex was designed in the late 1960s at a cost of $500,000. It was Australia's longest running state institutionalised care for the mentally ill, operating from 1830 until its closure in 2000. Lyprenny House is an important link which helps to document health care on the site that spans colonial Georgian, Federation, Art Deco and Modernism styles. Like all the buildings on site is has been prey to vandalism and is in a bad state. Plans were to convert the building into residences, but at present they remain in an abandoned state.

Coats Patons Administration Building

Coats Patons Administration Building in Launceston (originally Patons & Baldwinds Ltd) formed part of the massive industrial complex (producing textiles) originally for the British textile company, Patons & Baldwins. In it's height during the 1960s the mill employed around 2000 workers. What was once the largest working mill of its type in the Southern Hemisphere in the mid 20th century was no more by the late 1990s when it ceased operation and closed down.

This impressive Administrative center was recently adaptively converted into commercial offices. Before this the building stood empty with long grass growing all around. It possess many interesting features such as the brickwork, external lights and 2 flag poles. Another interesting feature not instantly noticble is the initials P&B on the second floor iron fence. Although the Administration Building is dominant, it is overshadowed by what has to be surely be one of the largest 2oth century factories in Tasmania. The Administration Building carries over the dominance of it's 'big brother' and is an important industrial/art deco building of Launceston and Tasmania.

Launceston Myer Store

The Launceston Myer Store in Brisbane Street is one of the towns tallest buildings. The complex dominates the corner of Brisbane and St John Streets. A walk inside and up the elevators gives a sense as to how large the space in the building is. I cannot help but think that a building of such scale wouldn't be built today as shops have become more niche and specialist and smaller in size. The Myer store can at times feel like a surreal kind of place, a deserted space with lots of goods. Once the top floor was a cafe, and what a wonderful view that would have been overlooking the CBD of Launceston. The main corner facade is made up of lots of small tiles and the central curve coupled with the tiles works really well.

Oatlands Post Office

The Oatlands Post Office is a fascinating form of 'perfect' symmetry with equal propertied entrances and windows, finished in white render, offset by red bricks. Northbound from Oatlands is Campbell town and its Post Office is identical, obviously designed by the same architect. It's fabulous to find two such modernist commercial buildings in regional Tasmania.

The fate of 10 Murray Street

Will 10 Murray Street Government Offices (above) in Hobart be a sight of the past?

The fate of 10 Murray Street and other buildings within the precinct from the 20th century are now in the hands of Sullivan's Cove Waterfront Authority after public submissions closed on Monday the 16th. Watch this space.....

Star Cinema - Launceston

The Star Cinema (1937) is located in the outer Launceston suburb of Invermay and operated as a cinema for only a short period of time. It's a dominating facade is full of interesting features including rendered curves and a series of straight lines. and port holes. The adjacent building is also another wonderful art deco period building. The former Star Cinema is such an important building as it shows a time when Launceston was expanding and people wanted places in which to see the latest flicks. For such a small town it's a great example of a suburban cinema of which sadly there are so few today.

"Mar-Joy" Art Deco Gem

Mar-Joy is one of Launceston's best examples of streamline Art Deco. It's sweeping windows and an impressive main staircase entrance are stunning, as well as the chimney stacks. Being able to view the pitched roof takes a little away from the 'purist' pursuit of modernist design, but overall it's one of Launceston's top Art Deco period homes in my opinion.

Tucked Away in the 1960s

This 1960s/70s accommodation is a gem hidden away from the main road in Launceston. The area is made up of various 1960s/70s accommodation buildings which were built over older Victorian mansions as the need for accommodation on a larger scale effected Launceston. This set of units has perfect symmetry. The windows and railings are original and really offset the red brick to good effect. Even the writing on the side of this building hasn't really changed since the 60s/70s!

Holyman House - Launceton

Architect Roy Sharrington Smith was born in Launceston in 1892. He designed a wide range of modernist period buildings in Northern Tasmania, many being built in Launceston. He has left a visual mark on Tasmania's urban landscape which included a wide variety of buildings ranging from commercial projects, school buildings, houses and churches.

Holyman House is arguably Launceston’s stand-out Art Deco period building and demonstrates the skills of the firm H.S East and R Smith wonderfully in a four storey Deco masterpiece right within the heart of the CBD. Holyman House was originally designed and built for the Holyman family's shipping and airline businesses. The ground floor originally housed National Airways, then Ansett and now Harvey World Travel.

An advertisement in the Examiner newspaper in 1936 featured a pictorial depiction of what Holyman House was to look like with the headline of the day pronouncing the new design as a “handsome new building for Brisbane Street”. The ad went onto say that there was to be “a booking hall for air and sea passages, a motor showroom, and a large shop on the ground floor”

The ground floor has been altered many times compared to the rest of the building aspect from its original Art Deco interior decorations, having lost these period features, but the levels above the ground floor retain many original attributes of the Art Deco period. Once inside and heading upwards from the ground floor, massive cement support beams strut horizontally above the staircases, and the curving balustrades complement the straight lines of these support beams. Long narrow corridors on each of the upper floors support many office spaces.

Holyman House - one of Tasmania's landmark art deco buildings.

The above is an excerpt from my story and photographs "An Art Deco Connection - Roy Smith & his Launceston Buildings".My story and photographs featured in the Art Deco & Modernism Society Journal, Spirit of Progress Spring 2008 and can be purchased by clicking here

Hampden Road Petrol Station and Flats

This is one of 2=two art deco period buildings on Sandy Bay Road, Hobart that are still running as petrol stations. There are lots of lovely angles and geometry at play here.

Henty House - Launceston

Architect: Peter Partridge - 1983
"The space ship has landed" - This is one of Launceston's best examples of Brutalist period architecture. It certainly creates an impact with it's bulk and stylized concrete textures. This period of architecture does what Art Deco did the period before; that is modern design principles in the name of progress. Although heritage should be protected and valued, it could be argued that we live in a period now where the built environment is "over protected" which in turn stifles modern and exciting designs. Instead we get a pastiche in many new buildings that attempt to look old, but are not true to their old attempted style, neither inspirational. Buildings such as Henty House are an inspiration to modernist design principles.

A Photographic essay on Henty House can be viewed by click here

Former Cinema - Devonport

I imagine this by the look of it's styling was the former cinema in the north west township of Devonport. It's always a joy to walk the streets of small towns and come across modernist buildings such as this one. The colour scheme that it's been painted ensures that it really does stand out!

Former Launceston Bank for Savings

The former Launceston Bank for Savings was built in 1938 by local born architect, Roy Smith who built several modernist commercial and private dwellings throughout Launceston and Tasmania. Since this photo has been taken the shop has been repainted a cream colour and the vacant block to the left of the photograph is now a new health clinic. The business has a conjoined house to the back in the same style. The window details, especially at the rear of the premises have many nice features.

"Mon Chez" Modernist Home

This stand-out deco period home called "mon chez" in Launceston exhibits all the features of a modernist building including the minimal use of decoration, geometric angles of the facade, port holes and a flat pitched roof.

Masonic Hall Building

This Masonic Hall comes as quite a surprise, as it appears in the countryside on a small rural road. It's functional form is juxtaposed against the ornate sandstone entrance. A lovely sturdy modernist structure, that I doubt would be today used often.

ANZ Bank - Launceston Brutalism

This dominant but lovely Brutalist period building in central Launceston is the home of the ANZ Bank. to the right beside it is the Westpac Bank, another Brutalist period building. These buildings replaced Victorian buildings in a time when towns and cities around the world were changing with rapid pace. Many older buildings were sadly lost, but buildings such as the ANZ Building (pictured) will no doubt be classics in time to come. This is one of several Brutalist style buildings in Launceston. Other notable examples include Henty House and the Police Headquarters.

Art Deco Church in the Country

This little deco building is all the more fascinating being that it was once a church and it's nowhere near an urban city, it's located in rural Northern Tasmania. It was recently on the market and although in good condition the grounds around it were heavy with blackberry and grass. Basic tin shed toilets still stand at the back of the building.

Royal Derwent Hospital Administration Building

The Royal Derwent Hospital complex is an important site socially, historically and architecturally. Situated within the picturesque town of New Norfolk in Southern Tasmania, the former hospital can lay claim to being Australia’s oldest mental asylum, operating for 173 years from 1827 until its closure in 2000 when patients were then integrated into the community and out of institutionalised State care.

During the 1940s the complex underwent an expansion with a series of functionalist and Art Deco buildings erected. The Administration Building (pictured) is designed in the Art Deco style which is readily apparent in its external staircases, metal work zigzag patterns, and main door timber detailing. An interesting and entertaining addition to the Administration Building was an Art Deco theater that would have put on a variety of social functions back in its hey-day.

Since the complex closure in 2000 the Administration Building, like so many of the other heritage buildings on-site have been vandalised and remain in a vulnerable state. Earlier this year vandals lit a fire in the basement of the Administration Building, but the fire was luckily contained. It could have been worse if the adjacent buildings were set ablaze as they are built mainly of timber, unlike the Administration building which is built in brick.

The Administation building was on the market for $350,000 last year. A new buyer has recently purchased (April/May 09) the Administration Building and since then security fencing has been erected around the building, but its future use remains uncertain.

A wonderful Art Deco Building that is desereved of preservation itself. The complex as a whole is older than Port Arthur, and is deserved of preservation and adaptive reuse. The National Trust lists the Willow Court complex in the "top 10 heritage at risk" in Australia.
To view a detailed photographic essay on the former Royal Derwent Hospital and Willow Court Precinct click here

A Chimney That creates a Statement

There are some truly fascinating adaptations of the art deco style in suburban homes. This home has a chimney to envy! I have not yet witnessed any deco period chimney larger than this one in Tasmania.

Poatina - The Modernist village of Tasmania

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A trip to the village of Poatina, about a 40 minute drive from Launceston is like stepping back in time to the 1950s. The town was originally formed by the Government owned Hydro Tasmania for workers when dam construction was underway.

Since those early days the village has reinvented itself through tourism, and in 1995 Poatina was bought by Fusion Australia an Australian Christian Youth & Community organisation that uses the village for a range of youth and community activities.

Upon entering Poatina the first thing one notices is that all the homes and commercial buildings are constructed of brick and glass. What's fascinating is that they were all built roughly at the same time and therefore in the same 1950s style. It's a fascinating place to walk around and really feel the essence of 1950s design and construction.

The local shopping center,village hall and businesses are all undeniably 1950s in style, even down to the tiles on the floors that are reminiscent of so many buildings of their era and remind me of what used to be in many of the art deco period hospitals. Even the kids outdoor swings and sandpit play equipment haven't changed since the 1950s. It as if time has stood still in Poatina. An intact and fascinating example of well worth visiting.