Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LITTLE BRITAIN
The men and women who arrived in the First Fleet were staggeringly ill-prepared for the
realities of building in their new, raw environment. The British powers-that-be had failed to
include an architect on board, so design and construction duties largely fell to the convict
bricklayer James Bloodsworth. Inevitably the early builders looked to the 'mother' country
for inspiration, but shoddy workmanship, poor tools and the colony's temporary vibe con-
spired against long-term success.
A significant change to this ad-hoc approach was heralded by the appointment of
Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1810, who viewed good architecture as an essential com-
ponent of a thriving, healthy society. The arrival of several architects, including the trans-
figurative Francis Greenway, a convict transported for forgery, helped change Sydney's
built environment. The prevailing Georgian architecture of Britain was echoed in many
buildings that sprang up at this time.
As the 19th century kicked on, colonial architects still looked to Britain for inspiration,
but broader European influences were also seen, from the neoclassical Town Hall (
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When Australia became a fully fledged country in its own right in 1901, increasing ar-
chitectural autonomy ensued. Architects questioned traditional approaches and sought new
ways to adapt buildings to Sydney's extraordinary setting - particularly in the residential
areas. In the city centre, meanwhile, the scrapping of height restrictions in the 1950s
sparked Sydney's love affair with skyscrapers. Modernism was influential, with such archi-
tects as Harry Seidler focusing on Sydney Harbour and embracing diverse international at-
titudes. Of course, a walk around central Sydney still shows the legacy of British influence.
Today's buildings, however, are much more locally sensitive.
