Federation architecture is the

architectural style An architectural style is a classification of buildings (and nonbuilding structures) based on a set of characteristics and features, including overall appearance, arrangement of the components, method of construction, building materials used, for ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

that was prevalent from around 1890 to 1915. The name refers to the

Federation of Australia The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia (which also governed what is now the Northern Territory), and Wester ...

on 1 January 1901, when the British colonies of Australia collectively became the

Commonwealth of Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It has a total area of , making it the sixth-largest country in ...

. The architectural style had antecedents in the Queen Anne style and Edwardian style of the United Kingdom, combined with various other influences like the

Arts and Crafts The Arts and Crafts movement was an international trend in the Decorative arts, decorative and fine arts that developed earliest and most fully in the British Isles and subsequently spread across the British Empire and to the rest of Europe and ...

style. Other styles also developed, like the Federation Warehouse style, which was heavily influenced by the Romanesque Revival style. In Australia, Federation architecture is generally associated with cottages in the Queen Anne style, but some consider that there were twelve main styles that characterised the Federation period.

Definition and features

The Federation period overlaps the Edwardian period, which was so named after the reign of King Edward VII (1901–1910); however, as the style preceded and extended beyond Edward's reign, the term "Federation architecture" was coined in 1969. Federation architecture has many similarities to Edwardian Baroque architecture; however, there are significant differences that distinguish the Federation architecture style from the Edwardian Baroque architecture style, particularly due to the embracing of

Australiana Australiana is anything pertaining to Australian culture, society, geography and ecology, especially if it is endemic to Australia or has reached iconic status. It includes people, places, flora, fauna and events of Australian origins. Austr ...

themes and the use of the verandah in domestic settings. Australian

flora Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous (ecology), indigenous) native plant, native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for f ...

and

fauna Fauna (: faunae or faunas) is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding terms for plants and fungi are ''flora'' and '' funga'', respectively. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively ...

are prominently featured, and stylised images of the New South Wales waratah, flannel flower, Queensland firewheel tree, and other flowers, and the kangaroo,

kookaburra Kookaburras (pronounced ) are terrestrial animal, terrestrial tree kingfishers of the genus ''Dacelo'' native to Australia and New Guinea, which grow to between in length and weigh around . The name is a loanword from Wiradjuri language, Wira ...

, and lyrebird, were common. The Coat of Arms, and rising sun, representing a new dawn in the country of Australia, also appeared regularly on gables. Many Federation buildings, both residential and non-residential, are listed on the

Register of the National Estate The Register of the National Estate was a heritage register that listed natural and cultural heritage places in Australia that was closed in 2007. Phasing out began in 2003, when the Australian National Heritage List and the Commonwealth Heri ...

because of their heritage values.

Gardens and garden architecture

Gardens of the period were complex and contained many elements—generally a wider variety of plants than is seen in contemporary plantings, pergolas, rose arches, gazebos and summerhouses. Wooden lattice fences were used to partition parts of the garden off, particularly the front from the more private back. Garden paths could be straight or gently curved, and often edged with glazed edging tiles or bricks, and made of tiles, packed gravel or bricks. patterns for brick paving include stretcher bond, herringbone and basketweave. Asphalt and concrete were not used. Plants were selected to produce year-round colour and interest in the local climate conditions. Initially, evergreen trees were used, but the denseness of shade led to increasing popularity of deciduous trees such as '' Jacaranda'', flowering plum and peppercorn. Palms often framed the garden vista, and the native Cootamundra wattle was popular, as were shrubs such as camellias and standard roses. Conservatories contained begonias and '' Adiantum'' ferns.

Styles

There are twelve styles that predominated in the Federation period: * Federation Academic Classical * Federation Free Classical * Federation Filigree * Federation Anglo-Dutch * Federation Romanesque * Federation Gothic * Federation Carpenter Gothic * Federation Warehouse * Federation Queen Anne * Federation Free Style * Federation Arts and Crafts * Federation Bungalow

Residential architecture

Of the twelve Federation styles, there are four that were mainly used in residential architecture. They are Federation Queen Anne style, Federation Filigree style, Federation Arts and Craft style, and Federation Bungalow style.

Federation Queen Anne

The Federation Queen Anne style was designed to embrace the outdoor life-styles of the Australian people. Most homes have asymmetric gables, white-painted window frames, front verandas with decorative timber features, tiling on the patio floor and entry paths. The brickwork is usually a deep red or dark brown, often with a mix of the two. The roofs are typically terracotta tiles with decorative gables (sometimes adorned with

finial A finial () or hip-knob is an element marking the top or end of some object, often formed to be a decorative feature. In architecture, it is a small decorative device, employed to emphasize the Apex (geometry), apex of a dome, spire, tower, roo ...

s), motifs, timber features, tall chimneys and fretwork. Decorative leadlight windows are also common, as are circular windows (known as bulls-eye windows). Federation homes also have decorative internal features in the plasterwork, high ceilings and timber features. Some outstanding examples are West Maling, Penshurst Avenue, Penshurst, New South Wales; Turramurra Ingleholme, Boomerang Street, Turramurra, New South Wales (former home of architect John Sulman); and Caerleon, Bellevue Hill, the first Queen Anne home in Australia. The Federation Queen Anne style was the most popular residential style in Australia between 1890 and 1910. It was also used for non-residential buildings, such as Perth's Rotunda Hospital. File:(1)Caerleon.jpg, Caerleon, Bellevue Hill, New South Wales, first Queen Anne home in Australia File:(1)Amesbury 033.jpg, ''Amesbury'', Ashfield, New South Wales. Built . File:Hillcrest, 29 High St, East Launceston.JPG, ''Hillcrest'',

Launceston, Tasmania Launceston () is a city in the north of Tasmania, Australia, at the confluence of the North Esk River, North Esk and South Esk River, South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River, Tasmania, Tamar River (kanamaluka). As of 2021, the Launc ...

File:Federation home South Yarra.jpg, Federation Queen Anne mansion in South Yarra, Victoria File:(1) Burwood Appian Way 6.jpg, 'Vallambrosa',

Appian Way The Appian Way (Latin and Italian language, Italian: Via Appia) is one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient Roman Republic, republic. It connected Rome to Brindisi, in southeast Italy. Its importance is in ...

Burwood, New South Wales Burwood is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the Local government in Australia, local government area of Mun ...

, Federation Queen Anne style File:Alba Longa Burwood.jpg, 'Alba Longa', Federation Queen Anne home, Appian Way, Burwood, New South Wales

Federation Filigree

The Federation Filigree style is common in the hotter parts of Australia, especially in the north, since it is designed to create shade while allowing for the free flow of air. It is a common sight in Queensland and is sometimes known as the Queensland style. Some outstanding examples are Belltrees House, Scone, New South Wales; private home, Roderick Street, Ipswich, Queensland; and terrace of homes, east side of High Street, Millers Point, New South Wales. File:(1) Derry(former home of May Gibbs)1.jpg, 'Derry', a good example of Federation Filigree in Neutral Bay, New South Wales File:(1)Federation Home Woollahra Sydney.jpg, A Filligree Queen Anne style house in Woollahra, New South Wales File:Dilhorn House.jpg, Dilhorn House, Perth File:Federation mansion Beecroft 001b.jpg, Federation Filigree, Beecroft, New South Wales

Federation Arts and Crafts

The Federation Arts and Crafts style had its origins in England, where architects were reacting to the impersonal nature of the Industrial Revolution. Crafts and handiwork were emphasised to give architecture the "human touch". These influences were absorbed into Federation Australia, where the resulting buildings were generally small-scale to medium-scale and predominantly residential. Outstanding examples are Glyn, Kooyong road, Toorak, Victoria; The Crossways, Martin Road, Centennial Park, New South Wales; and Erica, Appian Way, Burwood, New South Wales. Image:(1)_Ailsa.jpg, 'Ailsa', Neutral Bay, New South Wales, Federation Arts and Crafts style Image:Burwood_Appian_Way_10.JPG, 'St Ellero', 5 Appian Way, Burwood, New South Wales, Federation Arts and Crafts style

Federation Bungalow

The Federation Bungalow style was the Australian response to the bungalow style that was developed in America by people like Gustav Stickley. It can be seen as a transition phase between the Federation Queen Anne style and the

California Bungalow California bungalow is an alternative name for the American Craftsman style of Residential area, residential architecture, when it was applied to small-to-medium-sized homes rather than the large "ultimate bungalow" houses of designers like Green ...

style that took on later. Stylistically, it exploited the qualities of the bungalow while frequently retaining the flair and idiosyncrasies of the Queen Anne style, although usually in simplified form. Outstanding examples are Nee Morna, Nepean Highway, Sorrento, Victoria; Blythewood, Beecroft Road, Cheltenham New South Wales; and The Eyrie, Fox Valley Road, Wahroonga, New South Wales. Image:Federation cottage Beecroft 001a.jpg, Federation cottage, Beecroft, New South Wales Image:SydneyBuilding0127.jpg, 'Cassa Tasso', Appian Way, Burwood, New South Wales, Federation Bungalow Image:(1)Federation_Bungalow_Perouse_Road_Randwick.jpg, Federation Bungalow, Randwick, New South Wales Image:(1)Federation_Bungalow_Bondi_Sydney.jpg, Federation Bungalow,

Bondi, New South Wales Bondi () is a suburb of eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, seven kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council. Geography Bondi is a mostly medium and h ...

, with Italianate touches

Federation Revival

During the early-1990s, many of the design elements that characterised the Federation architecture of old were popularised in mainstream architecture. This Federation revival form is also known as "mock Federation" or "faux Federation". The style was widespread within the realm of residential housing (especially in new development suburbs) and for apartment buildings; however, smaller shopping centres and other public buildings also made use of the revival style that retained widespread popularity until the early 2000s. Suburbs of Sydney that developed in the 1990s—such as Cherrybrook, Castle Hill, and Menai—are notable in the sense that large tracts of these developments contain almost exclusively Federation revival homes. The construction of Federation revival architecture varied little from that of other basic styles, with the Federation elements merely forming the facade and decorating elements of the building. For example, the typical brick and roof tile construction, hexagonal

turret Turret may refer to: * Turret (architecture), a small tower that projects above the wall of a building * Gun turret, a mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon * Optical microscope#Objective turret (revolver or revolving nose piece), Objective turre ...

s, ornate

gable A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesth ...

work,

s, prominent verandah, steep pitched roofs, and faceted

bay window A bay window is a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building and forming a bay in a room. A bow window is a form of bay with a curve rather than angular facets; an oriel window is a bay window that does not touch the g ...

s served to parallel the traditional Federation architecture. File:(1)Field Place house.jpg, Federation revival home in Wahroonga, Sydney File:34 Dudley Avenue, Roseville, New South Wales (2011-07-17).jpg, Federation revival home in Roseville, Sydney (1994) File:Apartments, 8-10 Russell Avenue, Lindfield, New South Wales (2011-07-17).jpg, Federation revival apartments in Lindfield, Sydney (1996) File:Apartments, Kingsway, Miranda, New South Wales (2010-07-25) 02.jpg, Federation revival apartments in Miranda, Sydney () File:(1)house_Kingsford_Sydney-3.jpg, Federation revival house in Kingsford, Sydney File:(1)Federation Revival house Kensington.jpg, Federation revival house in

Kensington Kensington is an area of London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, around west of Central London. The district's commercial heart is Kensington High Street, running on an east–west axis. The north-east is taken up by Kensingt ...

, Sydney File:(1)Federation Revival house Gordon Street Blacktown.jpg, A house in

Blacktown Blacktown is a suburb in New South Wales, Australia, west of the Sydney central business district. It is one of the most multicultural places within Sydney, Greater Sydney. History Before the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, the area of ...

, Greater Western Sydney File:(1)Federation Revival house Pretoria Parade.jpg, A house in Hornsby, Sydney File:60 Clanville Road, Roseville, New South Wales (2011-07-17).jpg, Roseville, Sydney (1994)

Non-residential architecture

Federation non-residential buildings can be in any of the twelve styles. The following gallery shows some examples of non-residential buildings. Image:Bank_building_sydney0003.jpg, Former bank building, Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales (Federation Free Classical) Image:MaryImmaculateChurch.jpg, Mary Immaculate Church, Waverley, New South Wales (Federation Academic Classical) Image:1_Our_Lady_of_the_Sacred_Heart.JPG, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Convent,

Kensington, New South Wales Kensington is a suburb in the Eastern Suburbs (Sydney), eastern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located four kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the Local government in Australia, local governm ...

(Federation Gothic) Image:(1)Darlinghurst_Fire_Station-c.jpg, Fire Station, Darlinghurst, New South Wales (Federation Free Style, designed by

Walter Liberty Vernon Colonel (Australia), Colonel Walter Liberty Vernon (11 August 184617 January 1914) was an English people, English architect who migrated to Australia and pursued his career as an architect in Sydney, New South Wales. In his role as the New Sou ...

) Image:Fremantle Markets.jpg, Fremantle Markets, Fremantle, Western Australia (Federation Romanesque) Image:(1)St_Marys_Townsville.jpg, St. Mary's Church,

Townsville The City of Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 201,313 as of 2024, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland and Northern Australia (specifically, the parts of Australia north of ...

, Queensland (Federation Carpenter Gothic) Image:1_Salvation_Army_building.jpg, Salvation Army building,

Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...

, Queensland (Federation Filigree style) Image:(1)Farmers_and_Graziers_Wattle_St_Ultimo_Sydney-1a.jpg, Former Farmers and Graziers Building,

Ultimo, New South Wales Ultimo is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is adjacent to the Sydney central business district in the Local government in Australia, local government area of the City of Sydney west of the Darling Harbour area, and ...

(Federation Warehouse style)

Federation architects

Notable Federation architects in Australia include: * Rodney Alsop * Harold Desbrowe Annear * Albert Edmund Bates (

Rockhampton Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. In the , the population of Rockhampton was 79,293. A common nickname for Rockhampton is "Rocky", and the demonym of Rockhampton is Rockhamptonite. The Scottish- ...

, Queensland) * Hillson Beasley * A. L. Buchanan * Henry Budden CBE * Walter Butler * Hugh Hamilton Campbell (

Warwick Warwick ( ) is a market town, civil parish and the county town of Warwickshire in the Warwick District in England, adjacent to the River Avon, Warwickshire, River Avon. It is south of Coventry, and south-east of Birmingham. It is adjoined wit ...

, Queensland) * Claude William Chambers (Qld) * John James Clark * Robin Dods * George Thomas Eaton (Rockhampton, Queensland) * Richard Gailey (

, Queensland) * George Brockwell Gill (

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in Suffolk, England. It is the county town, and largest in Suffolk, followed by Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds, and the third-largest population centre in East Anglia, ...

, Queensland) * Carlyle Greenwell * William Hodgen (

Toowoomba Toowoomba ( ), nicknamed 'The Garden City' and 'T-Bar', is a city on the border of South East Queensland and Darling Downs regions of Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital, Brisbane. The urban population of Toowoom ...