Wunderlich were a brand of decorative metal panels used for

pressed metal ceiling A tin ceiling is an architectural element, consisting of a ceiling finished with tinplate with designs pressed into them, that was very popular in Victorian buildings in North America in the late 19th and early 20th century. They were also popu ...

s and other architectural elements in Australia.

History

The Wunderlich company was established by

Ernest Julius Wunderlich Ernest Julius Wunderlich (16 May 1859 – 11 April 1945) was an Australian arts patron, asbestos manufacturer, autobiographer/memoirist, metal goods manufacturer and tiles manufacturer. Early life Wunderlich was born in Islington, London, E ...

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

, Australia in 1885. Initially the panels were imported from

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

, Germany but later patents were taken out and the panels were manufactured in Australia. The panels were produced until the 1950s when popular tastes changed away from these traditional elements. In 1983, production of the panels recommenced to meet the needs of restorations of period buildings.

Notable uses of Wunderlich products

Barnes and Co. Trading Place Barnes and Co. Trading Place is a heritage-listed former department store at 118 Palmerin Street, Warwick, Queensland, Warwick, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Wallace & Gibson and built from 1910 to 1911 by M I ...

Bishop's House, Toowoomba Bishop's House is a heritage-listed villa at 73 Margaret Street, East Toowoomba, Queensland, East Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Queensland, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Harry Marks (Queensland architect), Henry ...

Esk War Memorial Esk War Memorial is a heritage-listed memorial at Ipswich Street, Esk, Queensland, Esk, Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by George Brockwell Gill and built in 1920 by Frank Williams & Co. It is also known as Esk Memorial ...

First World War Honour Board, National Australia Bank (308 Queen Street) First World War Honour Board is a heritage-listed memorial at the National Australia Bank (308 Queen Street), National Australia Bank, 308 Queen Street, in the Brisbane central business district, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was ...

Graceville Uniting Church Graceville Uniting Church is a heritage-listed former Uniting Church in Australia, Uniting church (building), church at 215 Oxley Road, Graceville, Queensland, Graceville, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed and built by Wa ...

Gympie Court House Gympie Court House is a heritage-listed courthouse at Channon Street, Gympie, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by John Smith Murdoch and built from 1900 to 1902. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. Histo ...

Mount Macedon Memorial Cross The Mount Macedon Memorial Cross is a heritage-listed war memorial at 405 Cameron Drive, Mount Macedon, Victoria, Mount Macedon, Shire of Macedon Ranges, Macedon Ranges Shire, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. It is also known as the Cam ...

National Australia Bank (308 Queen Street) National Australia Bank is a heritage-listed bank building at 308 Queen Street, Brisbane City, Queensland, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built from 1881–1924 b ...

North Pine Pumping Station North Pine Pumping Station is a heritage-listed pumping station at Lake Kurwongbah-Dayboro Road, Whiteside, Queensland, Whiteside, City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1956 to 1961 by K D Morris & Sons Pty Ltd. It is al ...

Our Lady of Assumption Convent, Warwick Our Lady of Assumption Convent is a heritage-listed former Roman Catholic convent at 8 Locke Street, Warwick, Queensland, Warwick, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Simkin & Ibler and built from 1891 to 1914. It ...

Santa Barbara, New Farm Santa Barbara is a heritage-listed villa at 209 Moray Street, New Farm, Queensland, New Farm, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Eric Percival Trewern and built from 1929 to 1930 by DF Roberts. It was added to the Queen ...

Sandgate Town Hall Sandgate Town Hall is a heritage-listed town hall at 5 Brighton Road, Sandgate, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Thomas Ramsay Hall and built from 1911 to 1912 by John Gemmell. It was added to the Queensland Heritag ...

Sydney Town Hall The Sydney Town Hall is a late 19th-century heritage-listed town hall building in the city of Sydney, the capital city of New South Wales, Australia, housing the chambers of the Lord Mayor of Sydney, council offices, and venues for meetings and ...

St Isidore's St Isidore's is a heritage-listed homestead at 40 Post Office Road, Mapleton, Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from to by James Blair Cramb. It is also known as Mapleton Homestead, Seaview House, and St Isidore's Fa ...

History

Notable uses of Wunderlich products

See also

References

Further reading