About Us
This project began in April 2014 and is proudly supported by the Brisbane City Council through the Lord Mayor's Helen Taylor Research Award for Local History and the Art Deco & Modernism Society. It aims to document and celebrate our Art Deco architecture by sharing some of the interesting stories about this built heritage. It is hoped that we can highlight the significance of these places in the fabric of our city, contribute to ensuring that this architecture is increasingly valued in our community, and strengthen efforts to preserve and protect such examples into the future.
You can purchase a copy of our book 'Brisbane Art Deco: Stories of our Built Heritage' from us online here, or via our range of stockists.
Our heritage
Buildings
Walter Taylor Bridge
Indooroopilly.
No.4 Woolstore
The suburb of Teneriffe (previously a locality of Newstead) was once an industrial area known for its wharves and woolstores. Adaptive reuse of the woolstores and redevelopment of the area has revitalised the precinct. Interestingly, the front elevation of the 'restrained' Art Deco style Queensland Primary Producers No. 4 Woolstore is gently curved, and conceals a sawtooth roof behind its face brick facade.
Waterloo Hotel
Newstead.
Shell House
Did you know the Shell Company was the first to import bulk supplies of petroleum products to Australia in the early 1900s? With increasing car ownership and subsequent demand for fuel, Shell rapidly expanded in Australia. In Brisbane, they built Shell House (now a hotel) on top of which they added a revolving aerial beacon, and fixed light beam pointing to Archerfield Airport, to assist in making night flying safer.
Hornibrook Highway Bridge
Brighton.
999 Brunswick Street
This block of flats was initially designed by Clifford (C.E.) Plant and Roderic (R.W.) Voller in 1940 to promote the plaster work of 'The Stucoid Modelling Company' - the manager of which was Max Strickland, the developer of Coronet Court next door.
Bond's Sweet Factory
South Brisbane.
Westella
Do you recognise this lovely "Apartment Block for Bachelors"? It was intended to accommodate "persons of the one sex" - either "bachelor girls" or "young men" - who could be supervised by a building manager from the separate living accommodation in the lower shop section on the corner.
Colonial Mutual Life
Did you know that the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society (CML) buildings in other cities across Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Britain were modeled on our very own ten-storey Brisbane building (now Manor Apartments - beside the General Post Office in Queen Street) which was designed by Hennessy & Hennessy and opened in November 1931? Its exterior features Benedict Stone.
Commonwealth Bank
Stones Corner.
Tattersall's Club Dining Room
Designed by Hall & Phillips and constructed in 1939, this stunning Tattersall's Club Dining Room is approximating 40 feet high, 40 feet wide and 65 feet long. Brisbane’s afternoon newspaper, The Telegraph, described the work as "an expression of singular dignity and luxury in the loftiness of its walls and ceilings which consummate a modern vertical motif".
Rialto Theatre
West End.
Commonwealth Bank
Paddington.
Bulolo Flats
Fortitude Valley.
Archerfield Airport (Administration Building)
Archerfield.
Coronet Court
New Farm.
Munsala
St Lucia. Image courtesy of Brisbane Art Deco.
Carmel Court
South Brisbane.
Regina Court
West End. Image courtesy of Brisbane Art Deco.
Merillon
New Farm.
Residence
Red Hill. Image courtesy of Brisbane Art Deco.
Stewarts & Lloyds Factory
South Brisbane. Image courtesy of Thomas Ryan Photography.
Chateau Nous
Ascot. Image courtesy of Frank Bolt, via the National Trust of Australia (Queensland).
501 Ann Street
Fortitude Valley.
Evelyn Court
New Farm.
Sandgate Road Shops
Albion.
Montvue
Ashgrove.
Finney Isles & Co
Brisbane City.
Hampton Court
Clayfield.
Avalon Theatre
St Lucia.
Meerawa & Yearinga
Ascot.
The Forgan Smith Building
St Lucia.
McWhirters
Fortitude Valley.
Castlemaine Perkins XXXX Brewery
Milton.
Stones Corner Plaza
Stones Corner.
In Memory Of
Crown Stove and Foundry Co. Pty Ltd
Greenslopes.
Music Masters Radio Company
Brisbane City.
Albert Hotel
Brisbane City.
Metro Theatre
Brisbane City.
Christies Cafe
Brisbane City.
Finney Isles & Co. Dining Room
Brisbane City.
The Courier-Mail Building
Brisbane City.
St James Theatre
Brisbane City.
Bellevue Hotel
Brisbane City.
Cloudland
Bowen Hills.
4BC Radio Studio
Brisbane City.
Brisbane
Bell Brothers Building
Fortitude Valley.
Montague Road
South Brisbane.
Residence
Annerley
The Queenslander, 1937
Illustrated Front Cover.
Leadlight
West End.
The Read Press
Fortitude Valley.
Brisbane ladies at fashion parade
Benedict Stone Factory
Bowen Hills. 1934.
Latrobe Terrace
Paddington. 1962.
The Proposed Luna Park
ca. 1939.
Crystal Palace Orchestra
ca. 1929.
Publication
Description:
Our built heritage plays an important role in the ongoing story of our city. Modern cities such as Brisbane embraced Art Deco style in its architecture as it swept the world during the interwar period. From inner city landmarks such as the striking McWhirters department store to lesser-known gems further afield like the streamlined Archerfield Airport administration building, Brisbane has a significant range of intriguing and beautiful Art Deco buildings.
This publication documents and celebrates a selection of our favourite residential and commercial examples. Written contributions from a range of authors are complemented by stunning modern photography and historic archive imagery, taking readers on a journey through this fascinating era. The articles not only describe the aesthetic and architectural features, but also delve into the associated social history.
Brisbane Art Deco: Stories of our Built Heritage is a charming and informative reference, and offers a colourful insight into Brisbane’s built heritage and the life and times of this dynamic city.
Published: Jubilee Studio, 2015
(Reprinted 2016)
Format: Softcover
ISBN: 9780646936598
Dewey Number: 725.099431
OUT OF STOCK