Up until this point the greatest influence on Australian architecture had been English and Classic styles as interpreted by the British. Now, however, with the advent of the wireless, the gramophone and the motion picture industry, a whole new influence began to shape Australia’s culture – it was that of the American culture. It seemed that Australia just couldn’t get enough of all things American and soon the Californian bungalow was the ‘it’ house to have, with some small influence from the Mediterranean and the Spanish.

With the Californian bungalow – the roof line was flatter, simpler, lower and the eaves were wide to protect the windows from the sun. The verandah was in again, only this time it was supported by thick pillars and bricks had a pebble-dashed appearance.

Throughout Europe as well, the high cost, highly decorated styles of previous eras were seen to be cumbersome and tiresome. They soon gave way to the streamlined new buildings that were almost devoid of all decoration and style and were sheer function alone. These types of functional boxes soon became the new way to set up factories, erect schools and produce hospitals.