Within the Old Colonial Period of architecture were four sub-styles that were heralded in ‘Mother England’ but adapted and modified to suit the Australian culture and circumstances. The first of these was Colonial Georgian Architecture.

One of the most famous examples of this style is the Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney – designed by Francis Greenway. It epitomises many of the common stylistic indicators that have come to symbolise Colonial Georgian Architecture.

It was at this time that order, symmetry and deliberate simplicity of style were the desired result. There was a softness of scale. No harsh or sudden diversions of angle or direction. There was a symmetry of design that added to the sense of sophistication, despite its simplicity. Walls were usually of exposed brick or stone. Roofs were of shingle or later corrugated iron. Sometimes there were no eaves at all (on modest dwellings) and at times there were close or boxed eaves. If there was no verandah, there was a small portico that protected and decorated the entry. But, verandahs were the common form of surround for the buildings – sometimes they were wrap-around, and sometimes they were found across the façade of the building only. Sometimes the verandahs were under the roof line itself or they could have a roof-line of their own. The verandah posts were thin, supposedly to re-create the long elegant lines of Georgian columns.

The windows were characteristically sash windows with small panes to align in design with the typical 6 panel doors. And the windows had stone sills in keeping with the usual stone walls. To protect the windows from storm and tempest, were louvred shutters.

But in the harsh realities of Australia in the early 1800’s, materials such as lime for mortar, bricks, proper wood that did not rot etcetera, were often in limited supply and in true Aussie form, we often used whatever we could to ‘make do’. However, regardless of all the limitations and restrictions that applied to this Great South Land, Australia and its Colonial Architecture still reflected Georgian style, sophistication, restraint and elegance. In short, it was all but a miracle that such illustrious examples of Colonial Georgian architecture were able to be built at all, let alone in such enduring and aesthetically compelling ways.

Australia has often been known as a nation full of innovation, diversity, creation and endurance. Looking at the architecture we have as our historical heritage, it is no secret from whence these characteristics came.