In Australia this style of architecture, the Victorian Second Empire, appeared around 1860 and lasted until the beginning of the 1900’s. Following the lavish trends of the Victorian Free Classical, the Victorian Filigree and the Victorian Mannerist, the Victorian Second Empire was awash with even more adornment and added features – and why not? Financial limitations did not apply. Materials were now in good supply and there was ample availability of good workmen, skilled in their trade.

The inspiration for this era of architecture came from the second Bonaparte, Louis. In the 1850’s he took it upon himself to beautify and renew the tired old streets of Paris. And of course the works of the famous Baron Haussman are testament to his success. Many of the old Parisian buildings and eyesores were demolished to make way for wide boulevards, beautifully adorned buildings and intelligent design.

This did, however, throw down the gauntlet for other cities to follow suit – Paris could not be the most beautiful city in the world could it? And so as night follows day, there was the architectural version of keeping up with the proverbial Jones’ and Australia saw the construction of great and ornate public buildings. Obviously this style, in all its lavish display, was not very popular for suburban dwellings and its style was restricted mainly to the construction of public buildings and the like.

Examples of this style can be found in the Town Hall at Sydney, the Town Hall at Bendigo, The Central Government Offices in Perth and in various other places in Australia.

Some of the main characteristics that set it apart from the other styles are:

• Square domes
• Truncated pyramids
• Adorned pavilions
• Decorated dormer windows with surrounds also decorated
• Balconies with detailed balustrades
• Cresting from iron
• A new use of roof space

View several dramatic and beautiful examples of Victorian Second Empire