Master of Architecture / The period under consideration saw the growth and fruition of a radical approach to architectural design in the Government Architect's Branch of the New South Wales Public Works Department. High aesthetic standards were set: the application of these standards in an atmosphere of enthusiastic dedication produced a new, vital architectural expression for the public buildings of New South Wales. The quality of the Government Architect's work brought the Branch to the forefront of the architectural profession, whence it exerted a beneficial influence on many private practitioners. E.H. Farmer, the Government Architect of the period, gained the high respect of his peers and in 1972 he was awarded the R.A.I.A.'s Gold Medal - the highest honour which can be bestowed on a member. The early chapters of this study describe, in broad chronological order, the developments which took place in the Government Architect's Branch. Mention is also made of the influence which many leading architects, as well as other professionals, had on the Branch's design work. In later chapters the buildings designed by the Branch are classified into broad use-types and each type is then examined in chronological order. While this method of analysis necessitates some back-tracking and repetition, it provides a better understanding of the evolution of the various building types than would be provided by a broader survey. The appendices include a chronological list of significant events, in precis form, for convenient reference. Apart from a few short papers on specialised subjects, there has been no comprehensive documentation of the history of the Government Architect's Branch during the period being examined. Consequently the story of the Branch's development has been pieced together from interviews with many people who were members of the Government Architect's Branch during this period. Some accounts of events have appeared conflicting. It is natural that individual comment may be unintentionally biased. Every effort has been made by the author to present an accurate and balanced assessment. E.H. Farmer delivered the Hook Memorial Address on 11th May, 1973. In the course of this address the beliefs which contributed to his leadership of the Branch were succinctly revealed: "...if the voioe of the architect goes unheeded, humanity is that much closer to the abyss."
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/232773 |
| Date | January 1980 |
| Creators | Jack, Russell C |
| Publisher | University of Sydney., Faculty of Architecture |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | The author retains copyright of this thesis., http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/copyright.html |
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