Latest news with #StateLibraryofNSW
The Age
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Age
Beyond the claptrap and cliche: Tim Ross' top architectural treasures
There's plenty of claptrap in the cliche about the Australian dream, says self-described architecture nerd and comedian Tim Ross. The idealised version is a three-bedroom home on a quarter-acre block in the suburbs with a Hills Hoist, a Holden in the driveway and a lawnmower defining a kingdom of neat grass. But that cliche has never been the whole story, Ross said. A new exhibition opening at the State Library of NSW on Saturday, curated by Ross and specialist librarian Anna Dearnley, debunks the myth with stories of people and buildings that have shaped our homes. For many Australians, the sound and smells of suburbia relates to freshly mown lawns. But the inventor of the Victa motorised petrol mower, Mervyn Victor Richardson, escaped suburbia for Palm Beach once he made his fortune. Ross said Richardson commissioned and built a mid-century modern home by architect Peter Muller on a rocky bushy block at Palm Beach that didn't look like any of the project homes going up across Sydney. 'He built this house that was virtually 'lawn-less',' Ross said. Richardson's story showed how rapidly Australians took to the suburbs, and how deeply entrenched the backyard was in the Australian dream. As project homes went up across Australia, Victa sales rocketed from 1070 petrol-powered mowers in 1950 to 230,721 a decade later. It is estimated that the now overseas-owned company sold nearly 7 million mowers by 2002. Ross said the photographs by famous photographer Max Dupain of Richardson give Muller and his home a 'part Bond villain, part Thunderbird look'. The pool had a swim-up bar which opened on to the living room and Richardson would commute via seaplane. 'It's a strange success story. If anything, the role [of the photo of the house] in the exhibition is to be that sort of knockout moment of architecture porn,' he said.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
Beyond the claptrap and cliche: Tim Ross' top architectural treasures
There's plenty of claptrap in the cliche about the Australian dream, says self-described architecture nerd and comedian Tim Ross. The idealised version is a three-bedroom home on a quarter-acre block in the suburbs with a Hills Hoist, a Holden in the driveway and a lawnmower defining a kingdom of neat grass. But that cliche has never been the whole story, Ross said. A new exhibition opening at the State Library of NSW on Saturday, curated by Ross and specialist librarian Anna Dearnley, debunks the myth with stories of people and buildings that have shaped our homes. For many Australians, the sound and smells of suburbia relates to freshly mown lawns. But the inventor of the Victa motorised petrol mower, Mervyn Victor Richardson, escaped suburbia for Palm Beach once he made his fortune. Ross said Richardson commissioned and built a mid-century modern home by architect Peter Muller on a rocky bushy block at Palm Beach that didn't look like any of the project homes going up across Sydney. 'He built this house that was virtually 'lawn-less',' Ross said. Richardson's story showed how rapidly Australians took to the suburbs, and how deeply entrenched the backyard was in the Australian dream. As project homes went up across Australia, Victa sales rocketed from 1070 petrol-powered mowers in 1950 to 230,721 a decade later. It is estimated that the now overseas-owned company sold nearly 7 million mowers by 2002. Ross said the photographs by famous photographer Max Dupain of Richardson give Muller and his home a 'part Bond villain, part Thunderbird look'. The pool had a swim-up bar which opened on to the living room and Richardson would commute via seaplane. 'It's a strange success story. If anything, the role [of the photo of the house] in the exhibition is to be that sort of knockout moment of architecture porn,' he said.
Sydney Morning Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The mystery man and the unexpected $2.8 million gift to a Sydney landmark
Most of us can dream up plenty of ways to spend a spare $2.8 million. Round-the-world trips at the pointy end of the plane, champagne and lobster, perhaps a new wardrobe. Then there are debts, school fees, etc – it's a sum that would clear most mortgages, even in Sydney. Neville Halse did none of the above. He gave his fortune to the State Library of NSW. The library was surprised when $2.8 million turned up out of the blue, left to the institution in Halse's will. The man himself was also something of a mystery. Described as a large man with a quiet character, Halse lived modestly in a Catholic boarding house nearby. He visited in late 2021, after the end of the second COVID lockdown, but was using a walker and in poor health. He changed his will on November 29 to leave his entire estate to the library, and died on June 9, 2022, aged 75. The state librarian, Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon, loves walking laps of the institution both when it is silent before opening and when it is humming with researchers, students and gallery-goers. As she is 18 months into the job, she never encountered Halse but suspects his experience in the library was profound. 'He must have been thinking about where such a substantial amount of money would go,' Butler-Bowdon said. 'We always welcome the generosity of individuals. We know that the State Library is greatly loved … a donation like this underscores that value.
The Age
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
The mystery man and the unexpected $2.8 million gift to a Sydney landmark
Most of us can dream up plenty of ways to spend a spare $2.8 million. Round-the-world trips at the pointy end of the plane, champagne and lobster, perhaps a new wardrobe. Then there are debts, school fees, etc – it's a sum that would clear most mortgages, even in Sydney. Neville Halse did none of the above. He gave his fortune to the State Library of NSW. The library was surprised when $2.8 million turned up out of the blue, left to the institution in Halse's will. The man himself was also something of a mystery. Described as a large man with a quiet character, Halse lived modestly in a Catholic boarding house nearby. He visited in late 2021, after the end of the second COVID lockdown, but was using a walker and in poor health. He changed his will on November 29 to leave his entire estate to the library, and died on June 9, 2022, aged 75. The state librarian, Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon, loves walking laps of the institution both when it is silent before opening and when it is humming with researchers, students and gallery-goers. As she is 18 months into the job, she never encountered Halse but suspects his experience in the library was profound. 'He must have been thinking about where such a substantial amount of money would go,' Butler-Bowdon said. 'We always welcome the generosity of individuals. We know that the State Library is greatly loved … a donation like this underscores that value.
Sydney Morning Herald
09-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Sydney Morning Herald
How an artist turned a tiny two-bedder into an award-nominated family home
Williams said the terrace had pokey rooms with very low ceiling height. They came up with the idea of adding a 'polycarbonate lid' on top of the old brick walls. Polycarbonate is essentially a plastic recycled material that is typically used in commercial properties. Translucent insulation between each layer of the polycarbonate material allows light to pass through, controlling the heat mode. 'It has a very long life span so you can eliminate other materials such as plasterboard and roofing,' Williams said. The polycarbonate addition wraps around the bagged-brick walls and the top of the building, and starts from 2.7 metres above floor level. 'It's this kind of light box that sits above you,' Dean explained. 'Below, we have traditional doors and windows that open up to allow for cross-ventilation throughout the house.' Williams said the skinny terrace typology was difficult to work with. The terrace is 3.6 metres wide. The front room has been retained as a flexible living space with a full-size bed to become a bedroom at night. A velvet curtain closes off the room. The front room flows through to a dining space that can be closed off by a curtain. On the opposite side of the dining room, a curtain closes it off from the art studio where Jay works. A stand-up bench doubles as a bed. The next series of rooms are bathing spaces. 'The bath sits in the middle of the house and can be fully opened to the entire house,' Williams said. 'It's a singular room for when Jay is alone, but there are also sliding panels for privacy.' The bathrooms flow through to the polycarbonate addition with its kitchen and living area. Upstairs, the front bedroom sits in the traditional part of the terrace and has a balcony. It has one of the few internal doors where the room can be closed off in a more traditional way. There's also a second bathroom and a loft within the polycarbonate build that can be closed with movable panels. Loading 'Rooms are multifunctional depending on the time of day and who is in the house,' Williams said. There is no artificial cooling, with just two fireplaces and operable timber panels. Polycarbonate, blackbutt timber and glossy amber tiles feature throughout. Wood admitted he was horrified by the initial all-cream pitch but came around to it, with the addition of dusty pink mosaics in the bathrooms and amber hues for benchtops and splashbacks. 'As somebody who enjoys art and colour, I was horrified when my architects presented the option of having an all-cream building,' he said with a laugh. 'It was hilarious. Then I came around to it, I saw their vision, and it's just perfect.' The project, known as House in Erskineville, has been nominated under the category of house alteration and addition under 200 square metres, for the 2025 Houses Awards. Winners will be announced at the State Library of NSW on Friday, August 1.
