Saturday, September 19, 2009

Clovelly Federation in the Grand style

Clovelly Federation in the Grand style

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Fern Street is an area of building high on the eastern Randwick ridge, with views to the ocean. Parallel to Fern but inland is Bishops Avenue (to the west) which is a more private affluent street, yet still set very high at the top of the hill overlooking Randwick to the west.

Fern Street Randwick/Clovelly

This is what I found there:

Fern Street first: SMALL is Beautiful too:

The shingled gable is fairly rare, but well taken care of.

Neighbours differ in their taste!

But there are larger houses further down the street:
Below is a Federation 1880's house in the Filigree style, with the shaded verandahs reminiscent of a Queenslander!

And below, is even somewhat Italianate Victorian, but the roof has been replaced:

However, parallel Bishops Avenue (to the west) has a large collection of Grand houses.
This house below is slightly more modern than above, and the bay window makes it recognisable as Federation style:

Opposite, a beautiful house, still well preserved.

Below: what a stunning example of Federation filigree! However the new roof tiles could have been less colourful.
Compare the neighbour's roofs below:

and (below) this looks like a renovated house kept in the old style.
Can you see the new brickwork pattern? Perhaps it is a special example of pointed refacing?
The brickwork does match the filigree style, but is quite bold for the period.

And now back to Fern Street and its Arts and Crafts *star*:

Isn't this double fronted assymetrical Arts & Crafts residence with gabled bay window a house of rakish beauty? After all, Federation Houses were rarely symmetrical, and I think it is just GREAT. It has whimsy.

However it's near neighbour has been unceasingly added to - is that a smile or a growl on its filigree face?
What was a great example of Federation filigree style has been renovated without sympathy.

More examples of Fern Street renovations: (I don't think they used an architect)

Magnificent Randwick

Magnificent Randwick

[previous Page: Coogee Federation Classics] [next page: Clovelly Federation in the Grand style]

This is a grand collection of Federation houses in Dutruc Street, Eastern Randwick, which has been overtaken by blocks of units. Let us hope all these houses pictured can be saved.

First, in the style of Arts and Crafts, with its rear to a gully and eastern neighbourhood views:

This is a rather magnificent large home, well loved, and shows little sign of the large renovation which has been made, with underground parking off to the right of the picture.

Below, on the western side of Dutruc Street, some wonderful residences:

The style above is fairly Victorian, except it has a hipped roof, and prominent chimneys,
so let's say it is a graceful and symmetrical pre-cursor to the classic Queen Anne Federation style of its neighbours, and all obviously date from the late 19th Century:

Very Pretty in Pink? or Puce? Could that be a sunrise in the gablet? Just possibly?

And now for the single story residences:
These Dutruc Street houses would be built closer to the turn of the century,
and don't show the sunrise motif in the gable, so may still be built prior to political federation.

These are positioned lower down the street and the hill, from the magnificent two Queen Anne style houses above.

Both these houses are also obviously loved and well-cared for, and are a credit to their owners.
I think the French lavender tones suit this house a treat.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

South Coogee Federation Classics

Coogee Federation Classics

[previous page: Eastern Suburbs Federation Bungalows ] [next page: ]
Coogee is a suburb of contrasts, beach and cliffs, apartments on the lower ground, large established houses on the heights.
I think this Federation Bungalow house has to be the star of the suburb:

Thomas Street Coogee

And a side view, check out all the chimneys in perfect condition;
Note the large 5-pane bay window and the two bow bay windows in the front, with excellent detailing:

House, Higgs and Thomas Streets, Coogee

The Queen Anne style is particularly well represented by this building in Dudley Street:

Dudley Street Coogee

Another Queen Anne style residence on the flat area of Carr Street has been renovated to resemble the Arts and Crafts style, down on the flat:

Here is a front view from Google Street View: (sorry about the quality)

This is quite a large residence, isn't it!

Another elegant classic Federation example from the Thomas and Dudley Street area:

And from around the corner in Higgs Street South Coogee

Higgs Street South Coogee

The northerly neighbour of this house has been recently advertised for sale:

This house for sale has a traditional picket fence and more established garden.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Federation Doors and Door sets

Front Doors

Front doors of Federation houses usually have glazing to the top half with glazing to the side and top light.
The glass was leadlight in an Art Nouveau design.
They were painted in dark red or green colours. However now cream is the most common renovation colour.

Wonderful Haberfield Federation House, with single door.

Randwick door set

Haberfield door set in filigree style

Art Nouveau Entrance

Entryway to Woronobo

Haberfield single door with windows

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Eastern Suburbs Federation Bungalows

These are generally big homes, always single-storey, and rather heavy-set. I like them a lot.

Most of these were built between the wars, and qualify as Federation because they have only one frontal gable, over the bedroom, and the sweeping hip roof extends protectively over the verandah.

A Rosebery Bungalow

Notice the bay window, and the frilly valance or frieze under the verandah

Heritage listed Rosebery Bungalow

This is probably Rosebery's most famous heritage house, a stone bungalow in Tweedmouth Avenue.

Opposite the house above, a rambling bungalow

This Tweedmouth Ave house has an Arts and Crafts feel, and has elements of Federation and Californian Bungalow styles

An Arts and Crafts Federation Bungalow in Rosebery

This beautiful Federation Arts and Crafts Bungalow is also in Tweedmouth Avenue, Rosebery.

A very simplified Bungalow in Rosebery

Kensington star Bungalow

This Kensington Bungalow is truly very protective of its verandahs, and the owners are very house proud. From this side, a Federation verandah is visible, but the roof is not hipped, there being two gables on the other corner, so the other side looks Californian.