Bluestone columnist and architect CLINTON KRAUSE previously worked in Daylesford before relocating his business to Warrnambool. Clinton explores the architectural styles that gives our region so much character. Visit his website here.

What a difference twelve months can make.

My visit to this retro beauty in Japan Street, Warrnambool, marked the first anniversary of the owners’ purchase of the property and upon entering the house, I found it hard to believe that so much could be achieved in such a short period.

Michael and Helen have jumped head-first into the challenge of breathing new life into this house –  which was previously a little tired and in need of love.

“ I had been searching for some time for just the right place,” remarks Helen, “and after our first visit we decided then and there that we could make this into a fantastic and comfortable home”.

Helen has a definite flair for renovating and has taken on numerous projects in the past, ranging from a small flat in London to a substantial bluestone homestead on a rural property outside Geelong.

Eight homes later and the couple have dropped anchor in Warrnambool, and, without a moment’s pause, launched themselves into another major building project.

Helen is not perturbed by overseeing the months of disorder and chaos that comes with demolition and renovation.

Many hours were spent consulting directly with tradesmen and the finer details of joinery design for the kitchen were resolved on site.

“I found both the builder (John Downie) and Matthew Parkes (Omega Kitchens) an absolute delight to work with,” says Helen and it is evident that their practical advice combined with Helen’s intuitive design flair have produced outstanding results.

On our tour around the house I am intrigued by Helen’s bold and fearless use of colour and pattern.

Even the humble toilet has been enlivened with a feature wall of candy stripe wallpaper and old window louvres replaced with a rainbow of pastel coloured glass.

Indeed Helen’s extensive use of wallpaper requires further exploration.

New wallpaper in the entry is a perfect match with the 50’s era of the house, a bold, striped band in the kitchen adds an unexpected burst of colour and movement, and the witty, shoe-themed paper in the dressing room tells me a lot about the Helen’s interest in footwear.

“My mother loved using wallpaper,” Helen muses. “ I remember as a child that she systematically embarked on covering nearly every wall in the house. I even had a rose-themed paper on my bedroom ceiling which I would gaze up at and daydream over ”.

Obviously unafraid of a “bit of bling’, the tiles Helen selected for the bathroom are also worthy of special mention.

Helen was keen to keep the deep, pink enamelled bath and as much of the original detailing in the bathroom as possible. But it is the new splashback to the bath that raised a few tradesmen’s eyes during  the project.

A close inspection of the small mosaic pieces reveals a homage to Andy Warhol – even the famous Marilyn Monroe lithograph is there giving me a sultry stare.

While the structural bones and intelligent original layout of the house remain, it is this new and confident styling brought to the house by Helen and Michael that have reinvigorated the property and consolidated the home as a modern, welcoming and comfortable residence.

Bluestone columnist and architect CLINTON KRAUSE previously worked in Daylesford before relocating his business to Warrnambool. Clinton explores the mid-century architecture that gives our city so much character, but about which most of us know very little.

If there is one architect that has made a culturally significant and architecturally definitive contribution to our built landscape here in Warrnambool it would have to be Tag Walter.

William John Taggart Walter – or ‘Tag’ as he was always known – was born in 1909 the son of a builder/developer and one of 5 children. Tag started practice from his own home that he designed and built in 1934 at 49 Henna Street.

This house, a modest pre-war English style bungalow, still stands, but it is the later family home next door at 47 Henna that displays many of the mid-century design elements that the practice was to embrace and become renowned for.

Built in the mid-1950s, this house was a crossover-hybrid of the prevailing tiled hipped roof forms and stepped back ‘waterfall’ room layout, but also played with exciting new design trends.

Oversized eaves, large geometrically partitioned walls of windows, and cantilevered balconies lend the home a slightly ‘Japanese pavilion’ aesthetic. Abstract wrought iron balustrades and panels of crazy stone cladding further enhance the modern signature of the building.

Tag brought Bruce Auty into the practice in 1951 and it is surprising how prolific this partnership became.

The pair brought wonderful examples of American 50’s/60’s ‘Googie Style’ to the district – a futuristic design movement redolent of America’s infatuation with the space age, streamlining and car culture. Surviving examples of this distinctive style can still be seen around town in the facades of Mack’s Snacks, Kermonds and Prontos on Raglan Parade – originally designed as a slick, eye-catching car showroom.

Walter and Auty’s work extended throughout the Western District and projects included hospitals, churches, community halls and ongoing development of the iconic Fletcher Jones factory site: masterplanning of the original buildings and gardens having been designed by Tag back in 1948.

A notable interstate commission was the famous Pink Poodle resort on the Gold Coast – a hedonistic motel complex complete with swingin’ bars, bistro, pool and of course a giant, neon, poodle street sign. It was a favourite destination for honeymooners, but while the poodle sign has been preserved, the original building was demolished in 2004.

The Walters also found time to raise three daughters who fondly remember their father as an affectionate, kind, generous and meticulous man.

Robyn Poynton recalls that “Dad was always taking me in the car to visit building sites around the district,” and that the family would often attend “opening ceremonies amongst revered dignitaries such as the Premier Henry Bolte”.

Robyn also warmly remembers her sister Joan “doing a training year in Dad’s office on the drawing board, where she would assist with water colour rendering of the perspective drawings”.

Tag worked throughout the sixties, before handing the reigns over to Bruce in 1969. A freak boating accident in 1973 cut short the life of Bruce and brought the practice to a close (but that’s another story…).

After retirement, Tag remained registered as an architect and continued to undertake a number of development projects with family members and giving of his time generously to the community right up until his death in 1987.

Walter and Auty were the sole architectural firm in Warrnambool during the 1950’s and 60’s and were leading exponents of Modernism throughout Western Victoria.

Further examples of the firm’s work will be explored in greater detail in later features.

References/acknowledgements: Builtheritage Pty Ltd (Simon Reeves); Warrnambool and District Historical Society; Ms Robyn Poynton (daughter of Tag Walter).

Next Month: A Christmas treat – One with the Lot!

We are delighted to welcome a new monthly columnist, architect CLINTON KRAUSE, who previously worked in Daylesford before relocating his business to Warrnambool. Clinton will explore the mid-century architecture that gives our city so much character, but about which most of us know very little…

A casual Sunday drive around the suburban streets of Warrnambool will often lead to the discovery of one of our best kept secrets: our city is endowed with a wonderful collection of intact, mid- century (1950s-60s) residential architecture.

Often complemented with matching landscape and décor, these unique houses are still much loved by their owners and provide an enticing glimpse into an exciting era of architectural optimism and innovation.

I intend to explore the story behind some of these homes – including my own – as part of my new monthly column with Bluestone Magazine.

With all things Retro back in vogue, the ‘Old-Modern’ houses of the late 50’s / early 60’s are enjoying the renewed attention of a whole fresh crop of designers, owners and ‘movers and shakers’.

So where did the distinctive styling of these homes come from?

The cutting edge prototypes for the modern mid-century family home originated in post-war America, arising from the need to house the growing populations attracted to the job opportunities and climate of the beautiful west coast.

Talented architects and designers fleeing war-ravaged Europe made their way to California to resume business and, together with the catalyst of the upwardly mobile avant garde, an explosion of creative innovation spread rapidly out across the country.

Eventually ripples of this new design movement found their way to our shores where daring architects, builders and owners began experimenting with entirely new interpretations of the beloved family home.

The priorities for the modern home of this time departed radically from the status quo of English bungalows and triple-fronted brick veneers.

Relaxation of social standards meant that internal spaces became increasingly more informal. Open planning dissolved the boundaries between dining, living and kitchen areas. Huge expanses of glazing opened up the views, natural light and solar warmth, and often took in garden vistas, creating a visual flow between inside and out.

These new kids on the block announced their bravura with bright ‘pop’ colour schemes, a mash up of exterior claddings and cocky rooflines that jutted into the air and hovered impossibly above the ground.

Striped timber lining boards, op-art garage doors and expanses of crazy “crazy paving” all competed for the attention of the casual onlooker.

Furnishing the interiors of these sculptural show-offs also demanded special attention: Grandma’s heavy Victorian heirloom sideboard was just not going to cut it…

In response, many mid-century homes incorporated ingenious designs for storing the detritus of the modern consumer (a bit like the architectural equivalent of an SUV).

Feature walls not only provided warmth to the décor and screening for privacy, but often concealed a multitude of storage nooks and crannies to house cocktail bars, entertainment systems, glassware and even seating.

An added benefit was that furniture did not dominate or diminish the sculptural interiors and the clean open spaces ensured that all attention was focussed on the garden outlooks, the abundant natural light and the carefully selected and placed groovy furniture.

The architects of this era brought affordable and innovative good design to the masses. Over the coming months, local examples of this unique era in architecture will be explored and celebrated in recognition of an important and unique period of Warrnambool’s built heritage.

Clinton

A bit more about Clinton: Graduated Deakin Uni 1985 ( hons). Practiced in Geelong , Melbourne and Daylesford. Specialising in residential work with 20 years of service in Daylesford and surround. You can find him on the web here.