Beaumaris Modern 2

Some of Australia's best known mid-century Modern architects designed their earliest homes in Beaumaris: these included Grounds, Romberg and Boyd, Peter McIntyre, Neil Clerehan, Chancellor and Patrick, Yunken Freeman, John Baird, Mockridge Stahle Mitchell, McGlashan Everist, Anatol Kagan, Peter Burns, Doug Alexandra and David Godsell.

In Beaumaris, these architects were experimenting with new materials, design and construction ideas including the Boyd-designed 'Stegbar window wall', which let in light and afforded garden views. Houses often turned their back on the street with carports at the front of the house to allow for private garden views. Houses were often placed on the block to gain northern light; roofs were often flat or skillion and with large eaves. Inside, houses were open plan, often with a room divider screen or planter box, different colours were used throughout and patterns featured on fabric and curtains. Becco wall lights featured along with modern furniture, often designed by Grant Featherston.

In the 1980's, when councils throughout Melbourne heritage listed Victorian and Federation style houses, mid-century modern architecture was not considered. As a consequence, without any protection, the mid-century houses in Beaumaris have always been vulnerable to redevelopment.

Over 100 significant houses have been lost in Beaumaris and unlike Victorian and Federation style houses, there are no other examples elsewhere. The Beaumaris mid-century houses were often 'one-offs', experimental, and in a number of cases, quite fragile and small.

Although many of these original mid-century houses have been demolished or irretrievably altered, we are fortunate to still have a very interesting collection of houses that have survived.

Surviving houses have either been carefully maintained and cared for by their original owners (although these are becoming increasingly rare), or they have been sought out by people that appreciate and value mid-century architecture.