Late Victorian Boom Style Homes (c1875-1895)

Posted on June 2nd 2018

 

From about 1875, with the economic boom of the gold rush, Late Victorian Architecture became more embellished and overburdened with excess columns, balustrades, exaggerated entrances, other lavish decorations and highly detailed ornamentation to the external facade. Influences from the Gothic and Italianate style was also popular as it allowed greater displays of prosperity through rich and ornate decorate features such as carved stone sculptures, dentil detailing, cast iron lace work and slate roofs. Mass production of decorative features that had previously been hand crafted meant they became available to everyone and new railways distributed them throughout the State.  Cast iron lace work was made locally and used frequently. The construction of terraced houses which had been built in the inner suburbs since the 1840s reached a peak during this period.

Late Victorian Style homes, often referred to as Boom style, have perhaps the most decorative features in all of the known architectural styles to date.

Some key features of Late Victorian Boom Style homes are:

– Intricate Brickwork featuring complex patterns of different coloured bricks
– Combination of plaster, stone, coloured bricks, terracotta, mosaic tiles and marble; or the entire exterior rendered and painted.
– Leadlight windows
– Highly decorated facades and parapets featuring decorative dentil detailing, carved stonework and intricate designs
– The roof is often as well decorated as the walls, featuring slate tiles arranged in polychromatic patterns
– Arched, double hung windows with elaborate decorations
– Terraces became taller and incorporated ornamented parapets and projecting verandah wing walls

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