St Alban's Anglican Church, Quirindi

Quirindi sits at the edge of the Liverpool Plains. This is a rich agricultural area and the town contains many wonderful examples of early 20th century architecture. St Alban's Anglican Church is quite an emphatic modernist building.

Modernism meets Norman architecture

There is something quite wonderful about St Bede's Anglican Church in Werris Creek. I love the way the Norman style of the traditional English church has been re-interpreted in this building. The stained glass windows lighting the sanctuary were removed from a Medieval English church destroyed during the blitz in the Second World War.

The Monterey Cafe, Coonamble

This Art Deco gem was a popular meeting and dining place in Coonamble. It no longer functions but the original cafe fittings are a sheer delight.

Edwardian Bungalow west of west

I've been recording some pastoral complexes located in the hilly country west of Cobar. The outback landscape here is spectacular with little oases suddenly appearing as one travels through the scrub. The Mumboanna run was developed in this country from the 1880s. The spectacular Edwardian bungalow was constructed on the property in the 1920s. It is timber-framed with a very high pyramid-shaped roof and wide verandahs designed to keep the interior as cool as possible. The exterior features generous use of those Australian icons fibro and Cooper louvres.

Put a light in every country window

This post tells its own story. It is part of the generator shed erected to serve a rural homestead in northern New South Wales during the 1920s. The post and adjoining wall are stained with fumes from the old generator. The light switches tell a story of isolation and connection. From the 1920s many pastoral properties had their own stand-alone generators capable of supplying electricity at 32volts. This was enough to light a house and banks of batteries provided power after the generator had been switched off. This was enough to undertake some late evening chores or read a book in bed.

After the Second World War the cry "put a light in every country window" went up all over the land. Isolated town and council electricity generation and supply systems were connected by newly-formed county councils and throughout the 1950s new feeders were sent out across the vast rural lands of the interior. Rural dwellers were able to access the marvels of agitator washing machines, refrigerators, electric sewing machines, mixmasters and vacuum cleaners. And there was a light in every country window.

The wooden disc on the post was a mounting plate for the 32volt light switch supplied by the building's own generator and the square bakelite switch served the new 240volt system powered by the fires of Wangi, Wallerawang or Lake Macquarie Power Stations.

Former Rural Bank, West Wyalong

The 1930s was a golden era for the many banks jostling each other to demonstrate their progressiveness, solidity and health to the rural population. This former bank is a spectacular element of the West Wyalong business district.

Civic Theatre, Lake Cargelligo

I was travelling through the Lachlan district the other week and noticed the Art Deco facade of the Civic Theatre in Lake Cargelligo. It is forlorn and needs a coat of paint but retains its simple elegance.