We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
Image of the item
Can you reuse this media without permission? Yes
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
This media item is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). You may share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) this item provided that you attribute the content source and copyright holder; do not use the content for commercial purposes; and do not rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) the material.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Image created by the Robin Boyd Foundation
Have a question? Contact Robin Boyd Foundation
Published posthumously in 1972, “The Great Great Australian Dream” was Robin Boyd’s satirical review of Australian culture at the end of the 1960s. Included, for example, were chapters on the peculiarities of the Australian accent, the prevalence of blowflies, and the unrealistic dreams of a fictional post-war architect Gordon Hope.
Hardcover with Dust Jacket
RBF Acquisition
Boyd quickly surveys the first generation of modern architecture. The talk then concentrates on where modern architecture turned next: the "search for new richness on the surface and a search for new excitement in form". He focuses on the second generation of modern architects: Edward Stone (surface search) and Eero Saarinen (excitiement search). Several of their influential buildings are critiqued by Boyd. This document was the basis for a lecture titled "The Contemporary Situation in Architecture" (item D521, with edits).
Typewritten, quarto, 16 pages
international style, mies van der rohe, frank lloyd wright, edward stone, eero saarinen, le courbuier, felix candela, matthew novicki, eduardo catalano, hugh stubbins, raymond and rado, jorn utzon, toro-ferrer
Boyd quickly surveys the first generation of modern architecture. The talk then concentrates on where modern architecture turned next: "the search for new richness on the surface and a search for new excitement in form". Boyd focuses on the second generation of modern architects: Edward Stone (surface search) and Eero Saarinen (excitiement search). Several of their influential buildings are critiqued by Boyd. This document includes the whole of the typed manuscript titled "The Crisis in Architecture" (item D522, with edits), and includes two handwritten pages at the start and ends with a handwritten statement about "architectural poetry".
The text and annotations indicate this was a lecture with slides.
Typewritten and handwritten sections, an amalgamation of documents, quarto, 18 pages
Underlinings, pencil additions, indications for slides
international style, mies van der rohe, frank lloyd wright, edward stone, eero saarinen, le courbuier, felix candela, matthew novicki, eduardo catalano, hugh stubbins, raymond and rado, jorn utzon, toro-ferrer
This a single page of the first page of the script of Fischer's Ghost story (item D518).
Typewritten, quarto, 1 page
Some edits
fisher's ghost, john farley frederick fisher, george worrell, john georg lang
This is a draft of the document (item D518), which relates the story of Fisher's Ghost, starting with housemaid Margaret (later married to John Farley) before her sentence of transportation for life from Britain to Australia. It appears to be a script to be accompanied by music. A page with the last few sentences are missing. (See items D518 and D520.)
Handwritten, quarto, pencil, 7 pages
fisher's ghost, john farley frederick fisher, george worrell, john georg lang
This document appears to be a script to be accompanied by music, perhaps for radio, to run for 15 minutes. It relates the story of Fisher's Ghost, starting with housemaid Margaret (later married to John Farley) before her sentence to transportation for life from Britain to Australia. (See items D519 and D520.)
Typewritten, quarto, 6 pages
Heavily notated in pencil and black and red pen.
fisher's ghost, john farley frederick fisher, george worrell, john georg lang
This is a review of Robin Boyd's book 'The Puzzle of Architecture'.
Photocopy of the article.
the puzzle of architecture, walsh st library
This is a review of Robin Boyd's book 'The Puzzle of Architecture'.
Newspaper clipping.
the puzzle of architecture, walsh st library
This is a review of Robin Boyd's book 'The Puzzle of Architecture'.
Newspaper clipping.
the puzzle of architecture, walsh st library
This is a review of Robin Boyd's book 'The Puzzle of Architecture'.
Book review in Issue No 157 of Cross-Section, published by The University of Melbourne Department of Architecture.
the puzzle of architecture, walsh st library
This is a review of Robin Boyd's book 'The Puzzle of Architecture'. It makes particular note on Boyd's commentary on Canberra.
Newspaper clipping.
the puzzle of architecture, walsh st library
Robin Boyd wrote two books on Japanese architects and architecture - “Kenzo Tange” published by George Braziller in 1962 and “New Directions in Japanese Architecture” published by Studio Vista in 1968. During the 1960s he travelled several times to Japan to research these books and as part of his role as Exhibits Architect for the Australian Pavilion at Expo ‘70 in Osaka.
Colour slide in a mount. Inner gateway and inner garden, Katsura Imperial Villa, Kyoto, Japan
Japanese Gardens (2) / Katsura Imperial Villa / Inner Gateway & Inner Garden / Nippon Bunker Film Co. Tokyo Japan/ 2402 / 2/ 1960
japan, slide
Final account for the construction of 290 Walsh Street from the builder John Murphy. This document is owned by the Murphy family and was provided to the Robin Boyd Foundation for digitisation.
Final account for the construction of 290 Walsh Street.
This wrought iron "ladder-frame" bookcase is located in Penleigh's bedroom. A second "ladder-frame" bookcase with a drop-down table is located in Suzy's bedroom (item F096). They were both designed by Bruce Anderson - in the past they have been incorrectly attributed to Clement Meadmore. This type of furniture was featured in 'The Age' Small Homes Service and a similar one was featured in 'The Age' Dream Home Exhibition in 1955. From 1947 to 1953, Robin Boyd was the director of The Small Homes Service, set up by the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects in conjunction with "The Age' and he produced a weekly article for 'The Age'.
Wrought iron black frame with 10 ladder slots, and 3 cross brace frames, with 6 timber shelves. Shiny metal feet, nothing covering top of metal frame.
bruce anderson, walsh st furnishings, robin boyd, small homes service
Robin Boyd met architect Neil Clerehan at the end of 1943 when they were both in the army. They worked together on Victorian Small Homes Service and were friends.
Watercolour of a mining building in an outback landscape.
On the reverse side "Neil Clerehan, 1945" on top left in blue pen, and "No 8" on bottom right in pencil.
neil clerehan, robin boyd, ohm2022, ohm2022_29
Robin Boyd travelled to the USA and Britain for several weeks. He attended the opening of the new Australian Chancery in Washington DC, where he had designed an innovative exhibition with cylindrical display cases and sound recordings.
Colour slide in a mount. Paley Park, 3 E 53rd Street New York. Early example of a NYC “Pocket Park”. (Architects: Zion Breen Richardson landscape architects.)
Made in Australia / 23 / JUL 69M2
slide, robin boyd
Penleigh Boyd, Robin and Patricia Boyd's son, writes “Prior to 1950 Robin, like most other amateur or hobby photographers, took black and white printed photographs. The oldest slides date from 1950 when Robin and Patricia travelled to Europe on Robin’s Robert Haddon Travelling Scholarship.” In 1948 Robin Boyd was awarded ‘joint first place’ in the Robert Haddon competition for his design of Mildura art gallery. The scholarship helped fund their first overseas trip. Robin and Patricia were passengers on the Greek ship “Cyrenia” departing in May 1950, passing through the Suez Canal and landing in Genoa five weeks later. For six months, they travelled extensively throughout Europe (predominantly driving themselves) - France, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Spain.
Colour slide in a mount. Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy
-
haddon travelling scholarship, haddon, robin boyd, slide
Colour slide in a mount. Newspaper real estate advertisement, Toorak, Melbourne, Australia
Made in Australia / Encircled 1 (Handwritten)
slide, robin boyd
Colour slide in a mount. Image from a magazine of the interior, apartment, Quamby flats, Glover Court, Toorak, 1940-1. (Architect: Roy Grounds.)
Made in Australia / G9 (Handwritten) / 17 (Handwritten)
slide, robin boyd
Colour slide in a mount. Image of the plan of a 14th century stone building, location unknown
Made in Australia / 4 (Handwritten) / 4 (Handwritten)
slide, robin boyd
Colour slide in a mount. Peter and Dione McIntyre House, Kew 1955. (Architects: Peter and Dione McIntyre.)
-
slide, robin boyd
Colour slide in a mount. House, unknown location, possibly California, USA
Made in Australia / 10 / JUL 65(?)
slide, robin boyd
Colour slide in a mount. Magazine image of Sarasota High School Dining Room perspective (1958-1960), Sarasota, Florida. (Architect: Paul Rudolph.)
Encircled 19 (Handwritten)
slide, robin boyd
Colour slide in a mount. Coastline, possibly Queenland, Australia
Made in Australia / 12 / DEC 68M8
slide, robin boyd
In April-May 1971, Robin and Patricia Boyd travelled to Honolulu, east coast USA and London. In London he was one of the judges for the Commonwealth-wide entries for the redevelopment of Whitehall and the Palace of Westminster. He was also researching overseas libraries, as background for plans for a new State Library of Victoria.
Colour slide in a mount. Barbican Centre, London, England, 1965-76. (Architects: Chamberlin Powell & Bon.)
Made in Australia / 21 / AUG 71M1
slide, robin boyd
Colour slide in a mount. Streetscape Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Made in Australia / 31 / JUN 67M6 / Encircled 18 (Handwritten)
slide, robin boyd
Colour slide in a mount. War veterans housing, location unknown, Australia
Made in Australia / 8 / MAY 64M / Encircled 31 (Handwritten) / Encircled 11 (Handwritten) / War Vets Housing (Handwritten) / See also No 2 (Handwritten)
slide, robin boyd
Colour slide in a mount. Kentuck Knob (Hagan House) Chalk Hill, Pennsylvania, USA, 1956 . (Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright .)
Date: 04819 / Subject / Encircled 29 (Handwritten) / C (Handwritten)
slide, robin boyd
Robin Boyd travelled to the USA and Britain for several weeks. He attended the opening of the new Australian Chancery in Washington DC, where he had designed an innovative exhibition with cylindrical display cases and sound recordings.
Colour slide in a mount. Streetscape, Washington DC USA
Made in Australia / 11 / JUL 69M6
slide, robin boyd
Robin Boyd was appointed Exhibits Architect for the Australian Pavilion at Expo ‘70 in Osaka and travelled to Osaka several times in 1969-1970. Boyd designed the innovative Space Tube, which had over 25 exhibition boxes, projecting from it. Amongst the topics covered were Australian scientific innovation (including brain research, immunology, Antarctic research, Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Power Scheme, rainmaking, and the night sky), Australian sport, house interiors, car manufacturing, Australian music and art, and Japanese-Australian relations.
Colour slide in a mount. American Park, Expo '70, Osaka, Japan
Made in Australia / 30 / MAY 70M3 / 34 (Handwritten)
expo 70, osaka, robin boyd, slide
Colour slide in a mount. Bluestone homestead, Western District, Victoria
Mount Made in England
slide, robin boyd
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
