Period Home Styles

The popular period home styles are:

• Gothic (1840’s – 1880’s)
• Mid Victorian (1860 – 1880)
• Italianate (1870 – 1890)
• Boom Style (1875 – 1890’s)
• Federation (1895 – 1915)
• Edwardian (1900 – 1915)
• Californian Bungalow (1920’s)
• Spanish Mission (1930’s)
• Art Deco (1930’s)
• Double & Triple Fronted Brick Veneer (1960’s – 1970’s)

Gothic (1840’s – 1880’s)

This style incorporates the elements and features similar to the classical European Gothic architecture. The period reflects some of the features found in cathedrals and churches with towering roof structures and highly elaborate ornamental characteristics. Some key features of the Gothic period include:

• Slate or terracotta roof tiling
• Steep, high pitched gable roofing
• Timber weatherboards or solid brick walls with stucco finishing
• Arched pointed windows
• Timber framed casement or double hung windows

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Mid Victorian (1860 – 1880)

A very popular period style in Melbourne’s inner city, the Mid Victorian homes combines simplicity and elegance in one package. Some key features of the Mid Victorian period include:

• Timber weatherboards with imitation cladding or solid red and brown brickwork
• Highly imposing street façade
• Verandahs and balustrades incorporating cast iron lacework
• Slate or corrugated iron roofing
• Double hung timer windows

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Italianate (1870 – 1890)

The Italianate is a style in the Victorian period, which exhibit features resembling the Southern Italian villas. Similar to the boom style, these houses feature a highly decorative street facade. Some key features of the Italianate Victorian period include:

• Hipped slate or corrugated iron roof
• Render usually applied to external walls
• Cast iron lacework applied to verandahs
• Arched double hung timber windows
• Semi octagonal projecting front room

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Boom Style (1875 – 1890’s)

The Boom period style homes show off the prosperity and economic boom in Melbourne in the 1880’s, which resulted in stunningly decorated homes and a highly imposing street facade. Some key features of the Boom Style period include:

• Polychromatic solid brick walls
• Slate tiles or corrugated iron roofing
• Corrugated iron roof verandahs
• Highly decorative lacework to front verandahs
• Brick arched double hung windows

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Federation (1895 – 1915)

This style was created by combining the celebration of the Federation of Australia along with the complicated and highly decorative style of the English Queen Anne architecture. Some key features of the Federation period include:

• Red brick external walls or weatherboards
• Steep pitched, with multiple cone turrets and an integrated verandah roof
• Terracotta roof tiles or slate roofing
• Timber framed lead light casement windows
• Often an Australian symbol is patterned into the timber fretwork

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Edwardian (1900 – 1915)

This style is classified into this period because they were created and built during the reign of King Edward VII. The houses are similar to the Federation style, but with far less ornamentation. Some key features of the Edwardian period include:

• Red bricks or painted weatherboards
• Slate, terracotta or corrugated iron roofing
• Hooded bay windows to gable end walls
• Timber framed casement window, often includes lead lights

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Californian Bungalow (1920’s)

An American style home introduced in Australia in the 1920’s, this period became extremely popular in the inner suburbs of Melbourne, and recognised as being the ‘cosiest’ style among all period homes. Some key features of the Californian Bungalow period include:

• Terracotta or concrete tile roofing
• Timber double hung casement windows
• Some include bay window and lead light combination
• Exposed rafter ends
• Red face brickwork, weatherboards or render finish

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Spanish Mission (1930’s)

The period style is a unique version of the influenced Spanish mission architecture and can be recognized by its heavily decorated walls, columns and arches. Some key features of the Spanish Mission period include:

• Spanish pattern terracotta tiles
• White render brick walls, often highly textured surface
• Timber framed double hung windows
• Arched entry hall
• Highly decorative columns

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Art Deco (1930’s)

• Heavy solid appearance
• Solid brick or weatherboard external walls
• Double hung windows with lead light upper panes
• Hipped roof with terracotta tiles
• Unique Art Deco ornamentation

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Double & Triple Fronted Brick Veneer (1960’s – 1970’s)

Commencing in the 1960’s, there was a standard construction of brick veneer homes expanding across Melbourne’s outer suburbs. These buildings lacked excitement and character but on the other hand were cost effective and well built. Some key features of the Brick Veneer period include:

• Concrete tiled hipped roof
• Brick veneer wall, usually wire cut bricks, often light tan, light red or brown
• Horizontal aluminium windows
• Brick or terracotta tile window sill
• Very little decoration
• Timber flooring

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