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Art and Design

Discover stories about the unique work of Australian artists, architects and designers.

Art and Design

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Architecture

The Iron Church

by Geoff Barker

For over 50 years, the site next to the New South Wales Parliament on Macquarie Street was occupied by one of the Colony's more unusual pieces of architecture.

St Stephen's Church, Iron Church, Macquarie Street, Sydney, 1871,

Douglas Snelling: Pan-Pacific modernist

by Davina Jackson

Stylish and talented architect-designer Douglas Snelling introduced modern American living styles to aspirational Sydneysiders after the Second World War.

Photo of Snelling’s concept perspective for the Keith Smith House, Mosman (1955–1958), published on the cover of Architecture and Arts magazine, February 1956

How Australia builds

by Margot Riley

The recently digitised Building magazine is a trove of information about twentieth century construction. 

Image of Florence Taylor, Editor, Building magazine
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Drawings and paintings

The Magic Pudding

by Sarah Morley

In October 1918 Angus & Robertson published what would become one of Australia’s best known children’s stories: The Magic Pudding.

Toulgra

by Ronald Briggs

An 1802 portrait of a young Eora man, by French artist Nicolas-Martin Petit, is remarkable for its attention to detail.

Toulgra

Eternally yours

by Margot Riley

Buried deep down in the cool darkness of the Library’s framed picture store hangs a beautiful portrait of the young Mrs F O’Brien. It was painted in mid-1841 by naval surgeon-turned artist Maurice Felton from a death mask.

Sophia O'Brien, 1841 / Maurice Felton

A French sailor-artist on the South Seas

by Anna Corkhill

An enquiry from France brings to light a gem of nineteenth century travel illustration.

L’extrémité des alamedas à Lima
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Graphic design

River dreams

by Ian Tyrrell

Bold plans to transform the Cooks River in Sydney are reflected in the Library's collection.

The Sydney Cove Medallion

by Emma Butler-Nixon

An interest by British arrivals in the quality of Sydney clay led to the making of the Sydney Cove Medallion by noted English ceramicist, Josiah Wedgwood.

Etruria 1789
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