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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

The five bridges

by Anni Turnbull

From the 1800s, a host of bridges were built over the bays and coves to the west of Sydney. Five became known as the ‘five bridges’: Gladesville Bridge, Fig Tree Bridge, Glebe Island Bridge, Iron Cove Bridge and Pyrmont Bridge.

Birds eye view of the Port of Sydney

Government House, Domain, Sydney

by Geoff Barker

By 1834, pressures on land in Sydney Cove compelled Governor Bourke to move Government House.

Government House, 1869, by Lieutenant-Colonel Trevor, State Library of New South Wales, PXA 974

Old Government House, Sydney Cove

by Geoff Barker

For 56 years almost every Governor lived in the house on the corner of Phillip and Bridge streets

Old Government House, 1836, J.G. Austin, hand coloured lithograph,
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Drawings and paintings

Conrad Martens and George Edwards Peacock: Sydney artists

Artists have always been attracted to the natural beauty of Sydney Harbour and its foreshores.

Papua New Guinea (PNG): Forty years of independence

Although European navigators visited and explored the Papua New Guinea islands for 170 years, little was known of the Papua New Guinea inhabitants until the late 19th century.
c027690051.jpg

The story of May Gibbs

May Gibbs, author, illustrator and cartoonist, has captured the hearts and imaginations of generations of Australians with her lovable bush characters and fairytale landscapes.

Hope you're still going strong! [tennis] c. 1916, colour postcard by May Gibbs

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

Arresting gaze

by Helen Casey

A compelling portrait of a young colonial woman has been given new life. 

Julia Sharp, Conservation Manager, David Stein & Co, works on the painting

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.

the magic pudding illustration

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

Graphic design

Working for the Weekend

by Ryan Cropp

Donald Horne’s unlikely editorship of the mass-market Weekend magazine was a crucial stage in the Lucky Country author’s development as a public intellectual.

An old magazine cover, featuring a woman wearing a swimsuit and a cone-shaped, bamboo hat and the headline: "Bigameist confesses 'I had six wives'".

The Bowman flag

Our first coat of arms? The first recorded use of the kangaroo and emu supporting a shield is found on the Bowman Flag of 1806.

Fred Harris Tattoo Studio

by Geoff Barker

Sometime around 1916, Fred Harris opened a small tattoo shop in Sussex Street, Sydney.

Tattooing a man's head with a butterfly, Sydney, 17 December 1937

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

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

Decoration and Glass magazine

by Sarah Morley

Decoration and Glass, a magazine for home builders, architects and decorators has been digitised in colour as part of the Library’s Digital Excellence Program. 

Decoration and Glass, Published by Australian Glass Manufacturers Co. Ltd, Dowling Street waterloo, NSW, Australia, 1 July, 1936
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