"Salome", a Streamline Moderne Art Deco Villa - Ballarat
Affording beautiful views of Lake Wendouree from its shrubby, well established garden on a large block, "Salome" is a wonderfully sleek and stylised Art Deco mansion that may be found in the provincial Victorian city of Ballarat.
The clean uncluttered lines of "Salome" are very Streamline Moderne Art Deco in design. The mansion is made almost entirely of red clinker brick, with the exception of the chimney breast of "crazy paving" stones, which makes it a real feature as it spearheads the central circular bay of the villa. "Salome" is very avant-guarde architecturally, with a flat roof, angular eaves, Functionalist Moderne "waterfall windows" and a semi-circular rounded bay window. These are all details typical of the Streamline Moderne and Art Deco architectural movements of late 1930s Australia. Streamline Moderne was known in Australia as Modern Ship Style during the 1930s. This nickname was used because the buildings designed in this style often looked very much like the cascading upper superstructures of ocean liners with their towering decks, railings and porthole windows. The rounded bay window of "Salome" with its large "waterfall windows" flanking its stone chimney does not look unlike the prow of a ship. "Salome's" wide circular bay and feature chimney are signature design elements of Ballarat’s most renowned architect of the 1930s, Herbert Leslie Coburn (1891 – 1956).
Ballarat born Herbert Leslie Coburn grew up to be a renowned Ballarat architect, practicing from 1905 to 1956. He taught Architecture and Building Construction at the Ballarat School of Mines from 1922, resigning in 1948 due to ill health. The Royal Victorian Institute of Architects awarded Herbert Coburn a Silver Medal for the designs of an Anglican Gothic Suburban Church in 1913 while he was still a student of the institute. In 1917 Herbert became associated with Percy Richards, and they formed a partnership in 1918, Richards, Coburn, Richards, which lasted until 1933, when they separated owing to artistic differences. Whilst Percy Richards wished to retain a more traditional style in keeping with the popular conservative tastes of their clients, Herbert Coburn wanted to be at the vanguard of architectural design and was very interested in following the sleeker and stylised designs of the Streamline Moderne movement which was coming out of Europe. Herbert Coburn therefore started his own architectural practice. Coburn studied for formal qualifications by correspondence with the International Correspondence School, obtaining an architectural diploma two years later. His rooms were in the Clyde Chambers at 313 Sturt St, Ballarat. He was a Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects. Some of Herbert Coburn's architectural achievements include: St Patrick's Primary School in Drummond Street Ballarat (1935), the Shire of Wimmera Council Offices in Firebrace Street Horsham (1936), Paterson's Furniture Store in Horsham (circa 1936), the Railway Hotel in Maryborough (1938) and the clock tower of the Stawell Town Hall (1939). In addition to these, there are many beautiful, well designed and executed modernist Art Deco villas around Ballarat that bear his distinct architectural style.
The community minded Herbert Coburn was elected a Councillor with the City of Ballarat in 1938, and Mayor in 1945. Herbert’s motivation was the 'proper development and advancement of his city.' He held the position of Councillor until 1952.
"Salome", a Streamline Moderne Art Deco Villa - Ballarat
Affording beautiful views of Lake Wendouree from its shrubby, well established garden on a large block, "Salome" is a wonderfully sleek and stylised Art Deco mansion that may be found in the provincial Victorian city of Ballarat.
The clean uncluttered lines of "Salome" are very Streamline Moderne Art Deco in design. The mansion is made almost entirely of red clinker brick, with the exception of the chimney breast of "crazy paving" stones, which makes it a real feature as it spearheads the central circular bay of the villa. "Salome" is very avant-guarde architecturally, with a flat roof, angular eaves, Functionalist Moderne "waterfall windows" and a semi-circular rounded bay window. These are all details typical of the Streamline Moderne and Art Deco architectural movements of late 1930s Australia. Streamline Moderne was known in Australia as Modern Ship Style during the 1930s. This nickname was used because the buildings designed in this style often looked very much like the cascading upper superstructures of ocean liners with their towering decks, railings and porthole windows. The rounded bay window of "Salome" with its large "waterfall windows" flanking its stone chimney does not look unlike the prow of a ship. "Salome's" wide circular bay and feature chimney are signature design elements of Ballarat’s most renowned architect of the 1930s, Herbert Leslie Coburn (1891 – 1956).
Ballarat born Herbert Leslie Coburn grew up to be a renowned Ballarat architect, practicing from 1905 to 1956. He taught Architecture and Building Construction at the Ballarat School of Mines from 1922, resigning in 1948 due to ill health. The Royal Victorian Institute of Architects awarded Herbert Coburn a Silver Medal for the designs of an Anglican Gothic Suburban Church in 1913 while he was still a student of the institute. In 1917 Herbert became associated with Percy Richards, and they formed a partnership in 1918, Richards, Coburn, Richards, which lasted until 1933, when they separated owing to artistic differences. Whilst Percy Richards wished to retain a more traditional style in keeping with the popular conservative tastes of their clients, Herbert Coburn wanted to be at the vanguard of architectural design and was very interested in following the sleeker and stylised designs of the Streamline Moderne movement which was coming out of Europe. Herbert Coburn therefore started his own architectural practice. Coburn studied for formal qualifications by correspondence with the International Correspondence School, obtaining an architectural diploma two years later. His rooms were in the Clyde Chambers at 313 Sturt St, Ballarat. He was a Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects. Some of Herbert Coburn's architectural achievements include: St Patrick's Primary School in Drummond Street Ballarat (1935), the Shire of Wimmera Council Offices in Firebrace Street Horsham (1936), Paterson's Furniture Store in Horsham (circa 1936), the Railway Hotel in Maryborough (1938) and the clock tower of the Stawell Town Hall (1939). In addition to these, there are many beautiful, well designed and executed modernist Art Deco villas around Ballarat that bear his distinct architectural style.
The community minded Herbert Coburn was elected a Councillor with the City of Ballarat in 1938, and Mayor in 1945. Herbert’s motivation was the 'proper development and advancement of his city.' He held the position of Councillor until 1952.