Overlay | A New Australian Heritage: Opening Night

Heritage guidelines have preserved a portion of our architectural history giving rise to an Australian heritage aesthetic embedded in our collective memory. Visions of cast iron balustrades, polychrome brickwork and decorative stucco evoke feelings of nostalgia but early heritage aesthetics are built on an inherited and colonial visual language. Federation style homes were an early attempt at establishing a more distinct Australian visual identity. Over a century later, we are facing pressures of increased density and sustainability and designers are turning their focus to improving connection to community and country. Heritage overlays aim to preserve a past but they are not providing a clear framework to address these issues and may be inhibiting the growth of a new era of Australian design.

Overlay presents visions of a new Australian heritage through the eyes of architects, interior and object designers. The work presented is a fresh interpretation of an Australian heritage aesthetic from the inside out investigating how we may more authentically reflect our climate and context.


Presented by CJ Cornish + Locki Humphrey in collaboration with the NGV and Creative Victoria.