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Old Sir Joseph Banks Hotel, Botany (c. 1884).

Ardmore terrace houses, Fremantle (c. 1898)

Dorset Terrace, Launceston (1888)

Filigree architecture is the name given to a phase in the history of Australian architecture. The phase was an embellishment of the "Australian verandah tradition", where the verandah evolved from its functional usages in the Old Colonial period to become highly ornamental. Buildings described as being built in the filigree style possess verandah and balcony structures that dominate the facade, hiding the building's external walls behind an intricately-textured verandah screen that subsumed the building. The name "filigree" refers to the intricate texture of the balustrades, columns, brackets and freizes that made up that verandah screen, which was often perforated to let air and light pass through. This lacy, filigree screen was designed to stand proud of the mass of the main building, creating an in-between space that was both public and private.

Filigree architecture is divided into two main phases. Victorian Filigree describes architecture with a visually dominant verandah or balcony constructed during the Victorian era between c. 1840 – c. 1900. The primary verandah construction material in this era was cast iron, often referred to as "cast iron lacework" . Federation Filigree describes the continuation of this verandah tradition into the Federation era (c. 1890 – c. 1920). In this period cast iron (though still in usage) was eclipsed by the demand for novel, naturalised materials such as timber and hand-worked wrought iron.

Verandah structures and decorative cast iron were common components of Victorian and Federation architecture, and the prevalence of these components on Italianate, Gothic, and Second Empire styled buildings indicates their popularity at the time. However their presence did not necessarily characterise a building as being of the filigree style, this term being reserved for buildings whereby the lacework verandah is the main external design feature. The style did not have a class consciousness, being used both on humble workers cottage developments, as well as by prominent commercial architects such as Richard Gailey and Andrea Stombuco. Neither was it reserved for a single setting, being used in domestic, commercial, and governmental settings, becoming particularly well associated with the Australian terrace house, and the Australian verandah'd pub.

These strong associations have led to the filigree style being "regarded as distinctly Australian." And while both ornamental cast iron and verandahs can be found elsewhere in the world, Australia possesses a unique interpretation of the design and form of this style, as well as a prevalence unseen elsewhere.

Origins

Elizabeth Farm, Parramatta (1894). Single-storey bungalow with verandah shading against the northern sun. Openwork columns probably added in 1865 during repairs.

The first verandah structures built by European colonisers were bungalow-type buildings perhaps inspired by examples found in other parts of the British Empire through the connection of military officers who had served in India and North America. The Lieutenant Governor, Major Francis Grose had served in North America during the War of Independence and likely would have encountered the verandah during his time there. In 1893, Grose added a verandah to the frontage of the house in which he was residing. Later, during Grose's tenure as governor a single storey verandah was added along the front of Government House, and in 1802 it was extended along the side of the new eastern additions. Captain John Macarthur and his wife Elizabeth built their farmhouse at Parramatta in 1894 with a verandah running along the northern aspect overlooking the river. The verandah in this early period often acted as an external passageway, serving as the access point to rooms which did not connect to each other internally. Most crucially, the verandah also served to protect against both harsh sun and torrential rain.

The wide verandahs afford a cool shelter from the intense heat of the meridian sun, and give the cottages an air of shady retirement, which has its own peculiar elegance.

— Joseph Fowles, Sydney in 1848

Lyons Terrace, Hyde Park (1841)

In Sydney in 1848, Joseph Fowles remarks that the four-storeyed verandah was the dominant architectural feature of the Royal Hotel, commenting that "the walling of the Royal Hotel is extremely plain. Neither architectural nor ornamental character of any kind is assumed, albeit the front is enclosed by a series of balconies supported on Roman columns."

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  South Wing, "Rum Hospital" now Sydney Mint (c.1810-1816)
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  North Wing, "Rum Hospital" now Parliament of NSW (c.1810-1816)
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  Cleveland House, Surry Hills (c. 1823-24). Design attributed to Francis Greenway. Single-storey colonnade wrapping around three sides of the building.
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  'George Street from the Wharf', James Wilson Carmichael (1829), showing the colonnaded verandahs lining the street.
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  Horbury Terrace, Macquarie Street (c.1836)
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  Royal Hotel, George Street, Sydney (c.1840)
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  Victoria Barracks, Paddington (1841-1846). Designed by Lt. Col. George Barney, of the Royal Engineers.

Few things strike new arrivals with more surprise than the external appearance and the inner appointments of this building – its ranges of balconies without, its labyrinth within.

The walling of the Royal Hotel is extremely plain. Neither architectural nor ornamental character of any kind is assumed, albeit the front is enclosed by a series of balconies supported on Roman columns.

These balconies, entered from and on a level with the different floor of the building, are wide and spacious, forming a fine promenade in hot and sultry weather; and, giving shade and shelter to the adjoining rooms, are admirably adapted to a climate like ours.

— Joseph Fowles, Sydney in 1848

Another long longgggggggg parapragraphhhhhhh t aht issss sooooooooooo longgggggggg

Victorian Filigree

Victoriiiaaa

Federation Filigree

FedoRaySHUN