Talk by Bob Irving: Australia’s Oldest Building

A presentation by Robert Irving OAM will be held on Sunday on 18 October 2020. The esteemed architectural historian and author Bob Irving (a member of our Society) has a wealth of knowledge on history and heritage will present a talk to the Society on Australia’s First Real Building.
Bob’s presentation will illustrate one of the least-known historical events in the early history of Australia. It was the arrival on the First Fleet in 1788 of the portable house that Governor Arthur Phillip brought to Sydney Cove for his occupation until what is now known as the (long-gone) First Government House could be erected for him. The assembled portable house became Australia’s very first prefabricated building —a remarkable example in the New World of the burgeoning industrial revolution in Britain.
The talk is the product of new research showing for the first time the nature and origin of this important part of our architectural history. Professor Max Freeland called it ‘Australia’s first real building’.