Qantas House History

Improved Essays
Qantas House is one of an iconic building of Post-War International Style in Sydney. This masterpiece was designed in 1950, and completed in 1957, by an architect called Felix Tavener of Rudder Littlemore & Rudder, Architects. According to NSW Environment & Heritage, Qantas House is a representative building of the latest technology and urbanised design in Sydney which also showed the ‘moderate’ transitional aspects of 1930s European modernism. It is also a main defining urban space of Chifley Square2.
This building is located at the conjunction of 68-96 Hunter Street in Sydney and Phillip Street, and Elizabeth Street (as shown in Figure 1). It is historically significant as the first headquarter of Qantas Airway, at the time Australia’s only,
…show more content…
It was then renamed as “No.1 Chifley Square” after Qantas Airways moved the headquarter to Mascot which the location is nearer to Sydney Airport with a bigger space. Qantas House is still commercially used today by different companies. The building is now included in the NSW State Heritage Register1.
This essay is going to illustrate the basic information of Qantas House, the background and history, the planning and design, comparison of the past and present.Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service (Qantas) was established in the early 19th century. It is the first airline company in Eastern Australia, which the first headquarter is located in Brisbane, Queensland. It was the first government subsidised airline service. In 1935, Qantas Airline started to fly internationally. International growth had led Qantas Airline to improve and upgrade their main assets, aeroplanes. In 1950s, they’ve bought their first ever Boeing 707, and the building of Qantas House, where their first international headquarter was going to locate.Qantas House was designed by an architecture firm,
…show more content…
The architect who designed the building was Felix Tavener. Felix Tavener, a very passionate architect, graduated from Sydney Technical College in 1938. After he graduated, he travelled to Europe to explore more buildings that were themed as modernism, which could not be seen in Australia. He joined Rudder, Littlemore and Rudder in 1949 after returning to Australia. In 1950, Felix Tavener designed Qantas House for Qantas Airways, with the inspiration of the London first curtain wall building, Peter Jones Department Store (as shown in figure 2), by William Crabtree and Professor Charles Reilly which was designed in early of 1930s and completed in 1939. Qantas House is a very powerful symbol of forward-looking for Qantas Airways. It is an evidence of the rapid expansion of the airline in the 1950s. It was also appointed as the finest new building in British Commonwealth by the Royal Institute of British Architects4. With the unique design and latest building technology in the 20th century, Qantas House had become the Bronze Medal of Royal Institute of British Architects in 1959. It is now one of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Register of 20th Buildings of Significance, also the NSW State Heritage Register. Qantas House was

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    I am sure you have heard of the Empire State Building and the International Space Station. The Empire State Building and the ISS have many differences and similarities. There are main topics about these two structures that I would like to compare. One of them is the size of the two structures. Both of these structures are very big.…

    • 722 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Balgowlah Heights Summary

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Balgowlah Heights Summary Balgowlah Heights is a Northern Beaches Sydney suburb that wasn’t developed until the 1960s. It is conveniently located about 11 kilometres from Sydney’s central business district, making it perfect for commuting to the city without living in it. Access to the Manly fast ferry and Sydney public transport allows locals to get back and forth to work and to other suburbs. Because of the location of Balgowlah Heights, some of the residents live in homes that give them a wide range of spectacular views of the harbour and the surrounding areas. Balgowlah Heights is part of a remnant of the Sydney Harbour bushland, which is within the national park.…

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    STRATEGIC CENTRE: GREATER PARRAMATTA Greater Parramatta is comprised of Parramatta CBD, Westmead health precinct, Rydalmere education precinct and Parramatta North. Greater Parramatta’s primary role is a commercial hub with a full range of government, business, retail, cultural, recreational and entertainment activities. Greater Parramatta has strong links to Sydney CBD and the Cumberland District. It has benefited from recent investment in office stock, surrounding residential development and relocation of government departments. A number of recent and proposed developments in the Parramatta CBD will create opportunities for the area to grow and realise its potential as Sydney’s second CBD, becoming an increasingly more attractive area…

    • 214 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Dawes Point Summary If you love the idea of living near the waterfront, Dawes Point (Walsh Bay), is one of the most desirable waterfront suburbs in Sydney. Located right next to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, you’ll find an exclusive blend of luxury waterfront properties, entertainment, commercial, and restaurant culture all around. Dawes Point is considered a quiet alcove on Sydney Harbour where the historic Rocks area is easily accessible. Living here provides you with easy access to the cosmopolitan lifestyle that is associated with the harbourside culture.…

    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mcmahon's Point Summary

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages

    McMahon’s Point Summary McMahon's Point is a serene haven that feels far away from hectic city life of the CBD and its neighbouring suburbs. Locals are often seen enjoying the harbourside views from Blues Point Reserve, Sawmills Reserve, or one of the eateries along Blues Point Road. North Sydney towers behind McMahon's Point as a backdrop, while it faces the beauty of Sydney Harbour. This special and unique suburb is surrounded by beauty as much as it is beautiful on the inside.…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ponce De Leon Hall History

    • 1173 Words
    • 5 Pages

    THE HISTORY OF PONCE DE LEON HALL Flagler College’s Ponce de Leon hall, located at 74 King St, St Augustine, Florida, was built in 1888 by architects John Carrére and Thomas Hastings, who were still new to the field at the time (Horn). The main building of the hall is now used mostly for student housing purposes, but the exterior architectural features and domed lobby space showcase impressive design features and elements of styles that we have covered this semester (Branch). It originally served as a hotel and “luxury resort,” before being converted to collegiate use 47 years ago. Today, the hall is considered a “National Historic Landmark” and “masterpiece” of “Spanish Renaissance architecture” in the 19th century, and boasts many similarities…

    • 1173 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Victoriais Australia's second smallest state, but when it comes to activities and attractions, it has lot to offer. The state has good road connections for driving holidays and offers breathtaking mountain vistas, secluded and peaceful beaches and dramatically rugged rocky coastlines. Its coastline which borders on Bass Straitis a rugged coastline but includes many wide sandy beaches and three large, almost fully enclosed harbours. It has a massive land area that offers a variety of sights, climates, sports activities, accommodation and people. It is also known as the "GardenState" due to its beautiful green rolling countryside.…

    • 417 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Australia has a population of about 23.13 million people. Australia's capital is Canberra. Australia's prime minister is Malcolm Turnbull. Australia has lots of beautiful cities. For example Sydney is a very beautiful.…

    • 367 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The changing land use around Sydney Harbour is caused by a large variety of reasons, which shape Sydney into what it is today. The earliest known recount of the land’s usage that it was used for hunting, gathering and primary production by the Indigenous people. After the European settlers arrived*, they cleared the lands which drove out most of the native wildlife. Initially, the area had been planned to be used for agriculture but the land was deemed relatively infertile so their plans moved westwards. It was from the 1800s onwards that the area is now being to harbour ships; following a myriad of factories and warehouses being developed along the surrounding streets.…

    • 1024 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Before taking Scientology’s personality tests in Sydney and Brisbane, I knew the experience might be confronting. Nonetheless, my expectations were about to be exceeded. Stepping inside Sydney’s Castlereagh Street headquarters, I was struck by images of erupting volcanoes, Egyptian-looking Scientology symbols, and Star-Trek-style video pods. It feels like a blend of a holistic healing centre and the control-deck of the Starship Enterprise. Soon, I’m looking down at Scientology’s Oxford Capacity Analysis personality test: 200 often strangely worded questions, ask how I “feel RIGHT NOW” about a disparate range of issues.…

    • 1059 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The book, The Massey Murder takes place predominantly in downtown Toronto and mentions many streets and buildings which are still present. Some of the many buildings that were mentioned in the book include Old City Hall, Osgoode Hall, the Court Street Police Station, The Adelaide Street Courthouse, and Massey Music Hall. Most of these buildings are located near Adelaide Street, Jarvis Street, Bay Street and Queen Street. During the time of the trial, times and the city were a lot different than they are now. At the time, the automobile industry was booming which is where Bert Massey was employed along with many other men and cars were related closely to the status of the owners.…

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Queen's house, designed by architect Inigo Jones was the first pure classical building in Britain and brought a revolution into the architectural scene. Inigo Jones was inspired by his travels in Italy and especially his second visit in 1613 where he visited major cities and buildings and compared theory with practice, from then on his style of architecture took a new form. I want to explore the originality of Queen's house, how much of the design came from Inigo Jones the architect and how much came from Inigo Jones the posthumous sponsor of Palladianism, as he is often referred to. Andrea Palladio is often seen as the main inspiration to building Queen's house and Jones took his treaties 'I quattro libri dell'architettura' as an architectural…

    • 1643 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Sydney Opera House Essay

    • 996 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The two largest theatres, the Opera Theatre and Concert Hall reside in the two larger ‘shells’ of the building. The three smaller sized theatres, the Drama Theatre, Playhouse and Studio are located on the western side of the building with the Utzon room on the eastern side. The forecourt, which is used for most community event and large scale outside performances, is located outside the building towards the back. The concert hall is the largest with 2678 seats and is home of the Sydney Symphony. The famous Guillaume at Bennelong restaurant is situated in the outer shells of the building.…

    • 996 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 2. TECHNICAL, SOCIAL, POLITICAL EFFECT ON PROJECT PERFORMANCE IN SINGAPORE CONTEXT 3. ANALYSIS AND RESULTS 4. CONCLUSION 5.…

    • 955 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Great Essays

    Introduction Grand Hyatt Macau is convention hotel and Butterfly on Prat Boutique Hotel is boutique hotel. Both they are famous in the world. Their type is different, so their facilities are different to suitable for their target market. In this project, will comparison this two hotel from facilities and services. Also, will introduce the hotel and their hotel group background.…

    • 1197 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays