An Overview of the Federation Era
1901 onwards
Some of the external Federation house features were verandas, coloured
glass windows above tall paned windows, timber fretwork and multi
gabled rooves, with interesting capping.
Interior designs were moving away from the ornamentation of Britain's
‘Victorian ‘ era with less decorative work and more linear timber fretwork,
decorative tin and plaster ceiling panels, and stained timber floorboards.
The decorative work was becoming more uniquely Australian in style with
the introduction of Australian flora and fauna being the feature rather than
the previous British images. Icons such as the kangaroo, kookaburra,
lyrebird, waratah, gum leaves, and wattle to name a few.
Furniture was rich coloured timbers and
the furnishings more subdued than the
Victorian era, as were the wall colours .
Soft furnishings were velvets and
tapestry prints in floral designs.
Other room decoration was often in the
form of paintings , photographs as well
as plants such as the ‘Cast iron’ plant
chosen for obvious reasons.
Floor coverings were timber with rugs,
and hall runners. Tessellated floor tiles
were also very popular.
5.
Above – Plaster ceiling pattern
Left – Federation sideboard
Below – Tessellated tile floor
(Source - ’The Federation House’)
& ‘Rendition Tiles’