Importing expertise: Australian-us architects and the large-scale, 1945–1990

Abstract

After World War II, Australia turned – politically, socially and culturally – more and more to its strongest ally across the Pacific, the United States of America. In architecture, this turn was not only aesthetic but also based on the deliberate gaining of expertise to achieve large-scale projects like factories, skyscrapers and international chain hotels. Australian architects actively sought out American corporate firms, forming associations that would help their practices capture ever-larger commissions as part of Australia’s galloping US-styled post-war urbanisation. This acquisition of ‘expertise’ was one way, a relatively uncritical but focused business strategy and it was a habit tha..