Anzacs and Lamingtons: An Exploration of Architects’ Trans-Tasman Movements in the War Memorial Years

Abstract

ABSTRACT While nineteenth- and early twentieth-century trans-Tasman movement is an established historical phenomenon, architectural history still tends to consider architects as “belonging” to one nation or the other. This exploratory paper on the theme of trans-Tasman trips and tropes addresses the question of whether architects or our region can – or should – be considered wholly Australian, or New Zealander. To do this, it employs a two-pronged approach. It first examines participation in the competition for the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, held in 1925–26. Secondly, it focuses on trans-Tasman practice and movement in the history of three relatively unknown competitors: Charles Towle, Gordon Keesing, and Peter Kaad. Charles Towle was born in Australia and emigrated in his infancy; Gordon Keesing was born in New Zealand and trained in Australia. Peter Kaad was born in Fiji, and travelled to Australia for his schooling and education. This paper then considers the designs they submitted to the competition for the Australian War Memorial. Finally, it explores the various issues in the consideration of trans-Tasman movement and practice, and lines of further inquiry, that the examples of Towle, Keesing and Kaad reveal.