Consider Newburn Flats a bold statement. Completed in 1941, the Newburn Flats stand as one of Australia’s first adaptations of European Modernist ideals for multi-unit living.
Frederick Romberg, a Swiss-trained architect, designed Newburn Flats. He had recently arrived from Europe. He partnered with Mary Turner Shaw, one of Melbourne’s few female architects. Together, they created something truly unique at 30 Queens Road.
Romberg migrated to Australia in 1938. He left behind the tumultuous European political climate. With financial help from his father-in-law, he established Newburn P/L. The company’s goal was to redevelop a site on Queens Road into investment flats. The name “Newburn” came from the Victorian mansion “Newburgh” previously located there.
Construction wasn’t easy. The outbreak of World War II caused delays and material shortages. Despite these challenges, the Newburn Flats were completed. Romberg even sued the builder over penalty clauses.
The initial design was clever. It increased rental profits by adding an extra bedroom to the front four flats. These flats were twisted to face Albert Park. A glazed stairwell separated them from the other units. The angular planning provided privacy and garden views. Access was via lift/stair wells and open balconies at the rear.
The construction method was innovative for Australia. The entire structure was made of bare concrete, a technique common in Switzerland. Steel shutters were used for formwork. Corrugated iron created textured balcony edges.
Romberg also incorporated art into the design. He enlisted Gert Sellheim, a commercial artist. Sellheim painted an individual aboriginal motif for each of the 25 flats. He also created a colorful sundial on the external wall. Unfortunately, these motifs were painted over when the flats were sold in 1957.
The Newburn Flats also featured a distinctive color scheme. Creamy-white exterior walls were highlighted with blue and yellow window frames. The rear garage doors had a bold blue-and-cream checkered pattern. The current restoration aims to reinstate these features.
Architecturally, Newburn Flats made a big impact. Its offset planning resembled Gropius’s Berlin housing estates. Key design elements related to the Expressionism of Erich Mendelsohn. It was the first Australian residential design to use off-form concrete as an exterior surface.
Later, the rooftop pergola was replaced by a penthouse in the 1950s. This served as Romberg’s architectural office while he worked on the Stanhill project.
The building was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in 1984. It was one of the earliest Modernist buildings to receive this recognition. In 2019-20, a comprehensive program of repairs and restoration was carried out. Today, Newburn Flats remains structurally sound. It stands as a testament to Romberg’s vision and the early adoption of European Modernism in Australia.