Gunyah, Goondie + Wurley: The Aboriginal Architecture of Australia is the only continental survey of First Nations architectural practice in this country — a comprehensively updated examination of Indigenous-designed structures from minimalist shelters to semi-permanent villages.
About This Book
Built on decades of field research, this award-winning volume dismantles long-held misconceptions about early Aboriginal constructions and settlements, revealing the range, ingenuity, and cultural depth of Indigenous architecture across the continent. It maps structures spanning from temporary shelters to complex semi-permanent dwellings, situating each within its broader cultural and environmental context. Updated to reflect the flourishing Indigenous design practices reshaping contemporary Australian architecture, the book connects ancient spatial intelligence with present-day practice. For architects, historians, and students of Australian design, it is an indispensable reference — richly illustrated with rare photographs drawn from extensive fieldwork.
Key Features
- 440 pages of rare archival and field photographs alongside scholarly analysis of Indigenous architectural forms
- Author: Paul Memmott
- Published by Thames & Hudson Australia, ISBN 9781760762513
What You'll Discover
- The full spectrum of Aboriginal-designed structures across Australia, from minimalist temporary shelters to organised semi-permanent houses and villages
- How decades of field research and archival documentation challenge false narratives about the complexity of pre-colonial Aboriginal settlements
- The relationship between Indigenous spatial design, cultural heritage, and lifestyle — and how these inform contemporary First Nations architectural practice
- The dynamic influence of Aboriginal architectural traditions on the reshaping of Australia's broader architectural landscape today
About the Author
Paul Memmott is the author of this definitive survey, whose work draws on decades of research and fieldwork into Aboriginal architecture and settlements across Australia. His sustained engagement with Indigenous communities and built environments underpins the scholarly authority of this volume.
Specifications
- Format: Hardcover
- Pages: 440
- Dimensions: 287 x 224 mm
- Language: English
- ISBN: 9781760762513
- Publisher: Thames & Hudson Australia
- Publication Date: [Details available upon request]
Perfect For: Architects and designers engaged with Indigenous practice, historians of Australian architecture, academics and students in built environment disciplines, and anyone seeking a serious grounding in First Nations spatial culture.