In conversation with Tim Ross
Earlier this year, architecture and design enthusiast Tim Ross presented his show, The Australian Dream?, at State Library Victoria as part of a nationwide tour. The show is a culmination of 18 months of research and was created in collaboration with state libraries across the country and the National Library of Australia.
In The Australian Dream?, Ross unpacks why Australia, as a nation, is so obsessed with home ownership. And what does that mean for us, and our national identity, now that the idea of homeownership has become increasingly out of reach for many?
Ross’s research in collections and archives across the country unearthed many gems, including images, stories, designs and plans for Australian homes built to last.
In this conversation, Tim Ross and the Library’s Chief Digital Officer, Paula Bray, discuss the inspiration behind The Australian Dream? and the role libraries and archives – and their rich cultural holdings – play in explaining where we’ve come from and where we’re headed.
About Tim Ross
Tim Ross is a celebrated comedian and a passionate advocate for architecture and design promoting its value in multiple forums.
He is the recipient of the National Trust Heritage Award for Advocacy regarding Australia’s legacy of modernist architecture; of an Australian Institute of Architects National President’s Prize for activism and outstanding contribution to the profession; was a National Architecture Awards jury member and was awarded as an honorary Institute member.
Tim has performed his liveMan About the Houseshow in significant buildings throughout the world, at the Venice Biennale and London Festival of Architecture. His ABC TV series Streets of Your Town, and Designing A Legacy; exhibitions including Design Nation and Motel; prolific publications; guest speaker engagements and as a provocative design commentator have made design accessible to a wide, diverse and appreciative audience.
Download the transcript
- Transcript in Word (.docx, 1.88mb)
- Transcript in PDF (132.4kb)