Celebrating the architectural legacy of Esmond Dorney: Docomomo International honors his Hobart home

About Esmond Dorney

Born in 1906, Esmond Dorney began his career after receiving training from Walter Burley and Marion Mahoney Griffin. His first project was completed in 1929. From 1929 to 1940, Dorney worked on a variety of building styles, including Old English revival (tudor) and streamline modern. During this time, he focused on designing flats in Melbourne’s St Kilda, Elwood, South Yarra, Sandringham, and Toorak.

celebrating-the-architectural-legacy-of-esmond-dorney

Hobart architect Esmond Dorneyin 1981. © Esmond Dorney Trust.

Dorney moved to Tasmania after serving in World War II and created his most respected artworks. His artistic style evolved during this period, featuring asymmetrical compositions and functional design elements.

Dorney House is highly regarded by prominent Australian architects, such as Glenn Murcutt and Carey Lyon, who have both visited the historic home.

Dorney’s architectural projects in Tasmania have made significant contributions to the field of architecture. One of his most famous works, the Dorney House, is highly recognized and influential. Additionally, his apartment complexes in Melbourne have had a lasting impact on the character and aesthetic of the city’s bayside suburbs. Unfortunately, two separate bushfire incidents resulted in the loss of a significant amount of documentation related to his Melbourne projects, which was devastating.

He passed away in 1992, and his son Paddy, who followed in his footsteps as an architect, has dedicated the past three decades to gathering his father’s works and compiling them into a book.

About Esmond Dorney’s Family Home

Esmond Dorney’s family home, known as Dorney House, was built in 1978 on an abandoned fort in Porter Hill, Tasmania. The house has gained global recognition from Docomomo International and is considered one of the great modern houses in Australia. It is a circular house with an open-plan living arrangement, including a sunken lounge, and offers breathtaking 360-degree views of Hobart.

Dorney House, located in bushland, has a rich history and is highly respected in the architecture profession. It is actually the third home built by Dorney on the Fort Nelson site. The first house was constructed in 1949, followed by a second one in 1966, both of which were destroyed by bushfires. Dorney House, the current home, was built in 1978.

The original house on the property, built in 1949, is believed to be the first glass house in the world. In 2006, the Hobart City Council acquired the house along with 35 hectares of surrounding bushland.