From my further research on googlemaps, I have discovered that Adelaide and Melbourne have been the best in preserving their exemplary buildings from the period. Sydney and Brisbane have done an adequate job, although many buildings have been demolished in Sydney. However a very dishonarble mention must go to Perth. None of their exemplary buildings have survived. They have all been demolished or been chnaged so much that they are no longer recognisable.
Observe, how much of their history those in WA have lost:
The MLC Building of 1958 which even though was heritage listed was stripped to its skeleton in 2001.
and transformed into this bland monstrosity...
http://www.onesteel.com/images/db_image ... t21ssp.pdf
The CML Building was demolished in 1980:
The 1962 T&G Building, which is regarded as one of the finest designs of the 60's was radically altered in 1993:
SGIO Building of 1957 was radically altered in the 90's:
Queensland Insurance Building of 1962, radically altered in the 1990s
What we can learn from the mistakes of Perth is to value exemplary architecture from ALL periods not just the stone buildings of the 1800's. The buildings I've listed are those which feature in the aforementioned book and were thus considered amongst the most exceptional examples of architecture in Australia from the period 1945-1970. I know such architecture is not loved by many, but I think that if a building is considered an exemplary example of its style by experts it deserves some kind of protection. If not, and we allow such buildings to be destroyed I fear that future generations will condemn us in the same manner we condemn those who destroyed buildings such as the Exhibition Building on North Terrace.
For example, here in Adelaide, exemplary buildings from that period which do not have heritage prtection include the napier Building of 1959, the Savings Bank of SA building on Hindley Street of 1959, the City Mutual Life Building of 1957, the Zurich Insurance Building of 1962 the State Administration Centre of 1968 and the AMP Building of 1968.
