Terrace houses have been built in Australian cities since the earliest days of colonial settlement. They represent another English tradition brought out to the colonies. Their subtle details reflect the variation of architectural styles seen in nineteenth century England. Expansive rows of terrace houses were built between 1840 and 1890 as an economical way to house the rapidly growing population of Australia’s expanding cities and regional centres. Many different styles of terrace house emerged across the country. Fashionable inner-city terraces were grander in size and ornament and were often built overlooking parks or the waterfront. Smaller, more affordable terraces for workers were built in large tracts on the city fringe, close to railway and tram lines.
