Magnifying the Terrace: David Saunders and the Cross Street Co-Operative Housing Development

This paper traces the influence that pioneering Australian architectural historian David Saunders (1928–1986) exerted over development of University Melbourne’s Cross Street Co-operative Housing Development in Carlton designed by Earle, Shaw & Partners (1970–1971). is one a number public–private medium-density housing developments were constructed on large sites resumed Commission Victoria after World War II. While was demolishing areas inner Melbourne for tabula rasa high-rise modernist development, argued retention, adaptation, and acculturation urban form, exemplified house he architect wife Doreen themselves Parkville (1962). took an active role commissioning his meant it became first large-scale project Australia consciously articulated understanding its historic environment. The demonstrates many key ideas such as importance nineteenth-century terrace form shared pedestrianised spaces. argues presaged so-called rediscovery city Australia, emerged amidst rise local history discipline, heritage activism, institution positioning itself expansion.