Building    From 3/8/1918 

Australia House

Categories: Property

Countries: Australia

Home of the High Commission of Australia. Designed by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie and built by Dove Brothers. Construction commenced in 1913, but as many of the building materials came from Australia, their transportation was delayed because of WW1.

It is usually the single largest polling station in Australian federal elections, with more votes being cast here than at any polling station in the Australian states or territories. The interior was used as the location for Gringotts Bank in the Harry Potter films.

In the memoir “My Candle at Both Ends” by John Carveth Wells (1911 – 1946) we learnt that as a young man, down and out in London, this building was a refuge: “At Australia House, they had a small cinema in which propaganda pictures were shown to sparse audiences; the films were silent and without any musical accompaniment save for a faint drowsy hum from the projector. I’ve had many a good doss-down there, thanks to the Australian Publicity Board.”

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Australia House

Commemorated ati

Australia House - centenary of its opening

This stone marks the visit of their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales &amp...

Read More

Other Subjects

Mark Gentry

Mark Gentry

Builders active in 1886.

Group, Property

1 memorial
Monmouth House

Monmouth House

The Duke of Monmouth obtained a site on the south side of Soho Square (then called King’s Square) in 1681 on which the house was built. After his execution it was owned by the Bateman family and be...

Building, Property

1 memorial
Ted Christmas

Ted Christmas

Builder. Born Edward Charles Christmas in Lewisham. He set up his business around 1890, initially building large detached houses, and then less expensive ones in the Perry Vale area, where his styl...

Person, Property

1 memorial
Edward Goulding

Edward Goulding

3rd son of Henry and Agne Goulding. Married Elizabeth Lacraft in 1601.

Person, Property

1 memorial
F. M. Conway

F. M. Conway

Building and transportation company.

Group, Property, Transport

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Daphne du Maurier

Daphne du Maurier

Novelist and playwright. Born at 24 Cumberland Terrace, Regents Park. Daughter of Gerald, grand-daughter of George.  She married Major Frederick Browning in 1932, and as an army wife was obliged to...

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous, Theatre, Egypt

1 memorial
G. Smith
War dead, WW2
1 memorial
William Hazlitt

William Hazlitt

Essayist. Initially wanted to be a philosopher, then tried painting and then journalism, where he was a success: as a drama reviewer, art critic, political commentator and creating sports writing ...

Person, Literature

3 memorials
First police training school

First police training school

The first organised training school was opened in 1907 at Peel House in Regency Street, Pimlico. Officer recruits undertook a four-week training course before being posted to their beat. Moved to H...

Place, Armed Forces, Education

1 memorial
Fanny Burney

Fanny Burney

W1, Bolton Street, 11

Erected in 1885 this is the oldest surviving "blue" plaque to a woman.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator