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Returning: Restoration Australia

ABC history series returns with architect and historian Stuart Harrison as its new host.

Season 2 of Restoration Australia begins on ABC soon, with architect and historian Stuart Harrison replacing designer Sibella Court as host.

Episode 1 begins with a Perth couple who want rebuild the 1960s iconic modernist house lost to fire in 2015.

This is a 6 part series by Fremantle.

Over each episode, Restoration Australia host Stuart Harrison, architect and historian, follows homeowners across the country as they restore forgotten heritage gems into living homes. This time the restoration challenge moves beyond old colonial homes to embrace houses from all periods, including iconic modernist masterpieces and even an inner-city gasworks.

From inner city grand terraces, to countryside homesteads, we start at the beginning of the homeowner’s restorations as they take the keys to their rundown properties in desperate need of some love, care and attention.

Their vision of re-creating the houses to turn them into ‘forever’ homes isn’t simple. To faithfully restore with original fixtures and fittings, they first must replace termite damaged floors, water damaged walls, and rotten ceilings. Some homes don’t even have all four walls or a front door, but the homeowners cannot bear to see them torn down.

Stuart is going to help them fall in love with their homes even more by investigating the origins of the house and it is owners, informing viewers of the first homes of Australia and why they were built the way they were.

It’s not just a case of will their budget and time be stretched to the limit, but how are they going to do the property justice whilst creating homes suitable for 21st century living without losing the features they fell in love with in the first place.

From the federation eras all the way to mid-century modernist, there’s a style of house for every housing enthusiast.

Production credits: ABC Executive Producer, Leo Faber. Supervising Executive Producer, Brooke Bayvel. Executive Producer, Amanda Bainbridge. Supervising Producer, Steve Taylor. A Fremantle Australia production.

7:40pm Sunday March 17 on ABC.

6 Responses

  1. After watching the gas work episode I can only assume this guy has never restored or gentrified anything. The firm responsible for the design has no idea of inclusion or sympathy of such a beautiful exterior, sell the property to someone with dealer pockets, strip it out and start again

  2. Just finished watching the episode of the restoration of the Gasworks in North Melbourne.
    It was so sad to see the architects ruin the interior of this historic building. Thank god they did not touch the exterior.

  3. Loved this show, and I agree they need more episodes. But I do understand that it must be challenging to find the houses and owners and follow them for such a long time.

    I liked Sibella, but I can adapt to a new host. Unfortunately, a 1960s home as the first offering is disappointing, as it was just a daggy era for those who remember it. Bring on more colonial homes.

    1. OMG Fiona! You won’t be disappointed. Even a 60’s house can be a labour of love. I live in a 50’s house, and my journey has only just begun.

  4. Excellent my faith in ABC lifestyle content has been restored! I enjoyed the first season, and have waited 4 years for the next. I wonder why a change of host as Sibella was engaging!

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