Returning: Restoration Australia

Season 5 of Restoration Australia begins on ABC later this month with host, Architecture Professor, Anthony Burke.

Episode One centres around Duncan House in Castlecrag, Sydney.

Transforming a revered wreck of a building into a glorious celebration of Australian architecture takes courage, commitment and often eye-watering dollops of cash. But in Series 5 of Restoration Australia, we’ll follow the progress and pitfalls of singleminded restoration enthusiasts who’ll stop at almost nothing to revitalise their beloved buildings.

From the young couple who buy a crumbling church in country South Australia with a credit card and turn it into an extraordinary family home, to a pair of artisans who transform a tiny miner’s cottage into a showpiece of sustainability and old-fashioned craftsmanship, we’ll witness the triumph of determination over difficulty.

And in every restoration, whether it’s the preservation of the smallest of the acclaimed Walter-Burley Griffin-designed Castlecrag houses, the transformation of an austere run-down Tasmanian institutional orphanage into an inviting home, or the conversion of a tiny war memorial church to a family holiday getaway, safeguarding Australia’s architectural past is paramount.

But the series also celebrates our architectural future. We’ll see a tumbledown old Queenslander travel 800 kilometres south to an eco-village and become a model of retrofitted sustainable housing, and a neglected inner-city Brisbane 1930s classic transformed into an eco-friendly, healthy haven.

Throughout the series, host and Architecture Professor, Anthony Burke crosses the country providing expert commentary, wise counsel and timely support to owners as they grapple with the restoration of some of Australia’s most treasured old buildings.

Production credits: A Fremantle production for the ABC. Executive Producers: Brooke Bayvel and Michael Collett. ABC Executive Producer: Madeleine Hawcroft.

Sunday, 16 July, 7.30pm on ABC.