FREDERICK ROMBERG, SCRAPBOOK 1938–1953:

Above: Frederick Romberg Romberg House Heidelberg, 1941 HOME 1941

In 1941 Romberg purchased a section of land in Romberg’s development was not an unqualified some eight years after his departure. Unfortunately, Undeterred by his lack of financial success, but Heidelberg, previously part of the Harlands Estate success. Access to the adjacent properties was his visit to the Sulzers, while notable for a series of relieved at seeing his parents and journeying which had been subdivided by the architect Walter difficult, as the houses were completed well in memorable dinners, did not achieve its intended back to , Romberg returned to Melbourne Burley Griffin. It was still ‘just a paddock dotted advance of dual road access. Thus, Romberg’s aim and Dr Sulzer declined to get involved in the via America. The Spring and La Trobe Streets with red gums and a few sparse houses scattered house shared with the adjoining property a narrow apartment project. apartment project, the initial reason for his journey, around it,’ 1 but with views over the Yarra valley. driveway, until such time as the future road was lingered in the background until 1948 when A subsequent visit to his parents in Harburg proved Romberg designed and built two houses: one for implemented by the council. Relations were the Commonwealth government announced the difficult as non locals were virtually prohibited from his family and the other for sale. At this time, strained due to the noise of the children of the compulsory acquisition of the land, by which time entry. It was only the Sulzers’ connections that it was nearly impossible to obtain tenders for family next door playing in the driveway and the Romberg had turned his attention to other projects. enabled Romberg to buy a four day train pass from private builds, so he also took on the role of builder, arrivals and departures of numerous partygoers. A Paris to Stockholm that took in Harburg. During and hired private labour. The family moved in on formed road, allowing separate access to the rear the train trip, he was stunned by the destruction completion in 1942, and lived there for fifteen property was completed after the War and made Endnotes in Germany, in particular the decimation of central 1 Frederick Romberg, ‘Before Gromboyd: an architectural years until Verena and Frederick separated in sharing of the driveway unnecessary however Cologne. Arriving in Harburg, which had also history’, Vol 1, 1986, typescript, Romberg Collection, the 1950s. the neighbors persisted in using it. Animosities RMIT Design Archives, 184a. been ruined by war, Romberg endeavoured to thus simmered until Verena turned a hose on the The Romberg House strongly reflects his early contact his parents without knowledge of their neighbour’s wife, thereafter the driveway remained architectural training and interest in vernacular whereabouts and they no knowledge of his firmly in the Romberg’s sole control. German and Swiss rural buildings. The house impending arrival. negotiates the slope of the site by providing an With the end of the War, Romberg headed to Romberg made his way to the central square of intermediate entry described by a wall of reeded Europe in May 1946 with the intention of visiting Harburg only to find the family residence had been glass panels. The upper floor contains bedrooms his parents, and to call upon his father-in-law destroyed in a bombing raid. The townhouse and and a family bathroom, reached by a narrow, short Dr Sulzer, in the hope of convincing him to provide medical rooms had previously been described flight of stairs from the entry foyer. A second, the financial support for the construction of one by an enfilade suite of rooms and a rear garden generous flight of stairs directs the visitor down to hundred residential units at the corner of Spring with a magnificent copper beech. His family had the lower level that contains the family living and Street and La Trobe Street in central Melbourne. survived and at the invitation of a local civil servant kitchen area. The stair is notable for its balustrade The site had been bought in 1941 with the backing were staying at a small country mansion that had and newel detailing, clearly reflecting a design in of Newburn Pty Ltd, the company Romberg had set been requisitioned to house refugees fleeing the metal, but probably from cost or material scarcity up during the development of Newburn Flats, with Russian occupation of East Germany. His step- was smartly made from timber. Timber-flooring, the intention of growing his property development father, Dr Riebeling, a formidable and popular filleted wall intersections and door jambs along portfolio. man who had evidently earned the respect of his with more than ample natural light describe the On board the ship to Europe, Romberg’s travel community, was allocated two large rooms at the interior volumes of the house. companions included a former Governor of New mansion, housing the family as well as furniture From the living area opens a series of narrow Zealand attended by aides of high military and and family treasures saved from the townhouse. French doors onto a patio partially covered by an naval rank, a former German princess keen to Romberg arrived just in time to celebrate his elegantly curved timber deck extending from the reclaim her title, and war correspondent Alan mother’s birthday. upper storey bedroom. The exterior is described Moorehead. However, Romberg found himself Accompanying Dr Riebeling on his medical visits in a white painted brick, detailed exposed eaves, accommodated with ordinary folk: war brides, Romberg took note of the remains of the anti- exaggerated curved downpipes, and a roughly journalists and a few academics. During the long aircraft placements, trenches and dugouts left by hewn stone chimney that continues into the interior journey he became friendly with Israel Porush, the German Army. During the War Dr Riebeling providing fire surrounds and mantel. The site below Chief Rabbi of ’s Great Synagogue, who had run the military hospital in Harburg but is described by coarsely terraced landscaping at Aden, on the tip of the Arabian Peninsula, denied any knowledge of the atrocities coming to and includes the original timber garden shed that organised a bus trip to the Wells of Sheba and a light despite the Bergen-Belsen prisoner-of-war adventurously leans into the steep slope. Well visit to a synagogue, the first Romberg had seen and concentration camp located not far away. proportioned, and bathed in natural light, the house from inside, and which he confesses to being very acknowledgements Nevertheless, he asked Romberg for a character was never sold during Romberg’s lifetime and much impressed by. reference. As a senior army officer, albeit medical, Frederick Romberg: an architectural members of his family still lived there up until its To Romberg’s eyes Switzerland appeared largely Dr Riebeling was faced with investigation by the survey is supported through funding purchase in 2011, after which it continued to be from the Australian Government’s untouched by the preceding years of war. In Zurich, occupying British troops, and he was hopeful that used by its new owners as a family home. Your Community Heritage Program. visiting ETH-Z, he was happily surprised to be a reference from a commonwealth citizen such as The RMIT Design Archives thanks recognised by the attendant at the cloak counter Romberg could work in his favour. Nothing came Zoe Edquist and Mark Douglass of the University canteen, who also enquired after of the investigation. for the opportunity to view the Verena. He also claimed the other half of the travel Romberg House. scholarship that had taken him to by submitting his report entitled ‘Australian Journey’,

Frederick Romberg, Romberg House, Heidelberg, 1941 (built) Drawings by Letó Melanie Tsolakis and Michael Spooner

D A O R G 1 8 R 10 8 D E A T B O E L R E E R 12 E L T D G S A I M E E A T E N H K 2 U R O E M 4 11 3 W O L

SECTION A SECTION B

0 1 2 5 0 1 2 5 LOCATION PLAN 1. Entry Hall 7. WC 2. Stairwell 8. Bedroom 3. Living 9. Bathroom 4. Dining 10. Deck 5. Kitchen 11. Terrace 6. Laundry 12. Garage

8

3 11 10

B 12 B

8 EAST ELEVATION NORTH ELEVATION

1 2 2 A A 4 8 7 7 5 8 6 9

ENTRY & LOWER LEVEL FLOOR PLAN UPPER LEVEL FLOOR PLAN WEST ELEVATION SOUTH ELEVATION

0 1 2 5 0 1 2 5

rmit design archives journal | vol 3 | nº 1 | 2013