Eric Nicholls’ Life and Work with the Griffins

Episode 2

Genre:                 Mini series documentary

Duration:             56.01 minutes

Synopsis:             A biography of Eric Milton Nicholls (1902-1965), Australian architect who became partner with renowned American architects Walter and Marion Griffin in Australia.

Director:              Glen McClelland B.Sc. B. Arch.

Producer:            Marie Nicholls B.Arch.

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Episode two continues in the narrative of the Greater Sydney Development Association (GSDA), where Walter and Marion Griffin and King O’Malley, three Americans abroad, work together developing the new suburb of Castlecrag.

Walter Burley Griffin designs Dr. Edward Rivett’s house in Castlecrag c.1929 and a house for King O’Malley owned by Dr. Edward Rivett who requested later extensions to the O’Malley house for use as a private hospital. Eric also did several later major extensions to the Cabarisha Hospital in the 1940s and designed the nearby Nurses Quarters building in 1933, both buildings reflecting Griffin’s ornamentation of crystalline geometric forms used in the original O’Malley house. Marie gave birth to three of her four sons in Cabarisha Hospital. She also reflects on and farewells her beloved father, Eric Milton Nicholls, who died at the hospital in 1965.

Willoughby Incinerator, 1934, we see Eric, Walter, and Leonard Kanevsky join together to map out the creative and geometric waste incinerator, and it later has many uses becoming a restaurant, then left and became derelict before being restored and is now used as a popular café and community art Gallery.

Pyrmont Incinerator, 1935, Sydney. This incinerator was the largest and most prestigious for the firm, and Eric Nicholls name shares the drawing’s title block with Walter Griffin. The Griffins head off to work in India the same year, leaving Eric in charge of their Australian business and executor of their affairs. The Incinerator building showed innovative use of synthetic stone motifs, Marie believes was Marion’s inspiration echoing Dr. Gunther Wachsmuth’s book “The Etheric Formative Forces in Cosmos Earth and Man.” The relatively new engineering use of reinforced concrete helps to hold up the tallest chimney of all the incinerator buildings. The City of Sydney decommissioned waste incineration at Pyrmont in 1971 and left the building unmaintained for over 20 years. As concrete cancer set in and the site became overgrown, vandalism thrived, so the building was demolished in 1992.

Eric Pratten House, Pymble, 1935, and Eric’s design, David Pratten House nearby, 1936, were the last buildings designed by Walter and supervised by Eric.

Marie revisits her family home in Castlecrag, “the Moon house,” purchased by Eric in 1936. Eric designs and has built a new garage and first-floor extension to the original Griffin building. Marie reminisces about her youth at Castlecrag exploring what it was like living with Eric through World War II and shows off the Nicholls’ custom-designed kitchen, joinery cupboards, dining table and chairs.

The Castlecrag Community Hall, 1947, designed by Eric, was used for his son Glynn’s 21st birthday party.

In the 1940s Eric designs the Mercer House, next door to the Moon House, described as a good example of Eric’s domestic architecture.

Eric writes to Marion Griffin, who after Griffin’s death in India, said no he would not go to India at her request and that she had to return to Australia as she needed to be here as executrix for Walter. Eric adds saying he has never been busier. Marion then heads back to Chicago. Eventually the family home was sold in 1976.

Baracchi House, Castlecrag, 1938. Betty Roland lived here and named the house Pangloss, after a murdered friend. Betty wrote plays, screenplays, and novels, and Eric cleverly incorporated a round stage into the Art Deco house design. Its iconic sandstone barrel form with external spiral sandstone stairs, daringly free from ubiquitous handrails, stands out. Eric later designs the neighbours house for none other than TNT founder, Ken Thomas.

The Incinerator, Canberra, 1938. Being the last of the Griffin/Nicholls thirteen incinerators. Ironically attributed to Walter Burley Griffin, this incinerator was designed by Eric after Walter’s death but, with Marion’s permission, carried on the Griffin Nicholls business name. Marie visits the Canberra Incinerator, now located in and owned by the Royal Canberra Golf Club in Westbourne Woods, Australia Capital Territory. Eric paying homage to the Griffins achievements in winning the design of Canberra city.

Morella House, Clifton Gardens, 1938-1943. A beautiful and exclusive waterfront block in Mosman with Eric’s design for Leo Parer and family. This unusual story Marie explores as we find the property disheveled after lying vacant for many years and burnt out by vandals. With the heritage listing and dilapidated state, the property could fetch over $10 million dollars.

Interview with (Jim) James Whitelock who worked as a student architect with the firm Griffins Nicholls from 1941. Jim explains his break fighting for Australia under the Royal Australian Air Force in Tarakan. He helped design air raid shelters, including one in Sydney City and one in the Moon House. Jim became known for his professional architectural photography. The firm was located in the T&G building and then in NRMA House Spring Street, Sydney.

1940 Eric designs a country home for Victor Bradman, brother of the cricketer Don Bradman. Marie interviews the current owners, who have spent seven years restoring the home in the Art Deco or P & O style. Set in the beautiful Southern Highlands near Bowral. Eric also works on an extension to the Crago House.

1950 Eric designs a factory for Australian Cellucotton in an Art Nouveau revival style, which has since been demolished.

Michael Thomson, Vice President of the Walter Burley Griffin Society in Sydney, has been greatly assisting Marie in reconnecting with her family’s history and joins her on the road of rediscovery.