London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Aug 10, 2025

An Australian Architect’s Dazzling Interpretation of Prairie Style Lists for the First Time

An Australian Architect’s Dazzling Interpretation of Prairie Style Lists for the First Time

Built in the 1960s and now asking $4.2M, the Frank Lloyd Wright–inspired Mirrabooka House sits on five acres of magnificent gardens.

Sydney-born architect and landscape designer Bruce Rickard was once described as "the Frank Lloyd Wright of Australian architecture." While certainly inspired by Wright-whom he first studied at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1950s-Rickard also used his formal training of both indoor and outdoor plans to harmoniously adapt Wrightsonian ideas to Australia’s native landscape and climate. An exceptional example of these dual talents is the Mirrabooka House, originally built in the early 1960s and now on the market for the first time since its construction.



The Mirrabooka House by Bruce Rickard sits on a lush, five-acre plot in the community of Castle Hill, about 18 miles northwest of Sydney. The structure’s design-which spreads broadly across the site-is reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie-style homes.



Inside, Wright's influence continues with details such as the prominent hearth and fireplace, as well as the use of organic materials and built-ins throughout. The home is also heavily integrated with the site, and benefits from ample natural light and a harmonious indoor/outdoor flow.

The homeowner’s extensive knowledge of native and exotic plants influenced the structure’s integration with the site and the impressive gardens-both of which were recently designated a State Heritage Site by New South Wales. The close interconnection of the home with the land is demonstrated by the picturesque entry sequence, which features stepping stones over a koi pond that lead to the front door.



A skylight above the fireplace casts sunlight onto the stacked stone fireplace. A raised dining area is located to the right, while a playroom and the kitchen are both accessible on the left.



The expansive living room extends to a sitting area. Three walls of windows and sliding glass doors provide views of the backyard pool and patio.

Other details inside and out include Rickard’s trademark uses of local sandstone and timber cladding, as well as copper roof trim, concrete floors, and extensive glass. The home builder reportedly lived on-site for 18 months during the original construction.



Located at the end of a long hallway of bedrooms, the principal suite features walls clad in stacked stone and brick, along with numerous windows overlooking the surrounding treetops.



The en suite bathroom features a tiled vanity and sink as well as original cabinetry, and provides direct access to the private terrace.

The home’s five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and home office all overlook the jungle-like surroundings. And while the site feels remote, local metro stations are just a five-minute drive away. Keep scrolling to see more of the property, currently listed for AUD 5,500,000 (approximately $4,160,000).



A large, cantilevered balcony wraps around the living area and provides ample outdoor space for entertaining, as well as sunset views over the five-acre plot and an adjacent community park.



Stepping stones lead over a koi pond, past a waterfall, and through a Japanese-style garden to the front door.



A brick patio and saltwater pool are located along another side of the home, with steps leading down to the surrounding gardens.



An aerial view provides a perspective of the garden plan in relationship to the structure.



The floor plan and site plan reveal the home’s position within the five-acre plot. The 1.75 acres of gardens and the structure itself are listed as a State Heritage Site.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Street justice isn’t pretty but how else do you deal with this kind of insanity? Sometimes someone needs to standup and say something
Armenia and Azerbaijan sign U.S.-brokered accord at White House outlining transit link via southern Armenia
Barcelona Resolves Captaincy Issue with Marc-André ter Stegen
US Justice Department Seeks Release of Epstein and Maxwell Grand Jury Exhibits Amid Legal and Victim Challenges
Trump Urges Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to Resign Over Alleged Chinese Business Ties
Scotland’s First Minister Meets Trump Amid Visit Highlighting Whisky Tariffs, Gaza Crisis and Heritage Links
Trump Administration Increases Reward for Arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro to Fifty Million Dollars
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
OpenAI Launches GPT‑5, Its Most Advanced AI Model Yet
Embarrassment in Britain: Homelessness Minister Evicted Tenants and Forced to Resign
President Trump nominated Stephen Miran, his top economic adviser and a critic of the Federal Reserve, to temporarily fill an open Fed seat
The AI-Powered Education Revolution: Market Potential and Transformative Impact
Chikungunya Virus Outbreak in Southern China: Over 7,000 Hospitalized
French wine makers have seen catastrophic damage to vines that were almost ready to be harvested after the worst fires in more than 70 years burned through the south of the country
US Lawmaker Probes Intel CEO’s China Ties Amid National Security Concerns
Brazilian President Lula says he’ll contact the leaders of BRICS states to propose a unified response to U.S. tariffs
Trump Open to Meeting Putin as Soon as Next Week, with Possible Trilateral Summit Including Zelenskiy
Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau spark dating rumors, joining high stakes world of celeb-politician romances
US envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow to seek a breakthrough in the Ukraine war ahead of President Trump’s peace deadline
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Nine people have been hospitalized and dozens of salmonella cases have been reported after an outbreak of infections linked to certain brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada
Karol Nawrocki Inaugurated as Poland’s President, Setting Stage for Clash with Tusk Government
Trump Signals JD Vance as ‘Most Likely’ MAGA Successor for 2028
US Charges Two Chinese Nationals for Illegal Nvidia AI Chip Exports
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
U.S. Tariff Policy Triggers Market Volatility Amid Growing Global Trade Tensions
Tariffs, AI, and the Shifting U.S. Macro Landscape: Navigating a New Economic Regime
Representative Greene Urges H-1B Visa Cuts Amid U.S.-India Trade Tensions
U.S. House Committee Subpoenas Clintons and Senior Officials in Epstein Investigation
Sydney Sweeney Registered as Republican as Controversial American Eagle Ad Sparks Debate
Trump Accuses Major Banks of Politically Motivated Account Denials and Prepares Executive Order
TikTok Removes Huda Kattan Video Over Anti-Israel Conspiracy Claims
Trump Threatens Tariffs on India Over Russian Oil Imports
German Finance Minister Criticizes Trump’s Attacks on Institutions
U.S. Proposes Visa Bond of Up to $15,000 for Some Applicants
U.S. Farmers Increase Lobbying Amid Immigration Crackdown
Elon Musk Receives $23.7 Billion Tesla Stock Award
Texas House Paralyzed After Democrats Walk Out Over Redistricting
Mexican Cartels Complicate Sheinbaum’s U.S. Security Talks
Mark Zuckerberg Declares War on the iPhone
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
Tesla Seeks Shareholder Approval for $29 Billion Compensation Package for Elon Musk
Nvidia is cutting prices on its RTX 50-series graphics cards after sales slowed and inventories piled up
Ghislaine Maxwell Transferred to Minimum-Security Prison Amid Ongoing DOJ Discussions
U.S. Tariffs Surge to Highest Levels in Nearly a Century Under Second Trump Term
×