London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Aug 31, 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
Corporate America Cuts Middle Management as Bosses Take On Triple the Workload
Parents Sue OpenAI After Teen’s Death, Alleging ChatGPT Encouraged Suicide
Amazon Faces Lawsuit Over 'Buy' Label on Digital Streaming Content
Federal Reserve Independence Questioned Amid Trump’s Push to Reshape Central Bank
British Politics Faces Tumultuous Autumn After Summer of Rebellions and Rising Farage Momentum
US Appeals Court Rules Against Most Trump-Era Tariffs
UK Sought Broad Access to Apple Users’ Data, Court Filing Reveals
UK Bank Shares Dive Over Potential Tax on Sector
Germany’s Auto Industry Sheds 51,500 Jobs in First Half of 2025 Amid Deepening Crisis
Bruce Willis Relocated Due to Advanced Dementia
French and Korean Nuclear Majors Clash As EU Launches Foreign Subsidy Probe
EU Stands Firm on Digital Rules as Trump Warns of Retaliation
Getting Ready for the 3rd Time in Its History, Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service for Teenagers
Argentine President Javier Milei Evacuated After Stones Thrown During Campaign Event
Denmark Confronts U.S. Diplomat Over Covert Trump-Linked Influence in Greenland
Starmer Should Back Away from ECHR, Says Jack Straw
Trump Demands RICO Charges Against George Soros and Son for Funding Violent Protests
Taylor Swift Announces Engagement to NFL Star Travis Kelce
France May Need IMF Bailout, Warns Finance Minister
Chinese AI Chipmaker Cambricon Posts Record Profit as Beijing Pushes Pivot from Nvidia
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
Ukraine Finally Allows Young Men Aged Eighteen to Twenty-Two to Leave the Country
The Porn Remains, Privacy Disappears: How Britain Broke the Internet in Ten Days
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Welcome to The Definition of Insanity: Germany Edition
Just a reminder, this is Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris.
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
×