An iconic bushland home in Sydney’s north-west has been added to the NSW State Heritage Register to celebrate the connection of the exceptional architectural design to the surrounding landscape.

This landmark of late-20th-century Australian architecture was designed in 1983 by internationally renowned architect Glenn Murcutt.

Created as a home and studio for Australian artists Sydney Ball and Lynne Eastaway, the house is set within 10 hectares of serene bushland and illustrates Murcutt’s philosophy of “touching the earth lightly” to minimise environmental impact.

Elevated on piers above the ground, the house is positioned to respond to light, wind and temperature. The design organically connects modern architecture and landscape, and the aesthetic of the house blends seamlessly against the surrounding bush.

The house showcases Australian materials such as corrugated iron and copper, chosen for their durability, bushfire resilience and ability to weather naturally over time.

It was the first of Murcutt’s designs to be fully clad in corrugated iron, which later became a hallmark of his internationally recognised work. 

Shortly after its completion, the house received national acclaim winning the 1984 Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture.

Listing the property on the State Heritage Register acknowledges Murcutt’s environmentally responsive architectural vision and its importance in the history of Australian residential design.

Ball-Eastaway House joins two other Glen Murcutt designs which were added to the State Heritage Register in 2022 including Marie Short Farmhouse in Kempsey and Simpson-Lee House II in Mt Wilson. 

To learn more about the Stage Heritage Register, visit our website:

NSW DCCEEW Executive Director for Heritage, Sam Kidman said: 

“Glenn Murcutt’s work at Glenorie set a benchmark in NSW for environmentally responsive architecture that showcases what is possible when design works with nature and not against it.

“The Ball-Eastaway House perfectly captures the spirit of the Australian bush through thoughtful invention and innovation to connect to the surrounding landscape in a meaningful and sustainable way. 

“I’m pleased to see the home added to the NSW State Heritage Register, along with its two art studios, to help preserve this pioneering late-20th-century architecture as a symbol of great Australian design for future generations.”