Sydney Ure Smith's 'The Home' magazine was one of the most sophisticated and stylish design journals and Australian 'lifestyle' publications of the 1920s and 30s. As well as having covers decorated by distinguished Australian artists and designers, there were also artist-designed full page colour advertisements published within the magazine or as features on back covers.

Aimed at middle class Australian women, the magazine documented the social concerns of the day through feature articles and photography. Through these articles, cover designs, advertisements and photography, one can assess the impact of international art and design movements on Australia and on the personal tastes and lifestyle aspirations of an increasingly affluent, urban middle class.

Artists and photographers commissioned by Sydney Ure Smith, included Hera Roberts, Thea Proctor, Dahl Collings, Margaret Preston, Frank Hinder, Douglas Annand, Harold Cazneaux and Max Dupain.

The magazine's graphic cover designs reflect great diversity of style. The new feminine framework was reflected in the lavish cover illustrations by Thea Proctor, Hera Roberts, Douglas Annand and others, which featured glamorous women living active modern lives.

John Fairfax & Sons Ltd, publishers of the Sydney Morning Herald, took over The Home in 1934, and Ure Smith severed his connection with the magazine in 1938, founding Ure Smith Pty Ltd in 1939. These 16 issues of The Home date from the later, John Fairfax & Sons Ltd years of The Home magazine production.

Anne-Marie Van de Ven, Curator. March 2008

John Fairfax & Sons Ltd, publishers of the Sydney Morning Herald, took over The Home in 1934 from Sydney Ure Smith. Smith severed his connection with the magazine in 1938, founding Ure Smith Pty Ltd in 1939. These 16 issues of The Home date from the later, John Fairfax & Sons Ltd years of The Home magazine.

Presented to the collection by the Powerhouse Museum's Deputy Director of Collections and Outreach, Ms Jennifer Sanders.

'Cover Up: The Art of Magazine Covers in Australia', a 1994 National Library of Australia and Historic Houses Trust of NSW exhibition brought together most of the surviving original artworks for 'The Home' magazine. These came from the Art Gallery of New South Wales, State Library of New South Wales, National War Memorial, National Gallery of Victoria, National Gallery of Australia, the Holmes a' Court collection and other private collections.

Magazines (16), 'The Home', paper, edited by Sydney Ure Smith and others, published by John Fairfax & Sons, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1937-1940

Sixteen volumes of 'The Home' magazine and 'The Home Annual' produced between 1938 and 1940.

1. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 18, No. 4. 1 April 1937.
Cover design by Margaret Preston. P & O advertisement by Frank Hinder on back cover.

2. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 19, No. 2. 1 February 1938.
Cover design by Michael Collins.

3. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 19, No. 3. 1 March 1938.
Cover design by Douglas Annand. Advertisement by Frank Hinder on back cover.

4. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 19, No. 4. 1 April 1938.
Cover design by Hans Heysen. P&O advertisement by Frank Hinder on back cover.

5. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 19, No. 5. 2 May 1938.
Cover by Douglas Annand. P& O advertisement by Frank Hinder on back cover.

6. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 19, No. 7. 1 July 1938.
Cover design by Hera Roberts. P&O advertisement by Frank Hinder on back cover.

7. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 19, No. 8. 1 August 1938.
Cover design by Hera Roberts.

8. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 19, No. 9. 1 September 1938.
Cover design by [Dahl Collings]. P & O advertisement by Frank Hinder on back cover.

9. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 19, No. 10. 1 October 1938.
Cover design by Hera Roberts. P& O advertisement by Douglas Annand on back cover.

10. Magazine, 'The Home Annual', 15 October 1938.

11. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 19, No. 11. 1 November 1938.
P & O advertisement by Frank Hinder on back cover.

12. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 20, No. 1. 3 January 1939.
Cover design by [Kay Ambrose].

13. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 20, No. 3. 1 March 1939.
Cover design by Michael Collins. P & O advertisement by Frank Hinder on back cover.

14. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 20, No. 9. 1 September 1939.
Cover design by John Lee and Jack. P& O advertisement by Frank Hinder on back cover.

15. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 20, No. 12. 1 December 1939.

16. Magazine, 'The Home', Vol. 21, No. 1. 2 January 1940.
Cover design by Dahl Collings.

Made: Smith, Sydney Ure;

Published: John Fairfax & Sons Ltd; Sydney; 1937 - 1940

See descriptions.

2008/135/1

310 mm

250 mm

8 mm