Fresh springs, new passports and blue dogs

Things I learned about after drawing in a small sketchbook

Have you ever seen Australia House in London?

You might have seen it without realising because it’s been in a few films. It was the fancy Gringott’s bank in the Harry Potter films, a fancy department store in Wonder Woman, and a fancy auction house in Sherlock Holmes: The One With Robert Downey Jr.

It’s this fancy when I’m drawing it in an A6 sketchbook with a pen

Because of some admin hoopla I’ve visited Australia House twice over the last 6 weeks. I did some drawings of the outside and then researched a bit more about the inside when I got home.

Statues either side of the door are named “The Awakening of Australia” and “The Prosperity of Australia”. Though Australia had been awake and doing just fine for 65,000 years or so before Europeans rocked up

Down in the basement of the building, in a restricted area, under a manhole cover is one of London’s few fresh water springs.

It’s believed to come from the river Fleet which is no longer visible as it’s now covered by streets. These springs were important in the middle ages with plays often being performed around them, so this part of London evolved into an area where theatres were built.

And that’s not the only link with quality entertainment. In April this year Australia House was renamed Bluey House for 24 hours to celebrate the cartoon’s impact across the UK and the world.

So if you’re walking around the Strand area of London, have a look at Australia House. It’s got fancy interiors, a spring from the middle ages and a connection to a beloved cartoon dog. I didn’t see any of those things when I was there, I got to draw the fabulous front of the building then went round the side to a very standard office area that looked like this:

These drawings were made in an A6 sketchbook with a Sailor Fude pen. After a bout of buyer’s remorse over this fude pen I’ve started to really love it and it’s very handy for taking with you if you need to travel light. What do draw with when you’re travelling light?

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Sources:

IMDb list of filming locations for Australia House

ABC News article about the “Holy Well” under Australia House

Guardian article about the “Holy Well”

BBC article and video about Bluey House