He’s best known as a comedian, radio host and one half of Merrick and Rosso, but Tim Ross is also a self-confessed architecture and design nerd. For the last 11 years Ross has performed a live show about buildings around the world. He also serves as a member of the national architecture awards jury and has received prizes for his heritage advocacy.
Now Ross is hosting a new season of Designing a Legacy, where he will uncover buildings that tell a different story about Australian architecture – from incredible private homes to a surf club, motel, museum and mosque.
The sentimentality Ross feels towards buildings and dwellings extends to his personal belongings – including his most cherished memento, a necklace that belonged to his late mother. Here he tells us about that special piece of jewellery, as well as the stories of two practical objects that spark joy.
What I’d save from my house in a fire
For my new series we filmed in the Torres Strait with Brisbane architect Kevin O’Brien. We were looking at some church pews that his grandfather made back in the 60s. I asked if he would like one of them if the church didn’t need them any more. He shrugged, “Nope, they can burn them.” He loved that his grandfather made them and was in awe of the craftsmanship but didn’t feel the need to have one.
I’m far too sentimental for that. Over the years I’ve collected and kept many of the things that were in our old family home, from orange casserole dishes to jars and even plastic colanders.
My beautiful mum died last year and on a sideboard in our bedroom sits one of her old necklaces. It’s a beautiful modernist piece of jewellery and she used to wear it over a jumper or skivvy in that late 60s and 70s style. As a kid I was drawn to its organic shapes and when I look at it every day it’s a bittersweet reminder of her passing. It was her final gift of love to me.
My most useful object
Somewhere along the line I got a tin of Las Vegas playing cards. The cards quickly went awol but one day I put a couple of memory sticks in, and then a headphone jack. More recently it’s become the safe place for the assortment of SD cards that I record audio on to.
If I’m in a hotel room, or even at a friend’s place, I always know my trusty tin has my back. I’m an incredibly disorganised person so I think the delight comes from being organised in a very small way. The tin has a comforting rattle in my tote bag and, in a stupidly complex world, it’s a wonderfully old-fashioned thing that brings me a great deal of joy.
The item I most regret losing
I never thought I’d be one of those people who can’t read labels without glasses. But I am. I find myself despairing when I can’t tell the difference between shampoo and conditioner in the shower. (Though I draw the line at writing to companies and asking them to increase their font size.)
At the start of the year, I went on a mission to find myself a vintage pair of 80s Jonathan Sceats glasses. I was on a bit of a nostalgia mission, and they were a huge Australian brand when I was a kid. I had a feeling they might make me happy and enable me to read the ingredients on a toothpaste tube.
After some diligent Googling I found a place in Adelaide and jumped at a clear-coloured pair. They took forever to arrive and, as soon as they did, I raced up to see my local optometrist. They looked amazing and they were lightweight. They were everything I wanted and more.
Sadly, four weeks later I came home from some shows in Melbourne and they were gone. I’ve looked everywhere for a replacement but I don’t think that optical magic is going to happen again.
Designing a Legacy starts on Sunday 4 June at 7.30pm on ABC TV and iView
