For 80 years, Stegbar has been evolving alongside the Australian home.
Since its beginnings in 1946, when founders Brian Stegley and George Barrow started out manufacturing office furniture and clock cases, Stegbar has grown into one of Australia’s best-known building manufacturers. By the early 1950s, the business had expanded into manufacturing timber window awnings – putting windows and doors at the heart of its story.
But Stegbar’s history is about more than products. It is a story of how Australian homes have changed – and how innovation in windows and doors has helped make those changes possible.
From the post-war suburban boom and the rise of open-plan living to today's demand for larger glazing, energy efficiency and seamless indoor-outdoor connection, the evolution of the Australian home can be seen through its windows and doors.
1946–50s: Building the Australian dream.
Stegbar began operating in 1946, just as Australia was entering a period of enormous social and economic change.
Following World War II, a major housing boom saw a new generation of Australians move into the suburbs to build or buy their own homes. By 1960, home ownership had risen to around 70 per cent, helping shape what became known as the Australian Dream. Many new houses built in the 1950s were owner-built, reflecting the ambition of the era.
The architecture of these homes was changing too. Open-plan layouts, cleaner lines, stronger connections to the outdoors and larger areas of glazing were beginning to replace some of the more enclosed conventions of earlier Australian homes.
Windows were becoming an architectural feature in their own right.
1950s: The Windowall changes the way Australians see their homes
One of Stegbar’s defining moments came through a partnership with influential Australian architect Robin Boyd.
In the 1950s, Boyd worked with Stegbar to bring his vision of a "wall of windows" to life. The resulting Windowall was a prefabricated structural framing system that allowed large expanses of glass to be incorporated into residential architecture.
First installed in a family home in Beaumaris, Melbourne, the Windowall demonstrated how the concept could be manufactured and replicated at scale. It subsequently became an iconic feature of Australian post-war modernist architecture.
This was about more than simply making windows bigger. It represented a fundamental shift in the relationship between the home and its surroundings – allowing more light in, creating uninterrupted views and helping Australians embrace a greater sense of openness while still considering privacy.
The partnership with Boyd continued, including his design of Stegbar's headquarters in Springvale in 1957. His influence can also be seen in homes such as the Featherston House in Ivanhoe, completed in 1969, where a towering Windowall became central to a connected way of living, working and entertaining.
1970s–90s: Opening up to outdoor living
As Australian lifestyles continued to change, so did the role of windows and doors.
The backyard and outdoor entertaining area became increasingly important to the Australian home, creating demand for doors that could open living spaces to the outdoors.
Stegbar responded with innovations including bifold doors and stacking doors, helping to establish the indoor-outdoor connection that has since become a defining feature of Australian residential design.
1990s–2000s: Windows become part of the energy-efficiency conversation
As expectations around home comfort and environmental performance increased, the role of windows evolved again.
Glazing was no longer simply about letting in light and providing a view. Homeowners, architects and builders increasingly considered how windows and doors could influence heat gain, heat loss, ventilation and the overall energy performance of a home.
The growing adoption of technologies, such as double glazing and Low-E glass helped move the industry towards higher-performing glazing solutions, while advances in framing and manufacturing continued to expand what was possible.
For Stegbar, energy efficiency became an increasingly important part of product development, with its research and development team considering the relationship between homes, climate, light and ventilation.
2000s–2010s: Designing for a more demanding Australia
Homes were increasingly expected to do more. As building requirements became more demanding and homeowners became increasingly conscious of energy use and environmental performance, windows and doors evolved from simply providing light, views and access to becoming an important part of how a home responds to its surroundings.
In bushfire-prone areas, this meant developing systems designed to meet specific bushfire performance requirements. In warmer climates such as Queensland, the focus was on harnessing the environment itself. Stegbar’s Breezway Louvre Windows allow homeowners to maximise natural airflow, capturing coastal and evening breezes to help circulate air and regulate indoor temperatures naturally – reducing reliance on mechanical cooling and energy use.
At the same time, advances in thermal performance and glazing were helping homes stay more comfortable across Australia's varied climates, while innovations in materials and manufacturing gave architects and homeowners greater freedom to create larger openings, slimmer frames and increasingly bespoke configurations.
The result was a fundamental shift in the role of windows and doors: from passive elements of the building envelope to active contributors to comfort, ventilation, energy efficiency and the way Australians experience their homes.
2010s - Today: Bigger openings, smarter manufacturing
The evolution continues. Today's homes demand more from their windows and doors, requiring a careful balance of performance, comfort, sustainability and design. The industry's progress is reflected in the breadth of solutions now available, from thermally broken aluminium systems and premium architectural framing through to timber and hybrid window designs capable of creating larger openings and maximising natural light.
Behind these innovations, manufacturing itself has become increasingly sophisticated. Advances in technology enable greater precision, consistency and customisation, allowing windows and doors to respond to increasingly individual architectural requirements.
It is a fitting example of how far the industry has evolved. What began with the simple goal of creating functional and durable windows and doors has become an increasingly sophisticated balance of design, performance, comfort and sustainability.
80 years of innovation and counting
Looking back across eight decades, one thing is clear: the Australian home has never stood still.
The post-war dream created demand for new homes. Modernist architects challenged conventional ideas about walls and windows. The rise of outdoor entertaining created a desire to open homes to the garden. Growing awareness of energy efficiency pushed glazing and framing technology further. And today, climate, sustainability, performance and personalisation are shaping the next generation of Australian homes.
Through it all, Stegbar has continued to evolve alongside Australian homes, combining craftsmanship, innovation and a deep understanding of how people live. 80 years on, that commitment remains unchanged. The first 80 years helped shape the Australian home. The next 80 are just beginning.
Looking for expert advice on choosing the right windows for you, contact our team today.