John and Phyllis Murphy

[2] Of their early residential work, Phyllis Murphy has written; "we started our architectural practice when there were severe shortages of building materials, manpower and finance...

The houses we designed were influenced by a... visit to Sweden where living spaces were small but the buildings had a simplicity that we found fresh and elegant.

"[2] In the 1960s they became actively involved in the preservation of historic buildings, and foundation members and honorary architects for the National Trust of Australia.

Private residential, conservation and restoration work continued in the 1960s and 70s, including Emu Bottom Homestead and the Collins Street facade of the Block Arcade.

Three years after establishing their practice, in 1952, John and Phyllis together with Peter McIntyre and Kevin Borland won the competition for the Melbourne Olympic Pool, which is considered one of Australia's finest modernist buildings.

The 1839 timber cottage, built for Port Phillip District's first superintendent Charles La Trobe was moved to its current location and restored in 1961–3.

[11] The 1836 stone farmhouse and buildings near Sunbury, originally built for settler George Evans, were restored under the Murphy's guidance in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Their reputation of being one of Melbourne's best practices for restoration didn't fail them, the Town Hall won an RAIA award for outstanding building renovation (in collaboration with Peter Lovell) after completion.