In 1950 Oribin moved to Brisbane to work and study, and on 10 February 1953 he obtained his registration as an architect in Queensland, returning to Cairns the following month to begin a partnership with Barnes.

[5] Throughout his career, he was devoted to experimenting with different structural and aesthetic ideas, drawing inspiration from a wide variety of Australian and international publications.

Located on the banks of Trinity Inlet, the early growth and development of the town was restricted by its topography, which consisted of large areas of low-lying swamp land encircled by mountains.

[8] After the disruption of World War II, post-war optimism saw suburban development increase and the population grow to over 25,000 people by 1961.

[1][9] In the late 1950s Oribin chose to construct his first house (and later studio) in a new post-war suburban area on the slopes of Mount Whitfield, north-west of the Cairns CBD.

[11] One of these farms was owned by William Collins (Mayor of Cairns from 1927 to 1949), who built a large house known as Sylvan Brook on a hill.

Over his long career, Wright had a major influence on American architecture and designed some of its most famous buildings, such as the Robie House, Chicago (1908–10), Falling Water, Pennsylvania (1937–39) and the Guggenheim Museum, New York (1959).

[19] A 1969 journal article, which included Oribin's first house as an example, displayed the wide variety of forms, materials and interpretations of organic philosophy that were employed by Australian architects, with features such as clearly expressed timber structure, textured brickwork, free massing and complex geometries that complemented natural elements of the site.

Like his first house, designing the studio was an opportunity for Oribin to put into practice his most creative and technical ambitions and create a working environment that suited his needs, with a large, well lit office and service and storage areas.

The studio layout consisted of a two rooms on the upper floor that were used as the drawing office, with built-in desks lining the edges of the main south-east facing glazed walls.

A triangular module was used to order the plan and deep overhangs on all sides shielded the large windows from direct sun.

[1][27] Drawing inspiration from Wright, Oribin adapted the Meeting House concept to the site and the Cairns climate, utilising local materials.

The heaviness of the concrete structure, which features large random stones, provided a visual anchor to the soaring characteristics of the studio above.

Side casement windows, protected by shutters, provided cross-ventilation and surrounding trees and vegetation helped shade the studio as they grew.

[1][29] During Oribin's years working from the studio he designed many houses for clients in the suburbs surrounding Mount Whitfield, each very different in structure and form.

[1][36] The Oribin Studio stands in the south-west corner of a long wedge- shaped block, with a sharply angled front boundary along Heavey Crescent.

A temporary timber bridge crossed the creek in 2012, with the rear portion of the property remaining open lawn fringed by vegetation.

The main entrance is along the western wall, while a timber deck at the eastern corner provides access through a 1980s extension to the north-east side.

The interior layout consists of a living room at the front, a bathroom and storage to the rear, and a kitchen and dining area in the 1980s extension.

Where the rafters pierce the wall structure, the gap beneath is in-filled with yellow patterned glass and triangular timber wedges.

[1] The ridgeline of the gable roof, which is clad in corrugated metal sheeting, follows the central axis of the studio, ascending from the rear corner to its highest peak over the front glazed walls.

Dividing the large front living room from the rear bathroom is a v-shaped concrete wall of the same finish and materials as the base structure.

A stone paved floor and low retaining walls line the western edge of the studio, including original triangular garden beds of rough-cast concrete.

The Oribin Studio retains the characteristics of an architect's office, including a large, well-lit working space and service and storage areas.

[1] The creativity, craftsmanship and attention to detail evident in the studio's design are characteristic of the works of Oribin, whose buildings are remarkable for their geometrical complexities, unconventional roof forms, innovative use of materials and structural systems, and manipulation of natural light and ventilation.

The Oribin Studio has aesthetic significance for its picturesque attributes as a building of exceptional architectural quality nestled amidst tropical gardens on the bank of a small creek.