NationMaster - Encyclopedia: New South Wales Government Architect

The first official architect for the colony of New South Wales in a role that would become the New South Wales Government Architect was Francis Greenway. He was appointed in 1816 by Governor Macquarie to be Acting Civil Architect and Assistant Engineer responsible to Captain J M Gill, Inspector of Public Works. Greenway was a convict who had been sentenced to transportation for forgery. Greenway's works included the Macquarie Lighthouse on South Head, the Fort on Bennelong Point and the Stables for Government House. Greenway's other major buildings include the Obelisk in Macquarie Place, the Church of St James, St Mathews Church at Windsor and the Hyde Park Barracks. Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Governor Premier Const. ... Francis Greenway, as shown on the 1966 Australian $10 note. ... Governor Lachlan Macquarie Colonel Lachlan Macquarie (31 January 1762â€“1 July 1824), British military officer and colonial administrator, served as Governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of that colony. ... The Macquarie Lighthouse was the first, and is the longest serving, lighthouse site in Australia. ... St. ... The Hyde Park Barracks, built between 1818 and 1819, is a popular landmark in the historic precinct of Macquarie Street and Queens Square in Sydney. ...

Colonial Architects 1822 - 1835 under Governors Brisbane, Darling and Bourke

Leaders of the free settler community in New South Wales, such as Wentworth and Macarthur, complained to London about Macquarie's policies, and in 1819 the government appointed an English judge, John Bigge, to visit New South Wales and report on its administration. Bigge generally agreed with the settlers' criticisms, and elements of his reports criticised Governor Macquarie’s administration including his excessive spending on public works. Bigge's reports on the colony led to Macquarie's resignation in 1821. 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... John Thomas Bigge (1780 - 1843) was an English judge. ... 1821 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

When Macquarie returned to England in February 1822, Greenway was without his patron and on 15 November 1822, the recently appointed Governor Brisbane dismissed him from the office of Civil Architect. November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 46 days remaining. ... 1822 (MDCCCXXII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane (July 23, 1773 – January 27, 1860) was a soldier, colonial Governor and astronomer. ...

Brisbane's two replacement appointees lasted only short terms. Governor Darling arrived in December 1825 and dismissed the incumbent architect, George Cookney, a few months later. Darling left the position of Civil Architect vacant for the term of his governorship while he continued the process of reviewing the structure and roles of the Departments that made up the Public Service. General Sir Ralph Darling, Governor NSW (1825â€“1831). ...

Governor Bourke succeeded Darling in 1831. Bourke initiated a major enquiry into the Department of Public Works and suspended its Director, Charles Wilson. Bourke had received numerous allegations anonymously against Wilson and the Department. Wilson was dismissed and following him, six of the next top officers were also dismissed. In effect, the Department of Public Works ceased to function on the date of those dismissals, 13 March 1832. Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Bourke KCB was Governor of the Colony of New South Wales, Australia between 1831 and 1837. ... March 13 is the 72nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (73rd in leap years). ... 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Bourke established the Colonial Architect's Department in 1832 to be responsible for the planning and supervision of the construction and repair of public buildings. In general, the Colonial Architect's Department had charge of public buildings and their furniture, the duty of preparing plans and specifications for construction and repair and superintending all works executed by contract. From 1833 - 1835 the Department briefly became the Architectural Branch of the Department of the Surveyor General before the Colonial Architect's Department was again separately established.

Standish Lawrence Harris 1822 - 1824

To replace Greenway, Brisbane appointed Standish Lawrence Harris, a recently arrived free settler as Civil Architect in late 1822. Harris' main achievement seems to be in preparing a report on the condition of the Colony's public buildings requested by the Governor. Harris criticised his predecessor's works. Governor Brisbane found Harris's fees to be excessive. The Civil Architect reported to the Chief Engineer, Major John Ovens. Ovens had stated that Harris' services "can no longer be useful to me" and Harris was dismissed in October 1824.

Other than his report on the colony's public buildings, Harris's possible contribution was the completion of the new Courthouse at Sydney begun by Greenway. Harris made enlargements and prepared drawings and specifications, but there is some doubt as to whether even his design was that ultimately adopted. Harris made recommendations about the organisation of the Office for Public Works and the role of the Civil Architect, which were adopted.

George Cookney 1825 - 1826

George Cookney was an English architect, the son of D'arcy Wentworth's London agent. Cookney was sponsored by Wentworth and his son William Charles Wentworth. Governor Brisbane appointed him in April 1825, however, there were not a lot of projects he was asked to look at.

The only major work completed by Cookney was a memorial at the Sydney suburb of La Perouse to the Compte de la Pérouse, the French explorer who visited Botany Bay in 1788. The memorial was requested by Baron de Bougainville, the son of the more famous French explorer, Louis Antoine de Bougainville, who visited Sydney in 1825. At de Bougainville's request, Governor Brisbane directed Cookney to design both the monument and a tomb to be erected over the grave of one of La Perouse's crew who had been buried at Botany Bay. La Perouse is a suburb of Sydney, Australia, and is adjacent to Botany and Malabar. ... LapÃ©rouse by FranÃ§ois Rude (1784-1855), in 1828 LapÃ©rouse Jean FranÃ§ois Galaup, count (comte) de La PÃ©rouse (August 23, 1741 - 1788) was a French naval officer and explorer whose expedition vanished in Oceania. ... Louis-Antoine de Bougainville (1729â€“1811) Louis-Antoine de Bougainville Louis Antoine de Bougainville, Comte de Bougainville (November 12, 1729 â€“ August 20, 1811) was a French navigator and military commander. ...

Ambrose Hallen 1832 - 1834

From 1827 Ambrose Hallen had been the Town Surveyor within the Public Works Department. Within the Department of Public Works, Hallen took on the role of Architect and Town Surveyor under Charles Wilson, the Director of Public Works; under Wilson's directorship, Hallen having become increasingly engaged in minor architectural matters.

When Governor Burke succeeded Governor Darling in December 1831, he initiated an enquiry in to the Department of Public Works. Wilson and six of those who were immediately under him were dismissed in 1832. Hallen was the next most senior officer and was placed in charge of what remained of the Department on 1 April 1832; later that month he was given the title of Colonial Architect and his office was officially titled the Colonial Architects Department. The position as Town Surveyor was absorbed into the Surveyor General's Department (the role was filled by Mortimer Lewis who was later to succeed Hallen as Colonial Architect). In creating the Colonial Architect's role and Department, Governor Bourke defied directions from the Colonial Office in Whitehall, London, which had specified there was to be no such office as an entity separate from that of the Surveyor General. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

The new department only had 10 officers and was operating under tighter management following the review of the Department of Public Works. Hallen was not found to providing the necessary leadership and the office became part of the Surveyor-General's office under Thomas Mitchell. Major Sir Thomas Livingston Mitchell (June 16, 1792-1855), surveyor and explorer of south-eastern Australia, was born at Grangemouth in Stirlingshire, Scotland. ...

Buildings include St Brigid's school at Millers Point. Millers Point is an inner-city suburb right next to the city of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ...

Hallen designed the gaol at Berrima. It was based on the radiating system of inspection. He also designed a courthouse at Berrima. However, the cost of building would have significantly exceeded the funds allocated. Hallen resigned at the end of 1834. Berrima is a town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. ...

Mortimer Lewis 1835 - 1849

Mortimer Lewis was appointed by Governor Bourke whose term was completed in 1837. He served also under Governor Sir George Gipps (1838-1846) and Governor Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy (1846-1855). Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Bourke KCB was Governor of the Colony of New South Wales, Australia between 1831 and 1837. ... Sir George Gipps (1791 - 28 February 1847) was Governor of the colony of New South Wales, Australia, for eight years, between 1838 and 1846. ...

In the mid 1830s there was seen to be an increasing need for new buildings relating to policing, including gaols, courthouses and lock-ups. Bourke negotiated with the Colonial Office in London that these buildings should be built by the Colonial Architect from the Colony's own resources and that this would give greater respect for the buildings, stating: "The attention of the Colonists will be called to them, an interest acquired in their preservation, which does not seem to attach to those works, which are defrayed at the cost of the British Treasury alone."

At the same time, responsibility for civil and military buildings was made separate. Accordingly, these roles reported direct to the governor. The Surveyor-General, Thomas Mitchell, would have supported the independence of Mortimer Lewis, who he had worked with while Lewis was Town Surveyor, and whom Mitchell had suggested would fill the role better than Hallen had. Mortimer Lewis was appointed Colonial Architect in April 1835. Final approval for the arrangements only came in September 1837, due to the delays in corresponding between New South Wales and England by ship. Major Sir Thomas Livingston Mitchell (June 16, 1792-1855), surveyor and explorer of south-eastern Australia, was born at Grangemouth in Stirlingshire, Scotland. ...

One of Lewis's earliest works was the court house at Darlinghurst. It was significant as a building as it was deliberately built in the popular Greek style fashionable in England to convey a sense of the importance of purpose of the court house. He also managed the project in a more politically astute way by getting the government to approve sequential work rather than a single large intimidating budget. Darlinghurst is an inner eastern suburb of Sydney, Australia. ...

Lewis produced courthouses at Goulburn, Bathurst, and Hartley, and gaols at Berrima, Maitland, Bathurst and Goulburn. Most of these buildings were later replaced. The most famous landmark in Goulburn, the Big Merino Sheep Goulburn (34Â°44â€²S 149Â°44â€²E) is a provincial cathedral city in New South Wales, Australia characterised by a particularly long main street. ... Location of Bathurst in New South Wales (red) Bathurst is a regional centre in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... Hartley is a town below the western escarpment of the Blue Mountains. ... Berrima is a town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. ...

Under Lewis, the Colonial Architect's Department of Victoria was established at what was at first the new settlement at Port Phillip. The beginnings of the Colonial Architect's Department of Queensland also occurred under Lewis.

In 1843 there was a significant change in the governance of the colony of New South Wales as the first partially representative Legislative Council was established. The new Council was concerned to minimise expenditure and the appropriation of funds for public works was reduced with a consequent reduction of quality and output of the Colonial Architect's Department.

In 1844 the duties of the of the Colonial Architect were expanded to cover the role previously performed by the Colonial Engineer, that is superintendence of roads, bridges, wharves and quays. From October 1848 military buildings and works were also placed under the charge of the Colonial Architect.

Lewis resigned in 1849. Major works that Lewis mentioned in his resignation statement were six gaols, eleven Courthouses, the new Government House, the Tarban Creek Lunatic Asylum later known as the Gladesville Psychiatric Hospital, Customs House, the new Treasury building, the Post Office and numerous other buildings. He also included civic works at Circular Quay and at Newcastle.

His resignation resulted from an enquiry into the building of the Australian Museum. Lewis was the fourth of the five government architects to be dismissed. If Hallen had not resigned, it was quite probable he would have been dismissed also.

Edmund Thomas Blacket 1849 - 1854

Edmund Thomas Blacket was appointed by Governor Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy (1846-1855).

William Weaver 1854 - 1856

William Weaver was appointed by Governor Sir William Denison (1855-1861). Sir William Thomas Denison KCB (Born May 3, 1804, England; Died January 19, 1871, England}. Governor of New South Wales January 20, 1855 - January 22, 1861. ...

Alexander Dawson 1856 - 1862

Alexander Dawson served under Governor Sir William Denison (1855-1861) and Governor Young (1861-1867). Sir William Thomas Denison KCB (Born May 3, 1804, England; Died January 19, 1871, England}. Governor of New South Wales January 20, 1855 - January 22, 1861. ... John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar (August 31, 1807 - October 6, 1876) was the second Governor General of Canada. ...

From 1856 the Colonial Architect's Department reported to the Secretary of Lands and Public Works and from 1860, with the separation of Public Works from Lands, under the Secretary for Public Works.

James Barnet 1862 - 1890

James Barnet was appointed by Governor Young (1861-1867). He served under Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore (1868-1872), Sir Hercules Robinson (1872-1879), Lord Augustus Loftus (1879-1885), and Charles Wynn-Carington, 3rd Baron Carrington(1885-1890). James Barnet James Johnstone Barnet (1827 â€“ 1904) was the Colonial Architect for New South Wales from 1862 - 1890. ... James Barnet James Johnstone Barnet (1827 â€“ 1904) was the Colonial Architect for New South Wales from 1862 - 1890. ... John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar (August 31, 1807 - October 6, 1876) was the second Governor General of Canada. ... Rt Hon Major Sir Somerset Richard Lowry-Corry, The 4th Earl of Belmore KCMG GCMG (Born April 9, 1835, Bruton Street, Mayfair, London; Died April 6, 1913, Castle Coole, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland). ... Lord Hercules George Robert Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead (December 19, 1824 - October 28, 1897) was a British colonial administrator. ... Sir Augustus William Frederick Spencer Loftus (Born October 4, 1817, Clifford, Bristol; Died March 7, 1909, Surrey). ... Charles Robert Wynn Carrington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire (1843-1928) was a British Liberal politician and aristocrat. ...

During Barnet's career, the Colonial Architect's office produced over 1,350 works. He listed on his retirement 169 Post and Telegraph offices, 130 Courthouses, 155 Police Stations, 110 lock ups and 20 lighthouses. During his time as Government Architect there were 20 separate Parliaments, 16 Ministers and nine different Premiers. He made more visible imact on the colony than any other public servant of his time.

Walter Liberty Vernon 1890 - 1911

On 1 August 1890 the Colonial Architect's Branch became the Government Architect's Branch of the Department of Public Works. August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ...

Under Vernon's directorship the Arts and Craft style came to be used increasingly for public buildings. Notable examples include the Fire Stations at Darlinghurst and Pyrmont, as well as Post Offices and country Courthouses. Using the Arts and Crafts style meant these buildings were less monumental than those built by Barnet. However, Vernon also built a number of major public buildings, such as the Mitchell wing at the State Library, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Fisher Library at the University of Sydney and Central railway station, Sydney. These buildings maintained the classical tradition. Vernon also added to a number of the buildings designed by his predecessors including Customs House, the GPO and the Chief Secretaries building. Artichoke wallpaper, by John Henry Dearle for William Morris & Co. ... Darlinghurst is an inner eastern suburb of Sydney, Australia. ... Pyrmont is an inner suburb of Sydney, Australia located on a peninsula directly across Darling Harbour from the central business district and linked to it by the pedestrian-only Pyrmont Bridge. ... The State Library of New South Wales is a large public library owned by the state of New South Wales. ... The Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) is an art gallery, open to the public, and located in The Domain in Sydney, Australia. ... Fisher Library, University of Sydney. ... Central (also known as Sydney Terminal) is the largest railway station in Sydney, Australia. ...

George McRae 1911 - 1923

Gorrie McLeish Blair 1923 - 1926

Richard McDonald Seymour Wells 1927 - 1929

Edwin Smith 1929 - 1935

Cobden Parkes 1935 - 1958

The second son of Sir Henry Parkes. Sir Henry Parkes Sir Henry Parkes (27 May 1815 â€“ 27 April 1896), Australian politician, is sometimes called the Father of Federation and is at least considered the most prominent among the Australian Founding Fathers. ...

Among other projects, oversaw the competition for the Sydney Opera House design. A side view of the Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is located at , in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ...

E H (Ted) Farmer 1958 - 1973

Peter Webber 1973 - 1974

Webber left the Government Architect's branch in 1974 to take up a position as full time Commissioner in the NSW Planning & Environment Commission. He later became Professor of Architecture at the University of Sydney.

Charles Weatherburn 1974 - 1978

Ian Thomson 1978 - 1988

In the late 1980s the Government Architect's Branch became the Architectural Division of the Department of Public Works.

Lindsay Kelly 1988 - 1995

Chris Johnson 1995 - 2005

External links

Categories: Australian architects | Australian public servants 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Contents

Francis Greenway 1816-1822

Colonial Architects 1822 - 1835 under Governors Brisbane, Darling and Bourke

Standish Lawrence Harris 1822 - 1824

George Cookney 1825 - 1826

Ambrose Hallen 1832 - 1834

Mortimer Lewis 1835 - 1849

Edmund Thomas Blacket 1849 - 1854

William Weaver 1854 - 1856

Alexander Dawson 1856 - 1862

James Barnet 1862 - 1890

Walter Liberty Vernon 1890 - 1911

George McRae 1911 - 1923

Gorrie McLeish Blair 1923 - 1926

Richard McDonald Seymour Wells 1927 - 1929

Edwin Smith 1929 - 1935

Cobden Parkes 1935 - 1958

E H (Ted) Farmer 1958 - 1973

Peter Webber 1973 - 1974

Charles Weatherburn 1974 - 1978

Ian Thomson 1978 - 1988

Lindsay Kelly 1988 - 1995

Chris Johnson 1995 - 2005

External links

Contents

Francis Greenway 1816-1822 GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Colonial Architects 1822 - 1835 under Governors Brisbane, Darling and Bourke

Standish Lawrence Harris 1822 - 1824

George Cookney 1825 - 1826

Ambrose Hallen 1832 - 1834

Mortimer Lewis 1835 - 1849

Edmund Thomas Blacket 1849 - 1854

William Weaver 1854 - 1856

Alexander Dawson 1856 - 1862

James Barnet 1862 - 1890

Walter Liberty Vernon 1890 - 1911

George McRae 1911 - 1923

Gorrie McLeish Blair 1923 - 1926

Richard McDonald Seymour Wells 1927 - 1929

Edwin Smith 1929 - 1935

Cobden Parkes 1935 - 1958

E H (Ted) Farmer 1958 - 1973

Peter Webber 1973 - 1974

Charles Weatherburn 1974 - 1978

Ian Thomson 1978 - 1988

Lindsay Kelly 1988 - 1995

Chris Johnson 1995 - 2005

External links

Francis Greenway 1816-1822