Colonial (Government) Architect Guide

Historical Overview

The Government (Colonial) Architect's Department was established in 1832 to be responsible for the planning and supervision of the construction and repair of public buildings. These functions had previously been performed in varying degrees by individuals, notably Francis Greenway and Standish Harris. 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. On 1 April 1833 the Department became the Architectural Branch of the Department of the Surveyor General although the latter's control over the branch appeared to be only nominal and two years later the Colonial Architect's Department was again separately established.

In 1844 the duties of the Colonial Engineer of superintendence of roads, bridges, wharves and quays were added to those of the Colonial Architect and in October 1848 military buildings and works were placed under his charge. From 1856 the Colonial Architect's Department came under the control of the Secretary of Lands and Public Works and from 1860, with the separation of Public Works from Lands, under the Secretary for Public Works.

Although the Colonial Architect was responsible for public buildings in general, this did not include public school buildings as the Council of Education and the Department of Public Instruction which succeeded the Council were responsible for the establishment and maintenance of public schools. However, in 1896, as part of a general re-organisation of the Department of Public Instruction the design and supervision of the erection of large school buildings was transferred to the Government Architect's Branch.

On 1 August 1890 the Colonial Architect's Branch became the Government Architect's Branch of the Department of Public Works.

See more information about the Colonial Architect's Office in the catalogue »

Correspondence

Series	Title	Dates
NRS 4332	Files concerning erection, repair, additions and alterations to public buildings Listed in the online Colonial (Government) Architect Index »	1837-1912
NRS 4351	Building ('B') files These files deal with the planning, construction and provision of services to Government offices, police stations and courthouses, tertiary institutions, prisons, Aboriginal stations, cultural institutions, tourist facilities and vice-regal residences.	1936-1990 *
NRS 4352	Files re school and tertiary education buildings ('SB' and 'S' files) The files in this series were the principal functional records of the Government Architect's Branch relating to school and tertiary education institutions. Until 1966 they were prefixed by 'SB' and from then by 'S'.	1937-c.1989 *
NRS 4353	Architects ('A') files The files in this series relate to general policy matters and to particular building and other projects.	1946-1947
NRS 4354	Files re health buildings ('H' files) The files in this series consist of the principal functional records of the Health Branch of the Architectural Division.	1961-c.1989 *

* The NSW Department of Commerce may be of assistance in the identification of relevant records. The Department also holds a significant collection of plans of public buildings, sewerage and water supply, and public facilities. Contact the Records Section on 9372 7080 for further information.

Plans

Series	Title	Dates
NRS 4333 [Plans 2369-2421]	Specification of Government House The volume includes a list of plans for the building.	1834
NRS 4335	Plans of public buildings View the Item List in the catalogue or search for items in the online Colonial (Government) Architect Index » Aperture card copies of many of the plans are also available for reproduction.	1834-c.1970
NRS 4334 (Reel 2660)	Designs of public buildings Plans and elevations of public buildings made by Mortimer W. Lewis, Colonial Architect. Aperture card negatives available for reproduction Listed in the online Colonial (Government) Architect Index »	1837
NRS 4338	Plans and specifications of schools and school residences Listed in the online Colonial (Government) Architect Index »	1861-1910
NRS 4339	Plans of the Chief Secretary's and Public Works Offices, Sydney	1896
NRS 4341	Plan of new Homebush Abattoirs	1908-1909
NRS 4345	Architectural plan book Sketches and plans by Cobden Parkes Wade House, Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children (1937-38) Royal Hospital for Women, Paddington - New Maternity and Isolation Block and Nurses' Quarters (1938) Newcastle Technical College - New Science Building and Mechanical Engineering Building and Assembly Hall (1936-38) Sydney Technical College - The Hoskin's Block (1936)	1936-1938

Photographs

Series	Title	Dates
NRS 4346 (photos) (Reel 2786, COD 422; Aperture card nos. 7796-8185)	Photographs of public buildings and war memorials in New South Wales	c.1880-1940
NRS 4347	Sesquicentenary celebrations, Sydney	1938
NRS 4349 (photos)	Royal visit, Sydney: photograph album	1954
NRS 18195	Photographs of war memorials in New South Wales Listed in the online Colonial (Government) Architect Index »	1920-1926

Related records

Researchers should consult our catalogue for records of the following agencies

• Auditor General
• Colonial Engineer
• Colonial Secretary
• Lands
• Public Service Board
• Public Works Department
• Sheriff
• Surveyor General

and the interim list of records received after 1991 (Records not in the Concise Guide) in the reading room.