John Smith Murdoch
Encyclopedia
John Smith Murdoch was the chief architect for the Commonwealth of Australia
from 1919, responsible for designing many government buildings, most notably the Provisional Parliament House
in Canberra
, the home of the Parliament of Australia
from 1927 to 1988.
, Scotland
.
Murdoch was reclusive, he never married, and there are only 4 known photographs of him. He was typically dour and frugal.
He died in Brighton, Melbourne.
Murdoch was a member of the Masonic order
and it is claimed that he incorporated many masonic motifs into his designs.
, his notable works included:
his notable works included:
to come to Australia from the USA, and who went to Sydney
to greet him on his arrival in 1913. Later, however, he had a difficult relationship with Griffin.
John Smith Murdoch designed the Provisional Parliament House
in Canberra
. However, he had no enthusiasm for the project, saying expenditure on it could not be justified at the time; and he thought the whole idea was a waste of money.
In addition, John Smith Murdoch designed many of Canberra's first public buildings, such as:
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
from 1919, responsible for designing many government buildings, most notably the Provisional Parliament House
Old Parliament House, Canberra
Old Parliament House, known formerly as the Provisional Parliament House, was the house of the Parliament of Australia from 1927 to 1988. The building began operation on 9 May 1927 as a temporary base for the Commonwealth Parliament after its relocation from Melbourne to the new capital, Canberra,...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, the home of the Parliament of Australia
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
from 1927 to 1988.
Personal Life
John Smith Murdoch was born in Cassieford, Elgin CountyElgin, Moray
Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Murdoch was reclusive, he never married, and there are only 4 known photographs of him. He was typically dour and frugal.
He died in Brighton, Melbourne.
Professional Life in Australia
Murdoch trained with major engineering firms in the United Kingdom before moving to Australia in 1884.Murdoch was a member of the Masonic order
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and it is claimed that he incorporated many masonic motifs into his designs.
Queensland
In Queensland his notable works included:- the South Brisbane Town HallSouth Brisbane Town HallThe Old South Brisbane Town Hall is the heritage-listed town hall of the Borough of South Brisbane, later the City of South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
in 1890 - Roma CourthouseRoma CourthouseRoma Courthouse is located at 141 McDowall Street, Roma in Queensland, Australia. Constructed in 1901, the heritage-listed courthouse is a rendered masonry building, which is still in use today...
, RomaRoma, QueenslandRoma is a town in the western Darling Downs area of Queensland, Australia, by rail WNW of Brisbane. It is situated at the junction of the Warrego and Carnarvon highways...
, QueenslandQueenslandQueensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
(1900–1901) - ANZAC Square, BrisbaneAnzac Square, BrisbaneANZAC Square, named in honour of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, is a Queensland state memorial to men and women who participated in overseas armed service. It is located between Ann Street and Adelaide Street , in Brisbane, Australia. ANZAC Square is adjacent to ANZAC Square Arcade...
- the Customs House in Mackay, QueenslandMackay, QueenslandMackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
Victoria
In MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, his notable works included:
- the Commonwealth Offices in Treasury Place (1912)
- the former Mail Exchange on Bourke StreetBourke Street, MelbourneBourke Street is one of Melbourne's best known streets. Historically been regarded as Melbourne's "second street", with the main street being Collins Street and "busier than Bourke Street" is a popular catchphrase. Bourke Street has traditionally been Melbourne's entertainment hub...
(1913) - the former High Court in Little Bourke StreetLittle Bourke Street, MelbourneLittle Bourke Street in Melbourne's CBD runs roughly east–west within the Hoddle Grid. It is a one-way street heading in a westward direction...
(1926).
Western Australia
In Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
his notable works included:
- the Commonwealth Bank and General Post OfficeGeneral Post Office, PerthThe General Post Office is a heritage landmark building in Perth, Western Australia. Located on the western side of Forrest Place in the city's central business district, its imposing stone facade is in the Beaux-Arts style. The building was completed in 1923 after almost a decade of construction,...
buildings (1923) in Forrest PlaceForrest PlaceForrest Place is a pedestrianised square located within the CBD of Perth, Western Australia. The street was created in 1923, and has a history of being a focal point for significant political meetings and demonstrations.-History:...
, PerthPerth, Western AustraliaPerth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
Canberra
John Smith Murdoch persuaded Walter Burley GriffinWalter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect and landscape architect, who is best known for his role in designing Canberra, Australia's capital city...
to come to Australia from the USA, and who went to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
to greet him on his arrival in 1913. Later, however, he had a difficult relationship with Griffin.
John Smith Murdoch designed the Provisional Parliament House
Old Parliament House, Canberra
Old Parliament House, known formerly as the Provisional Parliament House, was the house of the Parliament of Australia from 1927 to 1988. The building began operation on 9 May 1927 as a temporary base for the Commonwealth Parliament after its relocation from Melbourne to the new capital, Canberra,...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. However, he had no enthusiasm for the project, saying expenditure on it could not be justified at the time; and he thought the whole idea was a waste of money.
In addition, John Smith Murdoch designed many of Canberra's first public buildings, such as:
- Kingston Power Station (1913–1915). This was decommissioned in the early 1960s, and reopened on 25 May 2007 as Canberra GlassworksCanberra GlassworksCanberra Glassworks is an Australian gallery and glass art studio open to the general public to view the glass artists working. Opened in May 2007 by Jon Stanhope, it is the largest dedicated glass studio facility in Australia.- Planning and building :...
, a glass artist studio. - the Hotel CanberraHotel CanberraThe Hotel Canberra, also known as Hyatt Hotel Canberra is in Yarralumla, near Lake Burley Griffin and Parliament House, in Canberra. It was built to house politicians when the Federal Parliament moved to Canberra. It was constructed by the contractor John Howie between 1922-1925. Originally...
(1924) - now the Hyatt Hotel - the Hotel KurrajongAustralian International Hotel SchoolThe Australian International Hotel School is a university-level provider of hotel management education, located in Canberra, Australia’s Capital...
(1926) - Secretariat Buildings No. 1 and 2 (1927) - now East and West Blocks
- Gorman House
- Ainslie Public School
- several residential hotels necessary for public servants and politicians.
New South Wales
- 12 bungalowBungalowA bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
s built in 1915 for staff of the Royal Australian NavyRoyal Australian NavyThe Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
College, HMAS CreswellHMAS CreswellHMAS Creswell is a shore establishment of the Royal Australian Navy, a part of the Australian Defence Force, and consists of the Royal Australian Naval College , The RAN School of Survivability and Ship's Safety, Kalkara Flight, the Beecroft Weapons Range and an administrative support...
, at Jervis BayJervis BayJervis Bay is a large bay bounded by the state of New South Wales, the Jervis Bay Territory, and a detached enclave of the Australian Capital Territory. HMAS Creswell is located between Jervis Bay Village and Greenpatch in the Jervis Bay Territory.-History:...
, New South WalesNew South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. These now have heritageCommonwealth HeritageThe Commonwealth Heritage List lists places under Australian Federal Government control, usually on land or in waters directly owned by the Crown in right of the Commonwealth of Australia...
-listing, and were refurbished in 2006-7.