52-671: The New South Wales Government Architect , an appointed officer of the Government of New South Wales , serves as the General Manager of the Government Architect's Office (GAO), a multi-disciplinary consultancy operating on commercial principles providing architecture, design, and engineering services, that is an agency of the government within NSW Public Works . Historically, the government architect
104-555: A commission to design buildings for the University of Sydney. William Weaver was appointed by Governor Sir William Denison (1855–1861), having left England in 1850, he commended duties in 1851 as Senior Foreman of Works under Blacket, and succeeded Blacket as Colonial Architect in 1854. Weaver submitted a design for the Government Printing Office in 1855 before being called to report to a Select Committee of
156-941: A majority of members of the Legislative Assembly. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of New South Wales and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution. In 2006, the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in New South Wales, the Constitution Amendment Pledge of Loyalty Act 2006 No. 6
208-724: 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. The office under Vernon
260-586: A number of years as the responsibility for school design changed between departments. Wells designed the conversion of the Old Stables to the new Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 1913, as directed by the Minister for Public Instruction. During Wells' term as Government architect, he supervised work on the Dixson Wing of the State Library of New South Wales , The Travers Building at Sydney Hospital ,
312-585: A position he held until 1897 when he was appointed Principal Assistant Architect to Vernon in the Government Architect's Branch. He succeeded Vernon as Government Architect in 1911 and held the office until his death in 1923. Works undertaken by McRae during his term as Government Architect include: the Education Dept Building, Bridge Street (1912); Parcels Post Office, Railway Square (1913); Taronga Zoo lower entrance, top entrance, and Indian elephant house; Corporation Building, Hay Street, which
364-543: A single large intimidating budget. Lewis produced courthouses at Goulburn , Bathurst , Berrima , and Hartley , and gaols at Berrima , Maitland , Bathurst and Goulburn . Most of these buildings were later replaced. 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
416-631: Is exercised by the Executive Council, which consists of the Governor and senior ministers. The Governor, as representative of the Crown, is the formal repository of power, which is exercised by him or her on the advice of the Premier of New South Wales and the cabinet. The Premier and ministers are appointed by the Governor, and hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of
468-808: Is on the Register of the National Estate; additions to the Colonial Treasury Building in Bridge Street ; Queen Victoria Building , George Street, also on the Register of the National Estate; and Cessnock Court House. From 1912 until 1937 the Government Architect's Branch was housed in the "Tin Shed", a temporary building on the site of the first Government House and demolished in 1970. Blair, born 1862 in Scotland, entered
520-552: The Children's Court or Coroner's Court . New South Wales received statehood upon the federation of Australia in 1901, with the state's Constitution establishing a parliamentary democracy. Its relationship with the federal government is regulated by the Australian Constitution . The current government is held by the state Labor Party , led by Premier Chris Minns . Minns succeeded Dominic Perrottet from
572-615: The Gladesville Mental 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 and King's School, Parramatta . His resignation resulted from an enquiry into the building of the Australian Museum . If Hallen had not resigned, it was quite probable he would have been dismissed also. Blacket
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#1732780080222624-808: The Liberal Party on 28 March 2023 following the state election . New South Wales is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system , a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom . Legislative power formally rests with the King, acting with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly —together known as the Parliament of New South Wales . Executive power
676-609: The NSW Government , is the governing body of New South Wales , Australia. The executive government comprises 11 portfolios, led by a ministerial department and supported by several agencies. There are also a number of independent agencies that fall under a portfolio but remain at arms-length for political reasons, such as the Independent Commission Against Corruption and Electoral Commission . The state Executive Council , consisting of
728-492: The governor and senior ministers, exercises the executive authority through the relevant portfolio. The legislative branch includes the bicameral state parliament , which includes the monarchy as represented by the governor , the Legislative Assembly , and Legislative Council . The judicial branch consists of three general courts ( Local , District and Supreme Court ), and several specialist courts such as
780-580: 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
832-581: 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. Buildings undertaken by Dawson as Colonial Architect include Sydney Observatory and Sydney Registry Office and at least two lighthouses, Point Stephens Light and the Hornby Lighthouse . Dawson was suspended for 3 months in 1859 for being absent from duty, and
884-664: 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. One of Barnet's most impressive achievements was the Garden Palace , opened in 1879 as the venue for the International Exhibition of that year. The building was destroyed by fire in 1882. During his time as Colonial Architect there were 20 separate Parliaments, 16 Ministers and nine different Premiers. He made more visible impact on
936-657: 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. 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
988-509: The Department of Public Works ceased to function on the date of those dismissals, 13 March 1832. 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 to 1835
1040-567: 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 into the Department of Public Works. Wilson and six of those who were immediately under him were dismissed in 1832. Hallen
1092-471: The Government Architect's Branch in 1895 as an architectural draughtsman. By 1912 he had become First Class Assistant Architect in charge of the drawing office, and by 1916 Principal Designing Architect. Blair was appointed Acting Government Architect on McRae's death in 1923 and promoted to Government Architect in 1926. Blair was responsible for the design of several war memorials, additions to Katoomba Court House and Wards 24 and 25 at Callan Park Hospital for
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#17327800802221144-805: The Government Architect's Branch in 1930 to absorb the Architect's Branch of the Department of Public Construction. During the 1930s depression, Smith initiated documentation for public buildings erected under the Unemployment Relief Council. Works undertaken during Smith's term of office include: the Blackburn building at The University of Sydney, Tea Gardens Court House, Quirindi Courthouse, Lismore District Works Office, and Lismore Police Station. Smith retired in 1935 and died in 1965, aged 95 years. Government of New South Wales The Government of New South Wales , also known as
1196-494: The Governor's displeasure in 1856. Alexander Dawson, previously Clerk of Works in Hobart town under the Governor of Tasmania , Sir William Denison, was invited by Denison, on his appointment as Governor of New South Wales (1855–1861), to serve as Colonial Architect. His commission was later renewed by Governor John Young (1861–1867). As a result of the formation of the first responsible government in New South Wales , from 1856
1248-526: 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
1300-526: The Insane . Richard McDonald Seymour Wells was born in Australia in 1865, and his promotion to Government Architect in 1927 made him the first Australian born architect to hold that post. Wells first joined William Kemp's office in the Department of Public Instruction in 1881, working on the design of schools. He transferred between the Department of Public Instruction and the Government Architect's Branch for
1352-485: The King, represented by the Governor of New South Wales. The government ministers are listed in order of seniority as listed on the Parliament of New South Wales website and were sworn on by the Governor with effect from 5 April 2023, while their opposition counterparts are listed to correspond with the government ministers. All Opposition counterparts are members of the Parliament of New South Wales. The full ministry
1404-596: The Legislative Council commissioned to inquire into the state of the Colonial architect's Department. Despite Weaver's protestations about a lack of resources impeding progress, the Committee reported: "The Department of the Colonial Architect as now constituted, is not capable of dealing properly with the amount of work which the charge of public buildings alone would entail in it". Weaver resigned under
1456-679: The Nurses' Home at Maitland Hospital and many additions to public schools. Wells retired as Government Architect in 1929. Edwin Smith, born in 1870 in Scotland, arrived in Australia in 1889, and worked as a draughtsman in the Queensland Department of Public Works and as Chief Architect in the Victorian Department of Public Works before being appointed Government Architect of New South Wales in 1929. Smith reorganised
1508-563: The colony than any other public servant of his time. Barnet resigned as Colonial Architect on 30 June 1890. Shortly afterwards the Colonial Architect's Department was abolished. Vernon was born in 1846 at High Wycombe in England, and worked in private practice in Sydney before joining the newly named Government Architect's Branch in 1890 as Branch Head. Funds and staff were depleted for the first years of Vernon's term, until 1894, in response to
1560-519: The delays in corresponding between New South Wales and England by ship. One of Lewis's earliest works was the Darlinghurst Courthouse . 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
1612-500: The department briefly became the Architectural Branch of the Department of the Surveyor General before the Colonial Architect's Department was again separately established. 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
New South Wales Government Architect - Misplaced Pages Continue
1664-602: The depression, the Government voted 136,635 pounds for the new building works. 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
1716-506: The end of 1834. 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). 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
1768-484: 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. When Macquarie returned to England in February 1822, Greenway
1820-474: The necessary leadership and the office became part of the Surveyor-General's office under Thomas Mitchell . Buildings include St Brigid's school at Millers Point . 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
1872-549: 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 was an English architect, the son of D'arcy Wentworth's London agent. Cookney
1924-633: The process of reviewing the structure and roles of the Departments that made up the Public Service. 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,
1976-572: 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
2028-475: The role, then styled Colonial Architect, was Francis Greenway , appointed in 1816. Francis Greenway was the first official architect for the Colony of New South Wales in a role that was called Colonial Architect and later NSW Government Architect. 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
2080-538: 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 Pérouse's crew who had been buried at Botany Bay. From 1827 Ambrose Hallen had been the Town Surveyor within the Public Works Department. Within
2132-932: 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 . 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
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2184-424: 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 Colonial Architect were expanded to cover
2236-480: Was appointed by Governor Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy (1846–1855), having previously completed a number of ecclesiastical commissions in the Colony, following his arrival from Scotland in 1842. Works by Blacket as Colonial Architect include the design of the Abattoirs (1850), the Water Police Office (1851), and Victoria Bridge in Maitland (1852). Blacket advocated the design of public buildings by competition among private architects. Resigning in 1854, Blacket took up
2288-409: Was assented to and made a further amendment to the Constitution Act 1902 , by restoring the option of taking the oath of allegiance to the Queen, her heirs and successors, in addition to the option of taking the pledge of loyalty. The change applies to members of Legislative Council, Legislative Assembly and Executive Council. The following individuals serve as government ministers, at the pleasure of
2340-476: Was enacted to amend the Constitution Act 1902 to require Members of the New South Wales Parliament and its Ministers to take a pledge of loyalty to Australia and to the people of New South Wales instead of swearing allegiance to the Queen her heirs and successors, and to revise the oaths taken by Executive Councillors. The Act was assented to by the Queen on 3 April 2006. On 5 June 2012 the Constitution Amendment (Restoration of Oaths of Allegiance) Act 2012 No 33
2392-429: Was in charge of the government's public building projects across the state of New South Wales , Australia. Since the 1990s, when the consultancy service began operating on commercial principles, the Government Architect has reported separately in a second capacity, as an advisor to the government, and serves on various committees and boards in relation to heritage protection, architecture, and design. The first officer in
2444-437: 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
2496-403: Was replaced by his Clerk of Works. He resigned on 31 October 1862, and left New South Wales in 1864. Barnet was appointed by Governor John Young (1861–1867). He served under Governors 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). During Barnet's career,
2548-436: Was responsible for the design and installation of the elaborate decorations and illuminations in the city to celebrate the Federation of the Australian colonies in 1900. Vernon retired from the position of Government Architect on 11 August 1911. George McRae arrived in Sydney in 1884 from Scotland and was appointed Assistant Architect in the City Architect's office. He became City Architect and City Building Surveyor in 1889,
2600-416: 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 Pérouse to Jean-François de la Pérouse , the French explorer who visited Botany Bay in 1788. The memorial was requested by Baron de Bougainville,
2652-433: 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
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#17327800802222704-429: Was without his patron and on 15 November 1822, the recently appointed Governor Brisbane dismissed him from the office of Civil Architect. 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
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