Harry Jefferis

[William] Harry Jefferis (11 April 1867 – 7 September 1947) was an Australian-born architect who practiced principally in Perth and later in Albany in Western Australia.[1]

Harry Jefferis
Born(1867-04-11)11 April 1867
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Died7 September 1947(1947-09-07) (aged 80)
Albany, Western Australia
NationalityAustralian
EducationNewington College
Sydney Technical College
OccupationArchitect
SpouseMinnie (née Cowen)
Children2 girls and 3 boys
ParentJames Jefferis

Early life
Newington College
Sydney Technical College

Jefferis was born in Adelaide, South Australia, the second son and third child of Mary Louisa (née Elbury) and James Jefferis an English-born Congregational Minister. After his birth his family moved to Sydney, Australia and then back to England where his early schooling was in Bristol. The family returned to Sydney to aid his father’s ailing lungs and Harry Jefferis attended Newington College from 1883 until 1885.[2] After working on sheep stations in New South Wales and New Zealand Jefferis returned to Sydney to become an architect. He was articled to his future brother-in-law Harry Chambers Kent[3] and studied architecture at Sydney Technical College.[4]

London

After serving four years of articles to Kent, Jefferis again travelled to London, where he worked for two years in the office of Potts, Sulman & Hennings and then four years on the staff of renowned architect Thomas Edward Collcutt, working on important commissions including the Imperial Institute at South Kensington and P. & O. Offices in Leadenhall Street. During this time Jeffereris passed the qualifying exam and became an associate of the Royal British Institute of Architects in 1894. Before returning to Australia via a sketching tour in Europe, Jefferis submitted an original design as a competitor for the annual Soane Medal, open to the profession throughout the British Empire, and was awarded a medallion for third place.[5]

Western Australia

His family returned to Australia and Jefferis opened his own practice in Perth in March 1896. In 1897 he formed a successful partnership with Edgar Jerome Henderson. The firm secured a great deal of work from the Roman Catholic Church.[6] Town Halls designed by Jefferis include Dumbleyung, Bridgetown, Cunderdin, and Boyup Brook.[7] Other works attributed to Jefferis include Christian Brothers College, Fremantle.[8] Jefferis was an active member of the West Australian Institute of Architects, serving as treasurer from 1908 through to March 1911.[9]

Family and later life

Jefferis married Minnie Cowen in July 1899 at St Mary's in South Perth. The bride was given away by her architect brother-in-law, Duncan Inverarity. Children included Kathleen (Kay) in 1900, Vernon (Bill) in 1902, Mamie in 1904, Jim in 1909 and Ken in 1910. Jefferis died in Albany on 7 September 1947.[10]

References
  1. Biographical Dictionary "Harry" William Harry JEFFERIS Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  2. Newington College Register of Past Students 1863-1998 (Sydney, 1999) pp 99
  3. Harry Chambers Kent 1852-1938 Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  4. Taylor, Dr John J., ‘William Harry Jefferis (1867-1947)', Western Australian Architect Biographies Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  5. "SUCCESSFUL AUSTRALIAN STUDENTS". The Daily Telegraph. No. 4906. New South Wales, Australia. 13 March 1895. p. 5. Retrieved 29 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "PEN PORTRAITS". Mount Barker And Denmark Record. Vol. 5, no. 576. Western Australia. 12 April 1934. p. 6. Retrieved 29 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. Cunderdin Town Hall Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  8. Christian Brothers College Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  9. Richards, Duncan, 1934-; Mungham, John; Royal Australian Institute of Architects. W.A. Chapter; Curtin University of Technology. School of Architecture, Construction and Planning (2003), High hopes : the Institutes of Architecture of Western Australia / by Duncan Richards, Royal Australian Institute of Architects (WA Chapter){{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. "LATE W. H. JEFFERIS". Mount Barker And Denmark Record. Vol. 18, no. 2095. Western Australia. 11 September 1947. p. 14. Retrieved 29 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
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