William Nixon (architect)

Councillor
William Nixon
Councillor William Nixon
President of Hornsby Shire
	In office; 1907–1909
Preceded by	John Hunt
Succeeded by	Lord Livingstone Ramsay
Alderman Municipality of Ashfield
	In office; 1900–1906
Personal details
Born	31 May 1859; The Glebe, NSW
Died	5 June 1931 (aged 71); Beecroft, NSW
Spouse	Ada (née Fox)
Children	William Elliott (born 1887); Charles Ashwin (born 1889); Edwin George (born 1890); Allen Dalrymple (born 1893)
Residence	Lynwood Beecroft
Occupation	Architect
Website	William Mark Nixon

William Mark Nixon (31 May 1859 – 5 June 1931) was an Australian architect active at the end of the 19th century and the first quarter of the 20th century. His work encompassed the styles of the Federation Bungalow in domestic design and Federation Free Classical in civic and commercial design.[1] He was active in local government and was President of Hornsby Shire and an Alderman in the Municipality of Ashfield.[2]

Early life

Nixon was the son of Jane (née Graham) and William Nixon and was born in Sydney circa 1860. His father had emigrated from Hawick in Scotland with £30,000 from the sale of his family’s woollen mills. On arrival in Australia this money was largely lost on poor gold mining investments. He began his working life with the New South Wales Colonial Architect’s Office under James Barnet and in 1884 commenced as a draughtsman for the New South Wales Government Railways. In 1886 Nixon married Ada Fox, the daughter of a Church of England clergyman from Tumut, New South Wales.

Architectural practice

In 1893, with four young sons, he started his own architectural practice in Pitt Street, Sydney, with only £30 of savings.

Highbury, in Centennial Park, Sydney

Architectural commissions included additions to St Andrew's College, University of Sydney and a new residence for its Principal, the remodelling of St George's Hall, Newtown, St Clement's Anglican Church, Mosman, Presbyterian churches at Singleton and Newcastle, hospitals, schools, stores. Amongst the houses he designed were Highbury, Centennial Park. Early in his career Nixon practiced with other architects including Herbert Dennis. In 1910 he took his son, Charles Ashwin Nixon, as his partner until his death on active service during World War I. Then he worked alone until his own retirement in 1930.[3]

Local Government

Nixon served as a Hornsby Shire Councillor from 1908 until 1922 and was Shire President from 1910 until 1913.[4]

References

Federation House Retrieved 7 February 2019.
"MR. WILLIAM MARK NIXON". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 29, 150. New South Wales, Australia. 9 June 1931. p. 8. Retrieved 7 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
Beecroft-Cheltenham History Group Retrieved 7 February 2019.
William Nixon, Councillor, Hornsby Shire Council Retrieved 7 February 2019.

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[1] Federation House Retrieved 7 February 2019.

[2] "MR. WILLIAM MARK NIXON". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 29, 150. New South Wales, Australia. 9 June 1931. p. 8. Retrieved 7 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.

[3] Beecroft-Cheltenham History Group Retrieved 7 February 2019.

[4] William Nixon, Councillor, Hornsby Shire Council Retrieved 7 February 2019.