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*fifth son David King Macgeorge (ca.1836 – 28 June 1853)
*fifth son David King Macgeorge (ca.1836 – 28 June 1853)
*(William) John Macgeorge (ca.1844 – 26 May 1903)
*(William) John Macgeorge (ca.1844 – 26 May 1903)
<!*Alice Annie-->
*Margaret Macgeorge (ca.1824 – 28 October 1912) married John Stewart Turner (ca.1811 – 7 February 1888)
*Margaret Macgeorge (ca.1824 – 28 October 1912) married John Stewart Turner (ca.1811 – 7 February 1888)
*second daughter Eliza Macgeorge ( – ) married [[Francis Hardey Faulding]] (23 August 1816 – 19 November 1868) on 16 September 1852. She married again, to [[Anthony Forster (Australian politician)|Anthony Forster]] (15 May 1813 – 13 January 1897) on 1 December 1869.
*second daughter Eliza Macgeorge ( – ) married [[Francis Hardey Faulding]] (23 August 1816 – 19 November 1868) on 16 September 1852. She married again, to [[Anthony Forster (Australian politician)|Anthony Forster]] (15 May 1813 – 13 January 1897) on 1 December 1869.

Revision as of 23:28, 24 February 2015


James Macgeorge (1832 – 9 December 1918) was an architect in South Australia, noted for erecting South Australia's first telegraph line.

History

Robert Forsyth Macgeorge (1795–1860), a tailor, and his wife Elizabeth M. Macgeorge, née Duncan (1801–) and their family emigrated to South Australia aboard the Ariadne, arriving on 13 August 1839. They developed the property they named "Urr brae", now known as Urrbrae. R. F. Macgeorge took over Shepherd's draper's shop on Hindley Street.

Their son James Macgeorge, born in Scotland in 1832, started practising as an architect in 1855 and in that year responded to a notice in the Gazette of 25 January advertising a contest to design a water reticulation scheme for Adelaide, then petitioned for an enquiry when no prize was awarded.[1] The same year he set about running a telegraph line between the city and Port Adelaide.[2] As early as 1853 the Government had voted money to provide such a line but had made no progress; however when Macgeorge sought permission it was refused on the grounds of unnecessary duplication.[3] Macgeorge surmounted these obstacles by avoiding the railway and main roads, and on 1 December 1855 the line went into service, and performed perfectly. Less than two months later, Charles Todd had, with the greatest expedition, completed the Government line,[4] a more direct, technically superior, and vastly more expensive affair. A year later, the Government purchased McGeorge's line and pulled it down.

Between 1853 and 1857 he and J. Turner ran a shipping agency, with an office first in Bank Street, then from April 1856, Currie Street. Following the death of his father in a shipwreck in 1860, James designed and built a house "St Andrews" for himself and his mother, in North Adelaide.

He was a foundation member of the South Australian Society of Arts and its first secretary (1855–1856). Around 1861 he had begun speculating in mining and pastoral property shares and in 1863, following an economic downturn was forced to declare himself insolvent.[5] His brother Ebenezer, formerly a surveyor in the Public Works Department, joined him in 1864 and as a partnership had a successful architects' practice.

In December 1880 James Macgeorge left Adelaide for England. He died at Ashford, Kent on 9 December 1918.

Works

  • Around 1855 he drew up several designs for a grand residence on the Turretfield estate, Rosedale, near Sandy Creek, for pastoralist Richard Holland. He was sacked by Holland in 1861 and Kingston appointed in his place.[6]
  • In 1859 Macgeorge won the design competition for the Savings Bank at 18 King William Street, completed in July 1860.
  • St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Wakefield Street, Adelaide, completed 1865, was designed by him, perhaps after a competition in 1859.[7] The building stands today, renamed "Willard Hall".
  • "St Andrews", the residence between Kingston Terrace (121-125) and Stanley Street (222–230), North Adelaide, which he built for his mother around 1862. It was enlarged by architect E. J. Woods for William and David Murray in the 1870s, and purchased by Charles R. J. Glover in 1914.
  • Rebuilding of Cunningham's Bazaar, Rundle Street.[8]
  • "Waverly", later "Waverley" at 356-364 South Terrace, Adelaide, built as a residence for pastoralist William Sanders
  • He designed the residence "Home Park" for fellow member of the "Free Rifles"[9] W. P. Auld, became "La Pérouse" for Edmond Mazure in 1909, later as "Romalo" was for 90 years the home of the Bonython family, which still stands at 24 Romalo Avenue, Magill.[10]
  • Maughan Methodist Church, Franklin Street, 1866.[11] noted for its unusual brick spire.
  • Congregational Church at Port Adelaide (1867).[12]
  • The Congregational Church at McLaren Vale has been attributed to him.
  • First section of the Congregational Church on Jetty Road, Glenelg has been attributed to him.
  • Macgeorge and his brother designed the Strathalbyn to Port Elliot Railway, opened 1869.
  • Macgeorge's design for Adelaide University's Mitchell Building won a competition in 1876, but was never used; instead, William McMinn was commissioned to produce a new design.

Family

Robert Forsyth Macgeorge (1796 – 26 October 1859) and Elizabeth Macgeorge née Duncan (4 June 1801 – ). He narrowly avoided being involved in the Admella disaster, then perished when the Royal Charter was wrecked.[13] Their children included:

  • Robert Forsyth Macgeorge, Jnr (ca.1822 – September 1917) married Emily, died in Dunedin, New Zealand.
  • Ebenezer Farie Macgeorge (ca.1827 – ) married Catherine "Kate" Thomson (ca.1847 – 28 December 1871) in Coburg, Victoria on 10 April 1871. Apparently in Scotland early 1860s: promoted to First Lieutenant with City of Edinburgh Artillery Militia in May 1861.[14] Appointed Surveyor 1865; defined boundary between SA and NSW 1867; with Victorian Geodetic Survey; turned to astronomy: observer at Great Melbourne Telescope 1870–1872, succeeding Albert Le Sueur. Invented an improved clinometer used in diamond drilling, patented 1882.[15] Lived St James Estate, Hawthorn, Victoria; took up with "spiritualist medium" Mrs. Maria Theresa Jackson; was beneficiary of disputed will of miner/pastoralist George Lamont;[16] returned to Scotland ca.1882.
  • third son Alexander Macgeorge (ca.1826 – 30 June 1908) took over father's shop, moved it to King William Street, had home Ballangeich in Mitcham, second marriage to Rachel Elizabeth Luxmoore (ca.1828 – 17 April 1915) on 31 January 1866. They left for Victoria around 1880, died in Malvern, Victoria.[17]
  • Norman Macgeorge (1872-1952) artist and collector, married May Hepburn of Mornington, Victoria ca.30 January 1911. May was granddaughter of John Stuart Hepburn.
  • second daughter Lucy Anne Macgeorge (1 August 1857 – 7 September 1942) married John Milne (3 November 1854 – 12 July 1934) son of Hon. William Milne on 11 November 1875.
  • Margaret Anne Macgeorge married Horace Cobden Talbot on 19 December 1877
  • William Macgeorge (ca.1831 – 2 January 1840) died after falling from a pony.
  • James Macgeorge (1832 – 9 December 1918) the subject of this article[18]
  • fifth son David King Macgeorge (ca.1836 – 28 June 1853)
  • (William) John Macgeorge (ca.1844 – 26 May 1903)
  • Margaret Macgeorge (ca.1824 – 28 October 1912) married John Stewart Turner (ca.1811 – 7 February 1888)
  • second daughter Eliza Macgeorge ( – ) married Francis Hardey Faulding (23 August 1816 – 19 November 1868) on 16 September 1852. She married again, to Anthony Forster (15 May 1813 – 13 January 1897) on 1 December 1869.
  • fourth daughter Mary Jane Macgeorge ( – 17 July 1920) married John Wood Farrar (ca.1836 – 22 March 1884) on 31 May 1864.
  • Ellison Barbara Christina "Ellen" Macgeorge (1839 – 1 October 1924) married Richard Ernest Minchin (ca.1831 – 4 January 1893) on 16 August 1883 (she was his second wife; first wife Ellen Rebecca Minchin died 6 July 1882).
  • Charlotte Isabel Macgeorge (1842–1930) married Eustace Powhatan Sabine (20 January 1838 – 19 September 1902) on 20 September 1865.
  • youngest daughter Catherine Turner Macgeorge (1843 – ) married George Francis Wyatt (1834 – 7 June 1900) on 20 September 1865 (double wedding).

References

  1. ^ "The Water Supply". Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904). SA: National Library of Australia. 5 January 1856. p. 1 Supplement: Supplement to the Adelaide Observer. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  2. ^ "The New Year". Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904). SA: National Library of Australia. 20 January 1855. p. 5. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  3. ^ "The Electric Telegraph". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 28 August 1855. p. 3. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  4. ^ "The Telegraph in South Australia". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 18 January 1856. p. 2. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Our Summary". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 25 April 1863. p. 2. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Law and Criminal Courts". The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 9 September 1865. p. 3. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  7. ^ "To the Editor of the Chronicle". South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 9 July 1859. p. 3. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Improvements to Rundle Street". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 11 April 1863. p. 2. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  9. ^ "South Australia's First Defenders". Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 22 January 1910. p. 38. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  10. ^ "Magill Village - An historical overview" (PDF). Donovan & Associates. November 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  11. ^ "Religious Intelligence". The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 27 January 1864. p. 4. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  12. ^ "Building Improvements". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 18 January 1869. p. 3. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Topics of the Day". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 17 July 1908. p. 6. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  14. ^ "Edinburgh Gazette June 4 1861" (PDF). Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  15. ^ "Advertising". The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954). Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 21 March 1882. p. 3. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  16. ^ "The Lamont Will Case". The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946). Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 22 October 1881. p. 21. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  17. ^ "Personal". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 2 July 1908. p. 7. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  18. ^ "Architects of South Australia: James Macgeorge". Architecture Museum, University of South Australia. Retrieved 24 February 2015.




Category:South Australian architects

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