George Temple-Poole

Infobox Person
name = George Thomas Temple-Poole


image_size =
caption =
birth_date = 29 May, 1856
birth_place = Rome, Italy
death_date = 27 February, 1934
death_place = Darlington, Western Australia
occupation = Architect, public servant, painter
spouse = Banger, Beatrice Hamilton, Rossi, Daisy Mary
parents = John George Temple and Louisa Mary, née Poole
children = Isuelt (with Rossi)

George Thomas Temple-Poole (born George Thomas Temple, 29 May, 1856 – 27 February, 1934) was a British architect and public servant, primarily known for his work in Western Australia from 1886.

As Western Australia's Government architect, in a period of rapid urban development during the gold boom, he made notable contributions to Australian architecture and town planning prior to federation. He also held roles relating to town planning, commerce, the Arts and 'society' of Western Australia. His founding and chairing of committees and institutions included; the Western Australian Institute of Architects (later merged to the RAIA), Perth Park (Kings Park Board) and the Wilgie Sketching Society.

Early life and education

George Temple-Poole was born in Rome, Italy to Louise Mary, née Poole, and John George Temple, a Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army. Poole's father died shortly after the family returned to England following the Crimean War. His mother remarried, altering his surname to Temple-Poole. He was educated at Winchester College in England. Articled in engineering and architecture [At least one journal, The Architect, states that he was articled to his "father", Josiah George Poole. His mother's "maiden name" was also Poole, Josiah was her cousin and husband (See ADB).] to a London engineering firm designing harbour works for the Thames, he then practised in Sri Lanka Ceylon for two years before being appointed to the Public Works department in Western Australia.http://www.architecture.com.au The Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA)] ] http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110263b.htm Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition]

Works and life

Poole (the surname he used in Perth) designed a 'series' of public buildings that were constructed in and around ports, towns and suburbs of Western Australia during the Federation Period c. 1890 - c. 1915. While his work was largely influenced by contemporary British movements, Poole contributed in the development of the Australian architectural response to environment and circumstances. He provided a unifying style to the public buildings as government established its presence throughout Western Australia. His buildings influenced residential and non-residential architecture in the state regional centres.cite book
last = Oldham
first = Ray
authorlink =
coauthors = John Oldham, Tish Phillips (drawings)
title = Western heritage. Part 2. George Temple-Poole, architect of the golden years, 1885-1897
publisher = University of Western Australia Press, 1980
date = 1980
location = Nedlands, W. A.
doi =
id = ISBN 0-85564-173-8]

Poole was also an artist, painting in watercolours and oils and was the founder of the Wilgie Sketching Club (1889). He was a prominent Freemason, Anglican and member of the Weld Club, an important member of the Perth "establishment".

Public works

Appointed by the British government as a Supervisor for the Public Works department in 1885, he became head of department in 1889, then assistant-engineer-in-chief and 'government architect' in charge of public buildings.The discovery and exploitation of gold and other mineral wealth during his period resulted in increased migration and associated commerce. Prior to this, the colony then state's growth was modest in comparison. [When C. Y. O'Connor, appointed Engineer-in-Chief (1891), arrived in Perth for the construction of Fremantle harbour - he found that the only professional in his department was Poole - who also provided accommodation for his family.]

His designs for were often built in emerging towns, sometimes in very remote areas such as the north west of Australia. One of his first projects was Roebourne (over 2000 km from Perth) and its port Cossack. The gaol complex, designed in 1886, for that place was an 'unusual octagonal' design and featured the use of verandahs, planned (replacing haphazard) siting in a complex, locally quarried freestone walls and slave labour by those to be incarcerated.Western_Australia_-_Australia_-_Travel_-_theage.com.au.html] In 1894 Temple-Poole created design standards for 'official' and 'public' buildings including banks and assay offices, etc., in the 'gold boom' towns Coolgardie, Marble Bar and Cue. These works were sometimes the first "permanent" structure in locations comprised of 'shantie' and other improvised buildings thereby creating centres of government and commerce in what became larger towns and cities in Western Australia.

The siting or replacing of courts, gaols, police stations and other buildings around the state was also occurring at this time, following the establishment of 'responsible government' from Perth. He also supervised and designed new buildings or additions for the established towns Albany, the port; Fremantle, the centre of government; Perth and other parts of Western Australia.J.S.H. LePage, Building a State, Water Authority of WA, (Leederville, 1986) ISBN 0-7244-6862-5] To meet the significantly increased population, post offices, schools, lighthouses and town halls were constructed in this period. Architectural reference was made to earlier colonial buildings, gracefully acknowledging the prior colonial architects, but existing ones were often removed to site the new plan. Large scale harbour, railway and other planning schemes were also realised during his time as 'government architect', and these also required new buildings and structures.

Poole's work contained a variety of design approaches that could display the new government's authority or facilitate public works and schemes. In contrast, plans such as the identical village railway precincts of Claremont and Walkaway have been identified as examples of Federation Arts and crafts. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/western-australia/greenough/2005/02/17/1108500208458.html Sydney Morning Herald on Greenough and Walkaway] [http://register.heritage.wa.gov.au/ Heritage Council of Western Australia] Claremont was to become a population centre 'halfway' between the port of Fremantle and the city. Walkaway, the end of a 400 km railway from Perth, was abandoned, becoming a tourist destination occupied only by National Trust guides.

Poole resigned from the position of government architect in 1897 but returned from 1900-1902 to finalise works on the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme after the death of its author C Y O'Connor.The Architect (RAIA journal), No.2 2003, page 5]

Later roles

After resigning from this position he continued to have an important role in public life; founding or chairing professional organisations and government committees. This is a range of examples:

* Perth Park Board, first chair and plan for Kings Park. Preserved from development and exploitation of resources, as John Septimus Roe originally proposed. He planted lemon-scented gum trees at centennial celebrations ceremony.http://www.175anniversary.wa.gov.au 175th Anniversary of Western Australia, Heritage icons]
* Institute of architects (WAIA), president/founded in 1896. Founding meeting at Criterion Hotel, Perth; Michael Cavanagh - vice president; John Talbot Hobbs - first treasurer and later president. There had been approximately a dozen practising architects in 1896 Perth and over one hundred within a couple of years. Incorporated 1902
* Town Planning association developing a widely discussed plan "Perth as it should be" in 1911, generating interest and debate amongst the general public. His wife Daisy, also a member, continued to promote this plan.
* The company, Perth Tramways, was floated in 1899. This was the first tram system in the state and continued to run for many years affecting the development of surrounding suburbs.
* Poole was to chair an international competition for design of a new National capital and Parliament in Canberra but planning was postponed during World War 1. He also chaired or spoke at interstate and international conferences and lectured at universities and public meetings.Temple-Poole started a private practice (architectural) with Christian Mouritzen and designed private residences for himself and wealthy clients. His residence, "Tagel", overlooking the Swan River from Crawley (Kings Park), was in an English Arts and Crafts style. This burnt down, destroying almost all his private documents and art, but a similar design by him is extant in Cottesloe (Kulahea). He was also appointed as one of three commissioners to design the new British capital in India (New Delhi) but ill health forced him to decline. This position was taken up by renowned English architect Edwin Lutyens.

Along with his second wife, artist Daisy Mary, he was amongst the overlapping memberships of the new clubs and groups that were forming in Perth at that time. The Wilgie Sketching club promoted local subjects, flora and fauna, and a shift from imitation of English styles and subject matter ("Wilgie" means coloured clay in an aboriginal dialect). He was well known to the wider community and referred to in the newspapers of the day, including editorial cartoons, and his fame extended to the Eastern States and the 'home country'. They had one daughter and resided in Crawley and Claremont. He retired to the arts and literature community centred around the hills village of Darlington where he died in 1934.

Notable works

Other examples of Poole's work are:
* Albany Cottage Hospital
* 'Old' Perth Observatory Buildings overlooks Perth City, parliament house and Kings Park. "... many architectural details, apparently unrelated, are combined by the architect, George Temple-Poole, to create an aesthetically satisfying structure which has a structurally sculptural quality." It is now the headquarters of the West Australian National Trust.
* Perth railway station and the nearby cultural area, including the Jubilee Building and Perth Boys School.
* Claremont Police Station and railway precinct, replicated at Walkaway. His designs for public space and buildings are often identified and preserved by local councils and heritage registers.
* Kings Park founding of the Board and initial designs for Perth Park's landscaping and layout.
* Titles Office Building; erroneously titled 'NW wing of Perth Government Offices'. Architectural style "Italian". [Superintendent of Buildings, A Dillon Bell described the Titles Office Building in a survey as, 'a memorial to the talent of the late government architect'. Poole "had only retired" from that position and was still alive.]
* Fremantle Arts Centre - major additions, again sympathetically incorporating earlier designs and materials.
* Perth Government Printing Office Corner of Pier and Murray St.

Awards and honours

* The National Trust of Australia has assessed some of the works he designed as being, 'essential to the heritage of Australia and must be preserved'. Many of his buildings and designs are listed and praised by this Trust and other heritage or historical interest groups of Western Australia.
* Poole Avenue in Kings Park was named in honour of his contributions. [http://www.kpbg.wa.gov.au Kings Park Board website]
* An Australian architecture award also bears his name.

ee also

* List of Australian architects
* List of historic buildings in Perth, Western Australia
* Perth history in the 1890s
* History of Western Australia
* Architecture of Australia
* Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Architecture of Australia

Further reading

* Matters, Leonard W., (Mrs.), "Australasians Who Count in London and Who Counts in Western Australia, London," J. Truscott, 1913. Held at Battye Library, Perth
* R. and J. Oldham, George Temple-Poole, Architect of the Golden Years.
* LePage, John S H, Building a State, Water Authority of WA, (Leederville, 1986)

External links

*commons-inline
* [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110263b.htm Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition]
* [http://www.architecture.com.au The Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA)]

Notes and references

Persondata
NAME=Temple-Poole, George Thomas
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Poole, George Thomas Temple
SHORT DESCRIPTION=West Australian Architect and Public Servant
DATE OF BIRTH=29 May, 1856
PLACE OF BIRTH=Rome, Italy
DATE OF DEATH=27 February, 1934
PLACE OF DEATH=Darlington Western Australia