Charles Tiffin (1833–1873) was an English architect, who spent most of his career in
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
, Australia where he held the post of
Queensland Colonial Architect
The Queensland Government Architect is a position within the public service of Queensland, Australia with responsibility for the design of government buildings in Queensland. It was formerly known as the Queensland Colonial Architect. The position ...
.
[''Scrapbook, 1855–1873 (manuscript)'', University of Queensland](_blank)
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Early life
He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...
, England where he studied under local architects M. Thompson and John Edward Watson.[Pillars of a Nation](_blank)
accessed 28 September 2010.
In 1855 he immigrated to Geelong
Geelong ( ) (Wathawurrung: ''Djilang''/''Djalang'') is a port city in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria, located at the eastern end of Corio Bay (the smaller western portion of Port Phillip Bay) and the left bank of Barwon River, ...
, Victoria, Australia
Victoria is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state with a land area of , the second most populated state (after New South Wales) with a population of over 6.5 million, and the most densely populated state in Au ...
.
Shortly after, he became a partner in the architectural practice of Tiffin & Davidson in Hobart
Hobart ( ; Nuennonne/Palawa kani: ''nipaluna'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Home to almost half of all Tasmanians, it is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-small ...
, Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
, together with William Montgomerie Davenport Davidson (who was later the Queensland Surveyor-General). Their works included:
* Congregational Church, Davey Street, Hobart
On 1 January 1857, he married Mary Ann Haig, second daughter of Captain Andrew Haig, at St George's Church in Hobart.
Queensland Architecture
In May 1857 Charles Tiffin became the Clerk of Works
A clerk of works or clerk of the works (CoW) is employed by an architect or a client on a construction site. The role is primarily to represent the interests of the client in regard to ensuring that the quality of both materials and workmanship are ...
in the Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay located on the eastern coast of Australia from central Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources. The waters of Moreton Bay are a popular destination for recreational anglers and are ...
District.
In December 1859, Tiffin became Colonial Architect for the colony of Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
, Australia.
He designed and supervised the construction of over 300 Queensland buildings including:
* Ipswich Courthouse
The Ipswich Courthouse is located at 43 Ellenborough Street, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. The five-storey complex houses magistrates court and support facilities, police prosecutions offices and a fully operational watch house.
It was open ...
(1859)
* Wharf Street Congregational Church, Brisbane
The Wharf Street Congregational Church was a Congregational church built in 1860 on the corner of Wharf Street and Adelaide Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The church was demolished in 1928. It was the first Congregational church in Br ...
(1859–1860)
* Government House, Brisbane
Government House is a heritage-listed mansion at 170 Fernberg Road, Paddington, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is the official residence of the governor of Queensland, the representative of the Australian monarch in Queensland. It was ori ...
(1860–1862)
* Maryborough Bond Store (1863)
* Maryborough Post Office (1865–1866)
* General Hospital, Brisbane (1865)
* the Main Wing of Queensland Parliament House
Parliament House in Brisbane is the meeting place of the Parliament of Queensland, housing its only chamber, the Legislative Assembly. It is located on the corner of George Street and Alice Street at Gardens Point in the CBD, and is next ...
(facing George Street) (1865–1867).
* Immigration Depot, William Street Brisbane (1865)
* Church of England, Kedron Brook
* St Matthews Anglican Church, Grovely (1867–1869)
* the Walter Hill
Walter may refer to:
People
* Walter (name), both a surname and a given name
* Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968)
* Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 19 ...
fountain in the City Botanic Gardens
The City Botanic Gardens (formerly the Brisbane Botanic Gardens) is a heritage-listed botanic garden on Alice Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was also known as Queen's Park. It is located on Gardens Poin ...
(1867)
Miscellaneous
He participated in the Brisbane School of Arts and the Queensland Philosophical Society.
In 1866, Charles Tiffin developed an earth closet
A pail closet or pail privy was a room used for the disposal of human excreta, under the "pail system" (or Rochdale system) of waste removal. The "closet" (a word which had long meant "toilet" in one usage) was a small outhouse (privy) which con ...
, an early form of toilet
A toilet is a piece of sanitary hardware that collects human urine and feces, and sometimes toilet paper, usually for disposal. Flush toilets use water, while dry or non-flush toilets do not. They can be designed for a sitting position popu ...
used for many years in Queensland. He took out a patent in 1869.
End of career and death
From 1868 to 1871 Charles Tiffin was also the Superintendent of Roads and Bridges. However, in 1871, he criticised the government's policy on roads. His career ended at that time. He took a year of leave and then retired on medical grounds in April 1872. He died on 9 January 1873 at 27 Lower Fort Street, Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
, New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
at the age of 40.
His wife Mary Ann returned to Brisbane until her death in 1923 at the Diamantina Hospital in Brisbane, Queensland
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...
.
See also
* :Charles Tiffin buildings
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tiffin, Charles
1831 births
1873 deaths
Architects from Queensland
19th-century English architects
Architects from Northumberland
Tasmanian architects