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Alexander Brown Wilson

Biography

Alexander Brown Wilson (1857-1938) was a Scottish born Australian architect and artist. He immigrated to Brisbane, Australia in 1864 with his family and attended the Normal School in Brisbane. At an early age his artistic talent attracted local attention through the success of his watercolour paintings winning certificates in local exhibitions.

In 1875 he joined the Buildings Branch of the Queensland Department of Public Works as a clerk and later served as a junior draftsman. Wilson then became a pupil of Colonial architect F.D.G Stanley and was promoted to second draftsman after two years as his protégé. Through his years working under Stanley, Wilson had acquired proficiency in the architectural styles of the time. The commission for the head office for the Queensland National Bank was given to Stanley in 1881, which was followed by Wilson's promotion to principal draftsman in 1882. Around this time Wilson began entering design competitions and won prizes for the completion of the west front of St Stephen’s Cathedral in 1882 and for a new School of Arts at Rockhampton in 1883 (which was not built).

Wilson studied in Glasgow for admission as an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and passed the examination in 1884 to become the only Queensland member of the RIBA at the time and its first locally trained associate. In the same year he opened his own office in Queen St. His first recorded commission was for a residence for J.B. North in Newstead. For a number of years following this he became a prominent residential architect in Brisbane. During 1884-85 he designed 35 houses including Eversleigh, his own home at Yeronga that was built after his marriage to Ellen Mary Watt (Nellie) Martin in 1885. Wilson also carried out non-residential projects including a Bank of New South Wales, the Plough Inn and two blocks of shops, all on Stanley St in South Brisbane as well as several churches across Brisbane. By 1888 he had undertaken 115 commissions, designing some of Brisbane’s major warehouses and business offices.

A decade of prosperity in Brisbane ended in the early 1890s in an economic crisis that affected the entire east coast of Australia. The situation was made worse in February 1893 by the city’s worst flood. Wilson’s practice managed to survive the crisis, with the most of work being repairs and minor projects. His house was mortgaged and him and his family temporarily moved to Sandgate. The family contributed to the finances by making and selling jam as well as collecting bottles and gathering leeches for local physicians.

By the turn of the 20th century his practice resumed full activity as Brisbane recovered from depression. In 1896 Wilson designed a biscuit factory for Rankin and Morrow at North Quay making the beginning of a long association with the Morrow family, a patronage that provided 24 projects until 1916 and onwards until 1950. Wilson’s most known domestic work, Home at Kangaroo Point (also known as the Lamb House) was produced at this time.

Lamb House at Kangaroo Point

He also designed Cumbrae at Kangaroo Point, his own later residence and a place for family gatherings until it was sold after his death. This home was used to illustrate his paper ‘Domestic architecture for tropical and sub-tropical Australia’, which Wilson gave at the Australian Town Planning conference held in Brisbane in 1918.

Wilson served as honorary architect to the Presbyterian Church of Queensland and as consultant to the Queensland Congregational Union. Wilson worked on major extensions to Ann St Presbyterian Church, the mother church of Presbyterianism in the state. Aside from his church work much of Wilson’s work was for charitable institutions including, the YMCA premises, Seamen’s Institute, the City Mission and the Blind, Deaf and Dumb Institute. Alex Wilson contributed to his profession as an esteemed member of the Queensland Institute of Architects. He was a foundation Fellow and office bearer for the institute and was later elected as an honorary life member in recognition of his services. In 1899 he lectured in building construction and drawing at the Brisbane Technical College. Wilson was also a part of a committee appointed to report on a site for a new Brisbane Town Hall.

Wilson was a sailing enthusiast and member of the Royal Queensland Yacht Club. Over his life he continued to pursue his artistic interests, painting scenes of the Brisbane River, Moreton Bay, the coast and the hinterland. Alex Wilson’s son, Ron, became his chief assistant from 1908 and his partner from 1920. Alexander Brown Wilson retired from practice in 1928 and spent his remaining years painting and playing bowls. He died in his home Cumbrae, in 1938 aged 81 and was survived by his wife Nellie, three sons and a daughter.

'Domestic Architecture for Tropical and Subtropical Australia'

In the paper, Wilson recommends proper planning, methods of dealing with the elements and materiality in houses in warmer conditions in order to provide comfort and well being for their residents with consideration to climactic factors. Wilson promotes the urban planning idea that density of population should be avoided and houses should be seperated as far as possible to allow for the admission of sunlight and wind to permeate the house.

In his view the Queensland home should prescribe to passive environmental design. This includes the following:

• The building should be kept well above ground for the admittance of free air currents beneath it.
• Consideration to the planning of the rooms in order to create thoroughfares to distribute fresh air throughout the house and the coordination of these passageways with prevailing winds.
• Use of particular windows and blinds to control the admittance of light and ventilation.
• Materials should be typically timber and to allow the release of heat. In the paper

Bibliography

Watson, Donald & Mckay, Judith (2004). Campbell, Bruce. ed. Wilson Architects. Wilson Architects in consultation with The University Art Museum. pp. 9-13. ISBN 0-646-44254-6.

Wilson, Alexander Brown (1918). 'Domestic Architecture for Tropical and Subtropical Australia', proceedings of the "Second Australian Town Planning Conference and Exhibition", 5 August 1918, Brisbane

External Links

• Dictionary of Biography - Alexander Brown Wilson
• Architects