Charles Tiffin

Brisbane Courier, 27 December 1859

Charles Tiffin (1833–1873) was an English architect, who spent most of his career in Queensland, Australia where he held the post of Queensland Colonial Architect.^[1]

Early life

Hobart Mercury, 10 Jan 1857

He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England where he studied under local architects M. Thompson and John Edward Watson.^[1][2]

In 1855 he immigrated to Geelong, Victoria, Australia.^[1]

Shortly after, he became a partner in the architectural practice of Tiffin & Davidson in Hobart, Tasmania, together with William Montgomerie Davenport Davidson (who was later the Queensland Surveyor-General).^[1][2] Their works included:

• Congregational Church, Davey Street, Hobart^[3]

On 1 January 1857, he married Mary Ann Haig, second daughter of Captain Andrew Haig, at St George's Church in Hobart.^[4]

Queensland Architecture

In May 1857 Charles Tiffin became the Clerk of Works in the Moreton Bay District.^[1][2]

In December 1859, Tiffin became Colonial Architect for the colony of Queensland, Australia.^[5]

He designed and supervised the construction of over 300 Queensland buildings including:^[1]

• Ipswich Courthouse (1859)^[2][6]
• Wharf Street Congregational Church, Brisbane (1859–1860)^[7]
• Government House, Brisbane (1860–1862)^[2][8]
• Maryborough Bond Store (1863)^[2][9]
• Maryborough Post Office (1865–1866)^[2]
• General Hospital, Brisbane (1865)^[10]
• the Main Wing of Queensland Parliament House (facing George Street) (1865–1867).^[11]
• Immigration Depot, William Street Brisbane (1865)^[12]
• Church of England, Kedron Brook^[13]
• St Matthews Anglican Church, Grovely (1867–1869)^[14][15]
• the Walter Hill fountain in the City Botanic Gardens (1867)^[16]

Buildings designed by Charles Tiffin
Ipswich Courthouse, 2009  Wharf St Congregational Church, Brisbane  Government House, Brisbane  Queensland Parliament House  St Matthew's Church, Grovely

Miscellaneous

He participated in the Brisbane School of Arts and the Queensland Philosophical Society.^[2]

In 1866, Charles Tiffin developed an earth closet, an early form of toilet used for many years in Queensland.^[17][18] He took out a patent in 1869.^[19]

End of career and death

Brisbane Courier, 20 Feb 1873, page 2

From 1868–71 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, New South Wales at the age of 40.^{[1][2][20][21]}

His wife Mary Ann returned to Brisbane until her death in 1923 at the Diamantina Hospital in Brisbane, Queensland.^[22]

See also

• Category:Charles Tiffin buildings

References

1. Scrapbook, 1855–1873 (manuscript), University of Queensland
2. Pillars of a Nation, accessed 28 Sept 2010.
3. "THE NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL IN DAVEY-STREET.". The Courier. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 31 July 1856. p. 2. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
4. "Family Notices.". The Courier. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 2 January 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
5. "GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATIONS.". The Moreton Bay Courier. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 27 December 1859. p. 2. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
6. "Ipswich Court House (entry 600575)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
7. "BRISBANE'S HISTORIC CHURCHES,—V.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 10 December 1904. p. 12. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
8. "Old Government House (entry 600118)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
9. "Government Bond Store (former) (entry 600716)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
10. "NEW GENERAL HOSPITAL.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 16 September 1865. p. 6. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
11. "Parliament House (entry 600069)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 28 Sep 2010.
12. "Department of Primary Industries Building (former) (entry 601093)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
13. "CHURCH OF ENGLAND.—KEDRON BROOK.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 12 March 1866. p. 3. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
14. Our History (Anglican Parish of Grovely) Archived 25 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine., accessed 29 Sept 2010
15. "St Matthews Anglican Church (entry 600256)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
16. "Brisbane Botanic Gardens (entry 600067)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
17. Brisbane Courier, Saturday 25 August 1866, page 4"TELEGRAPHIC.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 25 August 1866. p. 4. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
18. "News of the Week.". The Queenslander. National Library of Australia. 8 September 1866. p. 5. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
19. "Current Topics.". The Queenslander. National Library of Australia. 3 July 1869. p. 5. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
20. New South Wales Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages
21. "Family Notices.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 20 February 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
22. "SOCIAL.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 15 February 1924. p. 15. Retrieved 6 September 2013.