Showing posts with label Schefferle Norman (1899 - 1983). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Schefferle Norman (1899 - 1983). Show all posts

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Norman Edwin Kilian Schefferle, Architect

The Carlo Catani Clock Tower Memorial at St Kilda, completed and dedicated in August 1932, was designed by Norman Schefferele. You can read about the clock tower and the clock tower memorial design competition that Norman won, here. This is a look at the life of Norman Edwin Kilian Schefferle.


The Catani Memorial Clock Tower at St Kilda, designed by Norman Schefferle. 
The bust is by Paul Montford.
Photographer: Isaac Hermann.

Norman was born  on May 6, 1899, the eldest of six children to Edwin and Ethel Harriet Louisa (nee Stinton) Schefferle. Edwin and Ethel had married on October 26, 1898 at St James Old Cathedral in Melbourne. According to their marriage certificate Edwin was born at Lethbridge and Ethel at Geelong. Edwin was 24 and  a farmer and Ethel was 21, she didn't have an occupation listed. There is more family history in the footnotes (1)

It appears that the couple left the Geelong region after their marriage and moved to Warragul, as that is where Norman was born. Edwin and Ethel are listed in the 1903 Electoral Roll at Lillico, just north of Warragul.  Norman's brother, Frederick Vincent William, was born in Warragul in 1900 and his sister Kathleen Louisa in 1902. The next two children, Charles Gordon (1905) and Nellie Josephine (1907) were born in Camperdown, and the last child, Harold Victor was born in 1912 in Geelong. The next significant thing we can find out about the family was in April 1913 - the Geelong Advertiser reported that Edwin Schefferle, aged 40, was feeding in a large length of pine when it fouled and was hurled hack with great force. It crashed Schefferle's right thigh against another piece of timber, and a fracture of the bone near the hip resulted. (Geelong Advertiser April 11, 1913) It must have had a large impact on the family and he was lucky to survive.

In 1914, Norman enrolled at the Gordon College at Geelong (later called the Gordon Institute of Technology). I base this 1914 enrollment date on the fact that the examination results of the College were published in local papers and thus we can track Norman's scholastic achievements and he is first listed in January 1915, the results being for the previous year.  In January 1915, Norman was listed as passing Drawing for builders and artisans and Building construction - Grade 1. In January 1916 he was listed as passing Building Construction - Grade 2. In February and March 1917 Norman is reported as passing Architecture - Grade 1; Drawing for Builders and Artisans; Building Construction Grade 3; Drawing from a Flat Example - both Elementary and Advanced; Geometrical Drawing - Art and Drawing Plant forms from Nature- Elementary.

I knew that Norman had enlisted to serve in the First World War so I looked for his enlistment papers and couldn't find them under Schefferle, so I assumed there was a mis-spelling and went through every entry for  the men who enlisted with the first name of Norman and the surname staring with an S on the AIF project website and eventually came across a Norman Stinton - and it was him.  He had enlisted on December 5, 1917. His Service Number was 7831.  So why did he enlist under his mother's maiden name not his own name? One reason may have been that Schefferle sounded German - his grandparents were actually Swiss, however he lied about his age, his name, the whereabouts of his parents and his place of birth. What an audacious boy!

I presume his parents would not give permission for him to enlist - so he went and enlisted in Sydney. He said he had been born in Coolgardie in Western Australia and that he was 21,  in reality he was only 18 and  a half, and thus needed parental permission. In fact he signed  a statuary declaration that he was born December 5, 1896  and that his parents are both living in England. However  interestingly, he did tell some truths on his enlistment paper - his next of kin was his father, Edwin 'Stinton' 29 Beach Road, Drumcondra, Geelong. This was later changed to Mrs Ethel Schefferle at the same address. He listed his occupation as Architect. To the question Are you or have you been an apprentice? he answered Laird & Buchan, Geelong 2½ years.  Assuming this is correct, this means he started his apprenticeship in mid 1915, but that is of less significance than to whom he was apprenticed to - Laird and Buchan.

Laird and Buchan were a Geelong firm, started by J. Angus Laird. Thomas Johnston Buchan (1874 - 1962) became a partner in the firm in 1906. Thomas Buchan became President of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects in 1930 and he was the judge of the competition to erect a clock tower as a memorial to Carlo Catani at St Kilda. The winner of this competition was Norman Schefferle and the clock tower was unveiled in 1932 (read about this here and read about the other entries in the competition, here.)  Apparently the judging was 'blind',  that is there were no names attached but it would seem unlikely that Thomas Buchan would not have been able to recognise Schefferle's work. This doesn't mean that Schefferele's work was not the best, it's just interesting.

Norman served in France and came out of the War unscathed. He used his time in France to study the local architecture. Norman wrote back twice to the Principal of the Gordon Institute, Mr G.R. King, before his Return to Australia September 5, 1919. We have been busy on the march towards Germany, to take over garrison duty in some of their towns. We have been on the march for four days now, and have during that time covered about 35 miles, and at the end of each day's march we have billeted in different French villages, which have been occupied by the Hun for over four years. I had the opportunity of looking through small village churches, which contain some very fine detail work in the inside finishings. I am sending home a piece of carving which I found amongst some ruins of one of the beautiful churches, and if it arrives safely you shall see it. My idea was that a complete design of this would make a very suitable head decoration for an honor board, or such like. (Geelong Advertiser, June 25, 1919)

The second letter highlights his ambition and determination - I may be finished with the fight for freedom, but I am in for a harder fight now; for I realise that the path to success is not altogether a mechanical stair case, and that there are as many obstacles to overcome as there were in the finished fight. I have hopped over with rather a right barrage of education, but I have the good bayonet of determination and a keen ambition for being a successful architect. At the glorious finish of the fight may I be as the present day Foch and able to place my name on a piece of works like Amiens. This is my ambition, I have, using your words, "Hitched my waggon to a star."

I received a 'Geelong Advertiser' some time back, and in it I found a very interesting par on the proposed new Geelong Hospital. I have presumed a hope that I will have a slight share in the designs for the building, so intend in future, to visit and study the hospitals that I may have the opportunity of seeing over here. Nothing will satisfy me but to see in our Geelong the most up-to-date hospital on earth or Australia at least. The building is going to play the part of commemorating the Peace which the Allies' victory has won for us all, and a memorial to be symbolical of such a glorious occasion and to display fully the peoples' hearty gratification of it, will have to be one of utmost perfection in art. Surely we cannot over value the victory when it has cost the supreme sacrifice of such men as our architectural student heroes were ; so thus again, at least, we can attempt to materialise the value of our victory by shunning all that is inferior and accepting only the superlative of art. So may I hope to have the satisfaction that the finest hospital on earth is in Geelong.

I am expecting to get Paris leave in a couple of weeks time, so there will be some more rubber-neck work for me then. I will make sure of getting around the hospitals, for I expect they will not be very far behind the times there. A large hospital should afford a fair amount of study - first, the utility and convenience of the planning, then sanitation and the hygienic nature of fitting out and such problems as heating, ventilation, sewerage and fire escapes etc., require due consideration.

"The words that "architecture symbolises the people" are very true, and I found a splendid example of it at Brussels. The Germans, sure of victory, had practically finished building their National Bank there when they had to evacuate the city. This large building is built of stone and at an enormous cost, but I do not know of an instance where architecture has been so cruelly debased. Truly it is a perfect symbol of the German nation itself. The building is absolutely hideous to behold, and it stamps in mind the barbarous and ruthless qualities of the German. I hope to see this unsightly building demolished and not left, to mar the beautiful architecture that the city of Brussels already contains. (Geelong Advertiser, May 8 1919)

On his return to Geelong a 'welcome home' was given to Norman and Will Page, another Gordon College student. Angus Laird was one of those who presented  a toast and he was described as the employer of both boys. Norman then completed his studies and continued his work with Laird and Buchan until 1921 when he travelled to England. One of the buildings that Norman had a role in the design of while at Buchan and Laird, was Lascelles Memorial Laboratory at the Gordon Institute,  (Geelong Advertiser, July 7, 1922) It was officially opened November 1922. 


Gordon Institute of Technology - Textile College. Photographer: Robert Pockley. 
The building on the left with the curved front is the T.E. Bostock Memorial building, designed by Laird and Buchan in 1928. The next building is the Lascelles Memorial Chemical Laboratory, built in 1921, which Schefferele had a role in designing. The taller building to the right was built 1949/1950 and designed by Percy Everett. Thus the Lascelles Memorial building was erected first and then had the two later additions. 
State Library of Victoria Image H2007.25/18. 
Some of this caption information comes from the State Library of Victoria. 

Whilst he was overseas Schefferle was granted a scholarship financed by Mr J. H. McPhillimy, which  allowed him  to extensively tour the Continent to study civic and and architectural design.  (Geelong Advertiser, July 7, 1922).  Norman was back in Geelong in January 1923 and in the September of that year he was appointed vice-head of the Architectural Faculty at the Gordon Institute (Geelong Advertiser, September 10, 1923).

During his time as a lecturer he also became the Secretary of the Geelong Memorials Historical Society, a new Society formed to record and preserve Geelong's memorials. The meeting to form the Society was attended by architects including Norman Schefferle, Harold Trigg as well as Paul Montford, the sculptor, whose bust of Carlo Catani forms an integral part of Schefferle's monument to Catani. You can read the full report of the establishment of this Society in November 1923, here. Schefferle clearly had an interest in this area of monuments and memorials as when he was in London it was reported that he had submitted designs for important memorials. (Geelong Advertiser July 7, 1922)


The  Gordon Institute of Technology Staff before 1924. 
Norman Schefferle is top row on the right. George King, the Principal is in the front row, sixth from right). Next to Mr King is Paul Montford, the man who created the bust of Carlo Catani at the foot of Schefferle's Clock Tower monument. See footnote (2) for a list of the others identified in the photo. 
Image courtesy of  Dale Kent, Records Manager, Gordon Institute, via Isaac Hermann.

A more significant event took place in Norman's life on November 23, 1923, when he married Phyllis Christie Lees. His witness was Harold Trigg. Harold was born in 1896 and was thus  few years older than Norman. He also studied at Gordon College and his time there overlapped that of Norman. Trigg's study was interrupted by his enlistment on July 21, 1915, when he was 19 years old. He was listed as an Architectural student, and was (or had been) an architectural apprentice to Mr T. Slevin  (3) for 3½ years. Harold was badly wounded (gun shot wound to left shoulder) and returned to Australia in January 1917 and was medically discharged in the April. Harold resumed his studies at the Gordon College and in 1919 was appointed as a lecturer. In 1924 he commenced practice on his own, and this practice was taken over by Norman Schefferle in late 1928, when Harold was appointed the Assistant Chief Architect, Public Works Department in Perth. Some of Harold Trigg's life and work is discussed here, in the Ashby Heritage Review from 2009 undertaken by Dr David Rowe, Authentic Heritage Services Pty Ltd and Wendy Jacobs, Architect & Heritage Consultant.

Back to the wedding - Norman and Phyllis were married at the High Church Presbyterian Church in Geelong. Phyllis had been born in Scotland and her address was High Church manse, Geelong. I wonder how they met? There is a Phyllis C. Lees listed in the Shipping Records who arrived in Melbourne in October 1923 on the Ceramic, so perhaps they met whilst Norman was away in Europe and the Continent in 1921 and 1922. They had three children (4). The High Church in Geelong, built in 1862 was renovated in 1926, with Norman Schefferle being the architect. It was called the High Church  due to the fact it was built on high ground.  It was renamed St Giles in 1927.

In May 1926, Norman  resigned his position at the Institute and took up private practice in Geelong, at 96 Ryrie Street. Architects often had advertisements for tenders to obtain builders for their projects, and these give us some idea of the types of projects Norman undertook - in May 1926 - Business premises, Pakington Street, Geelong West for Crawcour Brothers (see here);  in February 1928 - new shop fronts and residences at 194-196 Pakington Street, Geelong ; June 1928 - timber and tile residence, Noble Street, Newtown and a 'Modern milk treatment and distributing dairy, Essendon' in June 1933.

Schefferle also had some civic commitments  - for instance he was the Secretary of the Citizen's Beach Improvement Committee - one of the duties of which was to judge a sand castle building competition in March 1927. In the November, Schefferle and Harold Trigg gave  a lecture at Gordon Institute on fine specimens of monumental art at the Eastern and Western cemeteries in Geelong. He was also the Secretary of the  Geelong Civic Association and he wrote  a letter to the Geelong Advertiser about the mutual benefits the Association brings to both Geelong and the members -  The progress of the city rests with the busy citizens; without their support and interest the city will soon fade away and with it all the needs of being busy citizens. Therefore, to-day is the time for the young busy man to spare some of his precious minutes for civic affairs to see that the progress of the city is being properly assured, so that his own progress and success, will be made possible. (Geelong Advertiser, May 12, 1928)

In December 1928, Schefferle formed a partnership with J. Gordon Williams. I do not have much information on either Williams or the length of the partnership. However some of William's work includes alterations and additions to 55 Bellarine Street in Geelong (see here) in 1929; remodelling of the Paramount Theatre in Colac on 1932 (see here); 32 Stephen Street, Newtown designed by Williams in 1938 (see here) and the Trans-Otway Bus Terminal, Ryrie Street Geelong in 1948 (see here)


Geelong Advertiser December 12, 1928

In December 1929, Norman won the competition to design the City of Caulfield War Memorial. The competition was conducted by the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects and was restricted to returned soldier architects. It was unveiled on Anzac Day in 1931. In July 1930 he won another high profile memorial competition, the Carlo Catani Memorial clock tower, which we spoke about before. Read about this memorial, which incorporated the bronze bust of Catani, by Paul Montford, here and here.


Caulfield War Memorial, designed by Norman Schefferle.
Memorial, Park Gerdens, Caulfield. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/1068

In October 1936, the architectural firm of Schefferle and Davies was formed when R. Haydn Davies joined the practice. Davies had also studied at the Gordon Institute. Davies had entered the staff of Laird and Buchan, architects, as an articled pupil during the war period. At the conclusion of a successful term of indenture, he qualified as an Associate of the Institute. Afterwards he went abroad to further his vision and his studies. (Geelong Advertiser April 13, 1927)  Amongst the work Schefferele undertook around this time was the £30,000 New Carlton Hotel and a block of flats in Domain Road, overlooking the Botanic Gardens, credited to Schefferele and Davies.  The report in The Herald said they were  on the most modern continental lines, incorporating many new  features studied during a recent tour abroad by one of the architects. They are pictured, below.

Block of flats in Domain Road, overlooking the Botanic Gardens, designed by Schefferle and Davies.
The Herald May 31, 1939

The Second World War years saw Norman take up a number of Government roles - Chairman of the Geelong Port Reference Board in February 1942 and in May of the same year to an executive position in the Department of War Organisation of Industry, in its relation to the building industry. (The Argus May 13, 1942) In March 1946 The Herald listed Schefferle as the Government's Building Supplies Director however in June 1946 The Argus listed his title as the State Housing Director and in July 1946 The Argus described him as the Director of the Building Directorate for Victoria.  The role (or roles) were obviously concerned with War time and Post-War housing issues and the shortage of building materials.

Schefferle was appointed to an International role in 1946. The Age reported on the new role [Mr Schefferle] has been selected by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration to go to China as a housing expert, will be responsible for assistance in the rehabilitation programme in planning for suitable houses in devastated and flooded areas. Mr. Schefferle possibly will operate in the Yellow River flooded area and the devastated cities of Canton, Changsha and Hankow. He will leave by aeroplane for China on July 12. (The Age July 1, 1946) The role actually seemed broader than this, if a report in The Age of June 23, 1947 is correct. Schefferle's role had come to an end and he was returning to Australia after nearly a  year of service with  the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, investigating the post-war housing situation in China: Mr. Schefferle worked with the Ministry of the Interior of the Chinese Government, on loan from U.N.R.R.A., investigating the effect of the war on housing in Shanghai, Nanking, Peiping, Changsha, Hankow, Chinklang and other cities, and has submitted reports and recommendations to the Ministry of the Interior.  

On his return to Australia, Schefferle, was re-appointed to a Victorian Government role as the Building Control Officer. The position had a salary range of £846 to £936 according to The Herald of May 26, 1948. Either this appointment did not last long or else Schefferle was still working as an architect because in January 1949 Schefferle and Davies were selected to design the new Kilmore Hospital. This was a bit of  a saga and by 1954 the Hospital still hadn't been erected and the Kilmore Free Press reported that the Victorian Hospitals and Charities Commission would be unlikely to fund the hospital before 1957. Not sure if the Schefferle and Davies design was actually ever built.

In June 1954 Norman Schefferele was appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects. I don't have much more information about Norman after this date. In 1955 Schefferle and Davies designed a Garage, Showroom and Service Station in Moorabool Street, Geelong and in 1956 they designed a residence at 85 Splatt Street in Swan Hill (see here). According to the Electoral Roll he and his wife, Phyllis, lived their whole married life in the Geelong area. Norman died  March 19, 1983 and was cremated at the Ballarat Crematorium and his ashes 'were scattered in our grounds' according to their website (see here) It's sort of interesting that for a man who had an interest in and made a study of monuments and memorials that he ended up with no memorial.

Norman Schefferle was adventurous, ambitious, civic minded and hard working and  I feel that his professional and public life and his ethos of mutual responsibility or commitment can be summarised in his own words, so I will repeat his quote from May 1928 - The progress of the city rests with the busy citizens; without their support and interest the city will soon fade away and with it all the needs of being busy citizens. Therefore, to-day is the time for the young busy man to spare some of his precious minutes for civic affairs to see that the progress of the city is being properly assured, so that his own progress and success, will be made possible. (Geelong Advertiser, May 12, 1928).

.......................................................................................................................................

Acknowledgement:  Some of the information in this post, especially that concerning Schefferle's roles in World War Two and his United Nations appointment to China,  was brought to my attention by my research colleague, Isaac Hermann. Thank you, Isaac!

Trove list: I have created  a list of articles on Trove on Norman Schefferle, his family and people connected to him. You can access it here. All the articles referenced here are on the list.

Footnotes
(1) Family information. Norman Schefferle's father Edwin was the son of Kilian and Catherine (nee Laing) Schefferle. They were married in Switzerland and had eight children. Kilian died February 5, 1883 at the age  of 39. He had been in Victoria for 14 years and he left behind six living children aged between ten and one, according to the death certificate.  As you may imagine it was  a hard life for a widow with a young family and Catherine married 48 year old Xavier Muhlebach on April 17, 1884. Xavier was  a bachelor and had also been born in Switzerland.

Norman's father, Edwin Schefferle, died in 1958 at the age of 84. Norman's mother, Ethel Louise, was the daughter of William and Louisa Stinton. Louisa's maiden name was Nash, but she  also used her step-father's surname of Griffin. William Stinton's occupation is listed as a Florist and in the Electoral Roll as a Nurseryman. Ethel died August 23, 1962.

Norman, as we know was the eldest child. Here is some brief information on his siblings.
Frederick Vincent William - born at Warragul in 1900. Married Irene Grace Crook in 1946. Died 1989 aged 88.
Kathleen Louisa - born at Warragul in 1902. Married Richard George Mcewan on September 10, 1927. She died in 1983.
Charles Gordon - born 1905 and died in 1906, at the age of 20 months,  at Camperdown.
Nellie Josephine - born in 1907 in Camperdown. Married Harry Percy Gambold in 1932. He was a school teacher and in the birth announcement of their babies in 1935 and 1938 their address was  State School  No. 952, Mia Mia. Nellie died in 1991.
Harold Victor - born in 1912 in Geelong. He married Alma in 1942. Harold died 1998.

(2) The  Gordon Institute of Technology Staff before 1924 photo - 



This is the list of names that was attached to the back of the photo of the staff. My colleague, Isaac Hermann, identified the identity of No. 7 in the front row as Paul Montford. Good detecting! Thanks to Isaac for contacting Dale Kent, Records Manager at Gordon Institute and to Dale for supplying this photograph to us as well as other helpful and interesting material.

(3) Thomas Daniel Slevin - architect.  Thomas Daniel Slevin designed Montana, 53 The Esplanade, Drumcondra, in 1911 (see here);  the Catholic Church in Lara in 1912 - it later became a Baptist Church;  the Catholic Presbytery and Hall in Geelong in 1914, St Mary's Boys' College in Geelong in 1918 and supervised the construction of Trades Hall in Geelong in 1928, amongst other work. He died in 1955 aged 75

(4) Norman and Phyllis Schefferle had three children -  Edwin James, Henrietta and Norma Jean. Phyllis died June 16, 1980. Her ashes were also scattered at the Ballarat Cemetery grounds.  Here's what I know about the children - Henrietta and Norma travelled overseas with Phyllis in December 1938 and Henrietta was listed as being 11 years old (thus born 1927/1928) and Norma three years old.

Edwin James was born September 15, 1925. He died October 22, 2014. This lovely tribute was published on the Melbourne International Film Festival Facebook page -  We are saddened to hear of the passing overnight of Edwin Schefferle, one of the founders of the Melbourne Film Festival. Scheff, as he was known to his friends and the film community, was a seminal member of the team which organised the Olinda Film Festival in and subsequent Melbourne Film Festivals from his position at the State Film Centre. On his retirement in 1983 he served on many bodies involved with non-theatrical film exhibition until he finally retired in 1998. He was forever forward looking and adapted and promoted 16mm screenings in his youth and was one of the first to see and encourage the use of digital projection. Even when confined to a Special Accom. facility in the last few years he was still screening DVDs from his collection to residents. MIFF is hugely indebted to Scheff's passion and incredible knowledge of film. Scheff, we salute you!! 

Henrietta (also called Netta) completed a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University in 1948. She had a number of papers published - The Microbiology of Built Up Poultry Litter (see here) and The Decomposition of Uric Acid in Built Up Poultry Litter (see here). She worked in Scotland and returned to Geelong when she retired and joined the Friends of the Geelong Botanic Gardens  - they had a  short obituary of Netta in their October 2019 newsletter, see here. Netta died August 23, 2019 at the age of 91. Thank you to Dale Kent, Records Manager, Gordon Institute for the link to Netta's connection to the Geelong Botanic Gardens.

Norma was born December 6, 1934 according to a passenger list when she went to England in April 1960. Her occupation was listed a Secretary. In 1963 Norma was listed in the Electoral Rolls at her parents address in the Geelong area, and her occupation was dietitian. I don't know anything else about her. She was alive when her brother died in 2014, but predeceased Netta. There was a nephew, Ian, listed in both James and Netta's death notices, he is Norma's son.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Catani Memorial Tower: a review of competitive designs

A memorial was unveiled for Carlo on August 22, 1932 on the Upper Esplanade in St Kilda, you can read about it, here. The Building: the magazine for the architect, builder, property owner and merchant, Vol. 46 No. 276 (12 August 1930)  had a 'review of the competitive designs' of a total of 46 entries - the winning entry was designed by Norman Schefferle. The author of the article has some forthright opinions of some of the other designs - I especially liked his reviews of No. 5 - Here pretentiousness runs riot; No. 25 - shows crudity in the extreme; No. 27 - offers a superfluity of architectural bits unhappily blended and No. 34 - this is the order of the crude. You can see the original article here, but it is also transcribed, below.

The competition was organised by the Royal Victorian Institute for Architects, with the proviso that the cost of the memorial could not exceed £2500. The winner of the competition received £50 and the runner-up £25.


The Catani Memorial clock tower, designed by Norman Schefferle and officially unveiled August 22, 1932. 
Photographs chiefly of Manly, N.S.W., Melbourne, and Victoria, ca. 1900-1932. Photographer: Henry Edwin Quick. 
State Library of New South Wales Image FL345971

Catani Memorial Tower
A REVIEW OF THE COMPETITIVE DESIGNS
The Catani Memorial Clock Tower, St Kilda (Victoria), competition, the location of which is the Bay Esplanade, has been obviously won, not by the presentation of the great monumental things in architecture but by the presentation of a profusion of enrichment meticulously designed and drawn. Further the competition affords another of those singular instances in which the design that reaches second place is on totally diverse lines to that placed first. The pathos of the position, however, is that with the conditions requiring  drawings to so large  a scale as half-inch, there has been so great a proportion of  work expended in the pursuit of ideals which apparently, judging by the final result, had no chance comparatively of success. Surely it was not justifiable to ask for so much mechanical work as half-inch scale drawings involve, in  a competition of the monumental nature of this one. It is also obvious that the limit of £2500 proved highly perplexing, resulting in the conflict of large dimensions of external surfaces in cement or synthetic stone with much enrichment, and designs showing smaller dimensions for stone or terra cotta, or simplest treatment. 


Building: the magazine for the architect, builder, property owner and merchant
Vol. 46 No. 276 (12 August 1930)

With the exception of the two premiated designs, the following notes were made before the author's names were affixed to the various designs; and there is much regret that in the presence of so many designs evincing traditional and up-to-date scholarship, including jealous regard for proportional values and pressure for simplicity combined with strong sense of monumentality, and very full suitability for the exposed foreshore, and, moreover, for a memorial to the work of an engineer, it is impossible for the writer of this review to congratulate either promoters, the assessor, or the author of the selected design. 

The design placed first, 16 (N.E. Schefferle) is of the storeyed order, the great bulk consisting of a shaft of brickwork some 12 feet square and 36 feet high on  a low stone base. Above this shaft,  which has a recessed panel on each face, is the clock storey pedimented with piers and capitals towards canted angles forming an irregular octagon. The clock faces are set amid an embarrassment  of decoration of synthetic stone. The terminal is somewhat domical copper-covered, and concludes with a weather vane cross. The entire height from the Upper Esplanade is about 56 feet. The author in his report states 'the poetical charm of the Italian Renaissance style may be regarded as being expressive of the virile life of this great man and his aesthetic aspiration." In common with other designers, there is a claim that the style is "appropriate in view of the late Carlo Catani being of Italian birth."


The second prize design by J. Smith and R. Vernon Francis was pictured
 in The Herald on July 19, 1930.

The design placed second is (J. Smith, R. V. Francis) is an octagonal shaft rising from a specially well designed base. The summit consists of the four clock faces tilted outwards and is linked up to the shaft with carved and heavily moulded masses of detail.

1.  (Smith, Ogg & Serpell)  shows a plain shaft relieved with Renaissance recess on each side towards the ground, and possesses quite a touch of refinement. One of the very good. 

2.  (Smith, Ogg & Serpell)  Gothic in temperament and expression, revealing much ability but the detailing to be worthy of the mass would require to be far more ably handled than is the tracery shown. 

3.  (C.E. Alexander and W.L. McGowan)  is a vigorously dramatic campanile of exhibitional order, in which some features could well be wiped out to advantage.

4.  (A.W. Purnell, Round and Graham)  has the inventive spirit of freshness throughout allied with engineering touch, though the massive detailing in conjunction with the clock faces would conflict. There is   a weakness in the chamfered sides and panel at base. 

5.  (A. C. Leith)  Here pretentiousness runs riot.  "Four structural figures enclose the tracery, and each is crowned with  a modelled figure bust of Mr. Catani." These figures grow out of the angles in the style of some American work.

6.  (W. L. McGowan and C. E. Alexander)  This design is among the best, being a study in pure verticality and well handled by a master of design. The battered buttresses powerfully enhance the composition. 

7.  (C.L. Gumming)  the outstanding point of this design is the sculptural base which enshrines the memorial tablet. As in the case of several other schemes, the designer has come to grief in the terminal treatment.  

8.  (Alex N. Henderson)  An instance in which simplicity of outline and fewness of units score the absence of redundant features being very marked. There is a measure of weakness in some of the proportional values, and a general want of vigour. It, however, well embodies the sense of resistance to the elements which would prevail.

9.   (H. Desbrowe Annear)  Though on different lines, this has much in common with No. 3, being of the universal exhibition order which can hardly claim for position or memorial purpose.

10.  (Alec. S. Hall)  This is of the ponderous order throughout, heavily glazed and with a specially restless base.

11.   (Sale and Keage)  is expressive of lack of harmony between base, shaft and summit.

12.   (Sale and Keage)  A design of considerable ability, the work of a master mind throughout, and ranks as one of the very ablest. The manner in which the base is treated is admirable, while the clock well expresses itself as a distinctive timepiece above a slightly tapering shaft pierced in four directions and terminating in a bit of  festooned enrichment; the heavy mouldings would , however, interfere with the clock faces.

13.  (I.G. Anderson)  Of the obelisk order, surmounted with an Ionic cupola having a  stepped summit. The base is somewhat unhappy, but the general proportions, however are good.

14.   (Oakley and Parkes)  show a well-proportioned pylon in a composition which presents much acceptable severity in view of proximity to sea, and the nature of the profession of Catani.

15.   (Thos. J. Power)  presents  a bit of design which scores by simplicity, and which with fuller regard to the various recessed surfaces and projections would be greatly added.

16.  See before.

17.  (Irwin and Stevenson).   In this there is a marked originality of high order, with touches of capable detailing. The report shows in a few terse well-expressed words that the basis and working out are symbolic. A bit of really good designing with the resultant simplicity. 

18. (W. and R. Butler and Martin)  An example of  modernity which has much appreciable merit, and ranks among the best. But why so small a clock-face  and so deeply recessed? The report well emphasises  "the necessary suggestion of strength and permanence so particularly desirable in the exposed position of the seafront...and this memorial will seem to defy the elements..."

19.   (M.H. Norris and Colin Dixon)  shows much of the ordinary, though the position and handling of the clock face score above many other designs.

20.  (R. Morton Taylor)  has some good proportions, but is of the common-place. 

21.  (H. Anderson).  A picturesque  structure, but woefully weak in primary principles of  monumental design. The author claims, however, that in view of the life of Catani as a poet and visionary these factors, in conjunction with the gaiety of the locality, should be expressed.

22.  (Robt O. Ellis and Deane B. White)  A well-proportioned plain shaft with a tiled roof, the heavy eaves of which, however would throw the clock far too much in shadow. 

23.   (Robert B. Hamilton)  has a very able and effective design which ranks, though of a piquant nature, among the best. The manner in which the upper portion is recessed at angles is well managed, and is suggestive  of some greater inherent values than those expressed.

24.   (A. J. Inches)  in his design with open vistas at base gives evidence of earnest effort. 

25.  (W.J. Gilroy)  shows crudity in the extreme.

26.   (Holdsworth and Cusick)  have designed a structure of highly pretentious character having a pavilion-like base and an open summit-storey above the clock.

27.  (W.H. Ford)  offers a superfluity of architectural bits unhappily blended. 

28.  (S.C. Meyer and Geo. W. Manson)   A specially powerful vertical mass of brickwork in which stonework is effectively introduced in base and at angles, and summit of upper part.

29.  (H.G. Bottoms) has a design on which the Corinthian order of shaft and clock terminal hardly harmonise; and is an instance in which the structure appears far narrower at base than a summit. The author requires to note optical illusions in relation to composition.

30. (Marcus R. Barlow)  Another of the "Exhibition" class,  showing a phase of the "modern" tendency well worth developing. This ranks among the good designs.

31.   (L.D. San Miguel) I could not find this.

32.  (Richardson and Wood, and D.R. Gillam)  shows some good detailing in constituent parts, but hardly a success as a clock tower.

33.  (Richardson and Wood, and D.R. Gillam)  This ranks in the interesting class, and possesses much merit, though suffering unfavourably in the handling of the terminal.

34.  (J. Rowsell). This is of the order of the crude.

35.  (Harry J. James)  is essentially of modernist order influenced by Swedish and Finnish work, and though highly crude in parts has decidedly good possibilities. 

36.  (A.R. La Gerche and W.E. Gower). This shows one of the very best, and gives throughout evidence of strong architectonic power. The massing, proportional values, recessing  and touches of relief are allied with well-defined restraint and full regard to position.

37.   (A.Ikin) Here a strong measure of symbolism has aided the design, which possess distinctive individuality. But the hour glass and its flame are really too superfluous.

38.  (Bohringer, Taylor and Johnson). Throughout there is evidence of  particular care in regard to both mass and detail. One of the happiest efforts on view of the spirit of modernity contrasting with traditonalism. The lofty base seawards ranks high,.

39.  (No name attached)  This shows good proportional values, but the effect of the terminal sculpture would be entirely lost.

40.  (Gustave Pillig) Though a juvenile effort in the sculpturesque direction, the author should persist in imaginative design.

41.  (O'Rourke and Obeth)  A tower-like structure with an external winding staircase, truly quaint, with clock in minaret.

42.  (J. Scarborough and A.C. Lyons).  A valuable bit of pure design of nature of a square pylon with stop-chamfered angles resulting in irregular octagon at summit. The entrance doorway is essentially memorial, and the whole composition bears the imprint of genius in exceptional measure.  

43.  (Arthur H. Cutler) revels but slight knowledge of present architectural advance, presenting a boldly tapering structure, and storeyed, terminating in a cupola. 

44.  (A.C. Collins). This is in a class by itself, and reveals considerable merit as a study in sheer forms. The idea of the sculptural base is excellent, but requires far more consideration.

45.  (H.H.& and F.B. Kemp). Monolithic in character, this contains practically, if not, all the essential elements of design and in excellent measure; and is particularly well adapted for the exposed position on the sea front. 

A few of the competitors also submitted models.

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Catani Clock Tower unveiled at St Kilda in 1932

The residents of St Kilda erected a memorial to Carlo Catani, in the form of a clock tower,  which was unveiled on August 22, 1932, on the Upper Esplanade.  The St Kilda Council had set aside £750 at their Estimates meeting in November 1929 for the memorial. In the December it was announced that Competitive designs are to be invited, under the auspices of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects. The cost of the tower is not to exceed £2500. A premium of £50 will be paid for the best design, and £25 for the second (1) 

The St Kilda Foreshore Committee matched the Council's contribution and donated  £750 (2). The Prahran Telegraph reported on how the rest of the finance would be obtained -  Town Clark, Mr F. Chamberlin (3) , explained that the rest of the money would come from allocations of local carnivals in past years [where] there is available the sum of £635; Messrs. H. F. and L. Phillips, of the Palais de Danse, have promised a donation of £50. The article goes on to say that although there will be no direct appeal for subscriptions voluntary contributions would be gladly received by the Town Clark, St Kilda. (4). 

The competition received 46 entries and they were assessed by Thomas Buchan (5)  President of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects. In July 1930, he selected, and it was accepted by the St Kilda Council, a design  in the Italian Renaissance style by  Geelong Architect, Norman Schefferle. (6)  A review of all the designs was written up in  Building: the magazine for the architect, builder, property owner and merchant, Vol. 46 No. 276 (12 August 1930) - you can read it here.


The Clock Tower under construction. Photographer: Albert Jones.
This image has been cropped, see the original at the State Library of Victoria 

Carlo's daughter, Enid, was in attendance at the unveiling where the Chairman of the Memorial Committee, Frederick Michaelis (7), said the tower was a worthy memorial to a worthy friend of St Kilda (8). At the foot of the clock tower was a bust of Carlo Catani, by sculptor, Paul Montford (9).  The bust is mounted on a sandstone plinth, with a bronze plaque which includes the words A great Public Servant of Victoria 1876 - 1917.  The bust was unveiled by long-term St Kilda Councillor, Edward O'Donnell (10), who also had the honour of starting the clock's mechanism.


This fabulous photo, by Isaac Hermann, shows the bust of Carlo at the foot of the clock tower, with one of Carlo's palms in the background and the shadow of a palm on the tower.


At the foot of the clock tower is a bust of Carlo by Paul Montford
Photo: Isaac Hermann.

This article from The Argus reports on the unveiling. 

An account of the unveiling of the Clock Tower, which is transcribed, below.

The report of the unveiling of the Clock  Tower, from The Argus - 
CATANI CLOCK TOWER - Unveiled at St. Kilda.
After the death of Mr. Carlo Catani, a former chief engineer of the State Public Works department, in 1918, it was decided to erect in his memory a clock tower on the upper esplanade at St. Kilda. The tower, which occupies the site of the old band rotunda on the esplanade, was completed at a cost of about £2,800, collected from residents of St Kilda. It was unveiled before a large gathering yesterday. Among those present was Miss Enid Catani, a daughter of the late Mr. Catani. The tower, which is built in brick in Italian renaissance style, was designed by Mr. N. E. Schefferle. It will be illuminated at night. At the foot is a bronze bust of the late Mr. Catani by Mr. Paul Montford.

The chairman of the memorial committee (Mr. P. D. Michaelis) said that the tower was a worthy memorial to a worthy friend of St. Kilda. The mayor of St. Kilda (Councillor H. Moroney) said that the State was full of monumental tributes to Mr. Catani's genius. Councillor Edward O'Donnell, who unveiled the bronze bust and started the mechanism of the clock, recalled Mr. Catani's enthusiasm for the beauty of the St Kilda foreshore. The Minister for Public Works (Mr. Jones) was represented by the chief engineer for public works (Mr. G. Kermode).

The Clock Tower is a landmark in St Kilda, and the subject of many photographs and postcards, some of which you can see here.


Footnotes
(1) The Herald, December 17, 1929, see here
(2) The Age December 18, 1929, see here.
(3) Frederick William Chamberlin, City of St Kilda Town Clerk . According to his obituary he was born in England, arrived in Victoria in 1881, appointed assistant Town Clerk in 1897 and became the Town Clerk on  May 1, 1913.  Mr Chamberlin died suddenly on October 11, 1934 when he collapsed outside the Town Hall on his way to a Council Public Works Committee meeting. He was 62 years old.  You can read his obituary in The Argus, here and The Age, here. This is irrelevant to the clock tower story, but of interest - Chamberlin's daughter, Marie (1902 -1993) was a Senator. She married  Robert Tweeddale Breen in 1928, he was a Mayor of the City of Brighton and this gave Marie a public role and she was involved in groups such as the Brighton Baby Health Centre Association and Victorian Family Council. In 1945 she joined the newly established Liberal Party,  and stood for the Senate in the 1961 election, she did not seek re-election when her term expired at the end of June in 1968. She was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 1979. Dame Marie Breen died in June 1993. Read more about her, here, on the Senate website.
(4) Prahran Telegraph, March 14, 1930, see here.
(5) Thomas Johnston Buchan (1874 - 1962) became President of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects in 1930. He was a partner in the Architectural firm of Laird and Buchan. He began his career in 1891 in Geelong when he was articled  to  J. A. Laird, where in 1906 he became  a Partner in the firm. He studied at the School of Architecture at the Gordon Institute of Technology. The firm designed Churches, banks, houses and some outstanding architectural memorial, which are among the leading ornaments of Geelong. Source: The Herald, February 25, 1930, read the article here.
(6) Norman Edwin Schefferle (1899 - 1983),  also studied at Gordon Technical College in Geelong, but he as he was younger than Thomas Buchan, so their time at the College did not overlap. Schefferle was with the firm Schefferle and Davies.  He designed Geelong's Art Deco Carlton Hotel built in 1936, the Point Henry Signal Station ( the Geelong Harbour Control building) built 1939 and the Kilmore Hospital in 1953.  As well, he designed the Caulfield War Memorial, unveiled in 1932. Read more about Norman Schefferle, here.
(7) Frederick David Michaelis (1861 - 1935) was a partner in the firm of Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co, leather merchants. He was a member of the St Kilda Foreshore Committee and the St Kilda Cemetery Committee and on the Board of Management of the Alfred Hospital. He was also a supporter of Wesley College, where he went to school. Like Carlo Catani, Mr Michaelis, had a son who died in the First World War - his son Frank Moritz Michaelis (Service number 31586) enlisted on August 23, 1916 at the age of 24 and died of disease on May 14, 1917. Another son, Archie, was a Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery, you can read his biography in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, here.  You can read Frederick Michaelis' informative obituary in the Hebrew Standard of Australasia, here and shorter obituaries  in The Age, here and in The Argus, here.
Michaelis, Hallenstein operated a very large tannery in Footscray, you can read about it and see photos of it on the Living Museum of the West (LMW) website, here. They were said to be the first employers to introduce the eight hour day for their employees. The Company also had their own World War One memorial to their nineteen employees who lost their life in the War - Frank Michaelis is listed on the memorial as well.There is a photo of the memorial on the LMW website. I have done a blog post on the Michaelis, Hallenstein Tannery war memorial on my Victoria's Past - Rescued and Retold blog, here.
(8) The Argus August 23, 1932, see here.  
(9) Paul Montford. Paul Raphael Montford (1868 - 1938)  was born in England and worked there until he came to Australia at the age of 54. His work includes the statue of Adam Lindsay Gordon in Gordon Reserve in Spring Street and the George Higinbotham sculpture near the Old Treasury Buildings. You can read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, by Jenny Zimmer, here.
(10) Edward O'Donnell was a St Kilda City Councillor for 44 years, inaugural member of the St Kilda Foreshore Committee (formed in 1906) and Chairman of the Committee from 1919. He died in 1933 at the age of 88.  O'Donnell Gardens in St Kilda is named for him, where there is an elaborate fountain erected as a memorial, which was unveiled in August 1935. You can read his obituary in The Argus, here