Charles Tiffin

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.

Early life

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

In 1855 he immigrated to Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

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 in the Moreton Bay District.

He designed and supervised the construction of over 300 Queensland buildings including: Wharf Street Congregational Church, Brisbane (1859–1860) Government House, Brisbane (1860–1862) Maryborough Bond Store (1863) Maryborough Post Office (1865–1866) the Main Wing of Queensland Parliament House (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 fountain in the City Botanic Gardens (1867)

Miscellaneous

He participated in the Brisbane School of Arts and the Queensland Philosophical Society. 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, New South Wales at the age of 40.

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