Isidor George Beaver

Isidor George Beaver (December 1859 – 24 October 1934) was an English architect who had a substantial career in Adelaide, South Australia and Melbourne, Victoria. He was also significant in the early history of ice skating in Australia.

His given name was often misspelt as "Isidore", and his surname as "Beavor" and he was often referred to as J. G. Beaver,

Early life Isidor George Beaver

Career 19th century

Beaver emigrated to the colony of South Australia sometime before August 1883, the date of the commencement of his architectural partnership with William McMinn in Adelaide. The partnership did not last long as McMinn died in February 1884. Fuller and artist Frank H. Bartels were articled to the practice during the 1880s, and the practice continued under the same name even after the death of Wright in 1888. (address 388-399 Collins Street The eight-storey building in Federation Gothic The foundation stone was laid 28 July 1891, and the building completed in March 1893. The entry foyer has marble details. The ceiling of the main chamber is ornamented, consisting of a plaster beam and panel system with freestanding Corinthian columns. The building is unnamed, and has mixed tenancy, with a Zendesk sign above the door in 2022.

On 9 August 1893 Wright, Reed and Beaver was dissolved, (who had offices in the same building).

20th century In 1901 his office was located at 11 Elizabeth Street, then moved to Altson's Buildings, 82 Elizabeth Street, on the Collins Street corner. In 1915 Arthur William Purnell joined him to form the partnership Beaver & Purnell, which lasted until 1925. a large dance hall, opened in October 1923, architects Beaver & Purnell, though their relative inputs are not yet known. It was built by H. H. Eilenberg of Caulfield. The building became a film studio, Efftee Studios, for Frank W. Thring in December 1933; Thring abandoned the project in 1937. H. H. Kleiner and his wife transformed it into the St. Moritz Ice-skating Palais, which opened in 1939 and finally closed in 1982.

Professional activities He was a vice-president of the South Australian Architects Association in 1885, and a founding member of the South Australian Institute of Architects in 1886. He was honorary treasurer of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects in 1910.

Sporting and cultural Beaver was, in 1883, a foundation member of the Holdfast Bay Yacht Club, known for his yacht Bonita. It is likely he was the J. G. Beaver who participated in chess tournaments in the 1880s. From 1901 he rode to hounds with the Melbourne Hunt Club, and was still riding regularly until two months before his death in October 1934. and a director of the company (H. W. Allen, I. G. Beaver, H. Kendall, Dr C. F. Macgillicuddy, A. G. Outhwaite, and V. C. Turner) which was formed in 1926 to take over the lease on the Melbourne Glaciarium, 10 City Road South Melbourne, when it was facing closure. The company became Glaciarium Ltd sometime before the 1930 season opened, with L. R. Molloy, manager of the Glaciarium, as managing director. The Glaciarium showed a profit almost every year until the 1950s.

Selected works Beaver was associated with William McMinn in the design of extensions to the Masonic Hall in Waymouth Street, Adelaide, in 1883, although McMinn is cited as the main architect; Beaver was supervising architect after McMinn's death in February 1884. He designed an institute building at Manoora and a house Mile End He designed the Outpatients' wards at the Queen Victoria Hospital, opened in 1902, and nine years later their operating theatre dedicated by the National Council of Women as a memorial to Dr. Mary Page Stone. He designed the Toorak Bowling Club's original wooden pavilion, which was erected in 1914 and still stands, heritage listed. "Carinya", the Toorak mansion built in 1926 for Herbert William Lee, was designed by Beaver and Purnell.

Personal life Beaver may have been a Freemason. He never married. Laura was married to Salis Schlank ( –1892), a well-known manufacturing jeweller.

Albert Beaver (died 16 March 1909), who was arrested for embezzlement in 1897, and then released under curious circumstances was a brother.

Death and legacy He died at his home, 23 Wynstay Road, Armadale and was buried in the Melbourne Cemetery, Carlton, Victoria. The chief beneficiary of his will was a niece.