John James Clark

John James Clark (23 January 1838 – 25 June 1915) was an Australian architect who began his career at the age of 14 in the office of the Colonial Architect's Office in Melbourne, immediately after his family migrated from Liverpool in 1852. Clark's 30 years in public service, followed by 33 in private practice, produced some of Australia's most notable public buildings, and at least one in New Zealand. He is most famous as the designer of Melbourne's Old Treasury Building aged only 19.

Biography John James Clark, commonly referred to as J. J. Clark, was born in Liverpool, England, on 23 January 1838 to parents George and Mary Clark. Clark was one of nine children. The family relocated from Liverpool to Melbourne, Australia in March 1852, in hopes of capitalising on the Victorian gold rush. Prior to leaving he had attended Collegiate College, Liverpool, where, aged thirteen, he won first prize for drawing a finely detailed map of Liverpool – every street, all public buildings and the docks.

Prior to his father and older brother seeking reward at the gold fields, the 14-year-old Clarkon the basis of his revealed abilitieswas employed on 26 April 1852 as a 'drafting copyist' in the Colonial Architect's Office, ensuring his family an income. It is likely that he was employed and rapidly promoted despite his young age because the office found it hard to keep employees in the throes of the gold rush. To broaden his 'apprenticeship' he sought evening work with the partnership of Alfred Louis Smith and Osgood Gee Pritchard, and for a short time with Joseph Reed.

In 1854, he was promoted to draftsman, and in this role was part of the team that designed the Geelong Supreme Court the next year, and Government Printing Office in 1856, and the next year began design work on the Treasury Building when he was only nineteen. Clark continued in public service designing many public buildings large and small until 1878 when he was retrenched in the Black Wednesday dismissals. The couple had one child in 1868, Edward James, known as EJ Clark. In 1870, they had moved into the East Melbourne home Clark had designed for them, which still stands. In 1889, when Edward was 21, Clark took him on a tour of Europe and America, mirroring that of the one he took in his own youth. He followed an artistic interest tutored by noted Colonial artist Louis Buvelot, who became a friend. and saw them complete works in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland, New Zealand. Clark died at his son's residence in St Kilda, Melbourne on 25 June 1915.

Notable works Old Treasury Building

The Old Treasury Building is considered one of the finest examples of Renaissance Revival architecture in Australia. Clark began designing this building in 1857 when he was only nineteen, a widely known fact that still seems remarkable. Construction began in 1858 using bluestone from Broadmeadows for the foundations, and sandstone from Bacchus Marsh for the upper level facades. That year Clark took ten months leave to tour Europe and the United Kingdom, and on his return he completed the design, possibly changing that of the second floor, and removing the fourth level attic of the central section in favour of a continuous eave. The building was finally completed in 1862, but the forecourt was not built until 1868. Originally the Treasury Building was designed to hold Victoria's state gold, as well as offices for senior government positions. the rest of the block becoming the Queen Victoria Village development.

List of works

In Victoria Melbourne

1856Government Printing Office 1858Old Treasury Building 1860Port Melbourne Court House (originally known as Sandridge Police Court) 1868Residence of Major General Sir Trevor Chute , a Commander of British Troops 1869104 Gipps Street, East Melbourne, as his personal residence 1869Richmond Town Hall 1871Royal Mint 1874Victorian Titles Office 1874Supreme Court of Victoria Library building (detailed plans) 1874Government House (detailed drawings) 1876Customs House (former) 1880Essendon and Flemington Institute 1887Melbourne Town Hall and Administration Building (detailed plans) 1903City Baths 1907Women's Hospital 1907Carlton Refuge 1912Melbourne Hospital which in 1946 became the Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne (partially demolished in 1994) Port Melbourne Post Office

Regional 1855Geelong Customs House 1856Yackandandah Post Office 1855Geelong Supreme Court (demolished) 1860Morse's Creek (Bright) Post Office 1862Sale Court House 1863Newstead Courthouse 1863Kilmore Courthouse 1864Rutherglen Court House 1864Aradale Mental Hospital (as assistant of G. W. Vivian) 1874Castlemaine Post Office 1904Ballarat National Mutual Building Beechworth Mental Hospital

In Queensland

1894Brisbane Children's Hospital 1885Brisbane Treasury Building 1885Townsville Post and Telegraph Office 1885Townsville Hospital 1885Charters Towers Courthouse 1885Mackay Courthouse 1885Kangaroo Point Immigration Centre (Yungaba Immigration Centre) 1895Booroodabin Public Baths 1901Brisbane Central railway station 1901an unexecuted design for the Townsville railway station Gympie Town Hall (first stage) Warwick Town Hall Maryborough railway station Brisbane Masonic Memorial Temple

In New South Wales 1862A unexecuted design for the Sydney Free Public Library 1880Wagga Wagga Town Hall (unexecuted) 1881Waverley Town Hall (unexecuted) 1881Orange Town Hall 1899A new scheme for the Newcastle Hospital (of which only the Nurses' Quarters and operating Theatre were built) 1903Maitland Hospital

In Western Australia

1897Perth St Andrew's Presbyterian Church 1897Fremantle Town Hall, alterations and extensions 1898Perth Royal Children's Hospital (unexecuted) 1898Vasse Butter Factory

In New Zealand

1907Auckland Town Hall A design for the Auckland Supreme Court A design for a Christchurch Court House

Awards Clark placed in 38 of the 47 competitions he entered throughout his career; of these, 24 were first placements.

Clark's obituary stated his partnership with son Edward James Clark, became his most professionally successfully period in respect to competition wins with the firm winning in succession competitions for: Fremantle Town Hall Auditorium Alterations (Fremantle, 1897) Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Perth, 1897) Royal Children's Hospital (Perth, 1898) Newcastle Hospital (Newcastle, 1899) Maitland Hospital (Maitland, 1903) The City Baths (Melbourne, 1903)

Additionally in later years the firm successful campaigned for National Mutual Building (Ballarat, 1904) Women's Hospital (Melbourne, 1907) Carlton Refuge (Melbourne, 1907) Auckland Town Hall (Auckland, 1907 ) Melbourne Hospital (Melbourne, 1912)

His other competition awards were produced from individual work, partnerships and associations with architectural firms.