Lange Powell

Lange Leopold Powell (1886–1938) was a noted architect who designed many important buildings in Brisbane and the state of Queensland. He started practice in 1909; his major works included St Martin's War Memorial Hospital (opened 1922) and the Masonic Temple, Brisbane

Powell served as president of the Queensland Institute of Architects (1927–1931), as president of the Australian Institute of Architects (1928–1929), and as president of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (1932–1933).

Early years: 1886-1910

Family life and education Langé Leopold Powell was born in Rockhampton, Australia, on 2 July 1886 to the Methodist minister William Powell and his second wife, Mary Ellen née Zillman. He was the second of three children from William Powell’s second marriage and his seventh surviving child. Powell was named after Zillman’s grandparents, Clare Lange and Leopold Zillman, who in 1938 were among the first free settlers in the wider Brisbane district.

Powell’s family moved from Rockhampton to Brisbane in 1888, where he later was educated at Central Boys' School, Brisbane. During 1900 he was articled to G.H.M. Addison of the firm Addison & Corrie Architects, and during the next five years he would attend lectures at Brisbane Technical College. Shortly after he had finished his articles, he worked as a draughtsman for C.W. Chambers (1905–06) and briefly with the Public Works Department (1907).

Marriage and study in England Throughout this time, Powell and Maude Moore of Murtoa, Victoria, began a relationship. During 1904, Moore temporarily moved to Brisbane for six months to live with her sister and her brother-in-law, who was a Methodist minister. The two met at a Methodist conference, which Powell’s father was organising that year. They became engaged in 1907, shortly before Powell left for England.

The proposed site was on Wickham Terrace where Anzac House now stands, but it was rejected because it was considered too far out of town. Powell designed it with a close; however it was proven to be irrelevant in some ways as it cuts off air ventilation to the patient’s room. The hospital is constructed using mainly bricks and stone on solid rock foundations. Thomas Keenan and Son were assigned as the contractors of the project.

Tenders were called on 12 March 1928 but the plans were drastically modified. The construction of the Masonic Temple commenced in May 1928. The total cost of the project summed up to £130,000 which included £7,000 for the land and £10,000 for furniture. Although the cost of the project was considered somewhat high, it was constructed to be able to take three more floors when this became necessary.

Whilst each state had its own architectural institute, a unifying Federal Council was formed, hoping to allow further collaboration between states. Each state institute elected two members for the Federal Council of the Australian Institute of Architects and Powell was a representative for Queensland for many years. Powell worked hard during this time for the entrance examination level to study architecture be raised to Junior Standard. Powell was also president of the Federal Council for two years, from 1928 to 1929.

The site Powell inspected was an irregular sized block constrained by the city’s grid system and the Brisbane River. The site contains several buildings: R. Jackson’s, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's, the Australian Estates, the Brisbane Stock Exchange and the United Insurance buildings. The owners claimed that during the scheduled tunneling, excavation and blasting operations in Elizabeth, Eagle and Creek Streets and adjacent lanes, the Board’s negligence had damaged their buildings. These operations, Powell declared, had interfered with and weakened the foundations on which the buildings had been erected and had altered the level of support given by the subsoil. Consequently, this resulted in the further settling of buildings, and numerous cracks and breaks in the wall and structural elements.

Jackson and Powell also claimed that the damage would continue unless the Board paid to repair the buildings and prevent any further sinking. They also applied for compensation, claiming that both the land and buildings had greatly depreciated in value. The Board rebutted, stating that the owners knew the soil was insufficient for buildings of that size and that they had neglected to provide and construct adequate foundations. They also said the owners’ buildings were poorly constructed with inferior materials, and that the cracking of walls and structural elements was due to the lack of maintenance required.

Whilst the initial hearing at the Magistrates Court was in favour of the Metropolitan Water & Sewerage Board, Jackson appealed to the Supreme Court where Judge Lukin overturned the decision. Powell’s report in combination with independent expert analysis proved pivotal in the Supreme Court case, with Lukin stating ‘Mr. Powell has shown a considerable amount of ability, research and industry in supplying the Court with authorities in support of the opinions he has expressed." Compensation awarded for the New Zealand Loan was £600, for Jackson £250, and for the Australian Estates £160.

Death and legacy

Towards the end of 1938, Powell fell ill with influenza which inevitably developed into pneumonia. He was taken to the hospital of his own design (St. Martin’s) where he died a few days later on 29 October 1938 at the age of 52.

The day after Powell’s death, The Courier Mail paid tribute to him by publishing an article about him. In the article, they mentioned how regretful they were to inform that Brisbane had lost one of its most prominent architects and popular citizens. The Courier Mail also paid tribute to his life and extensive career.

In 1940, Dr. Graham Brown, who was Powell’s greatest friend, donated the triptych for the Lady Chapel in St. John’s Cathedral, which Powell had been engaged in designing at the time of his death. The triptych was unveiled at the morning service by the then governor.

Chronological list of work: 1910–1925

Domestic work 1913 Mrs S. Gibson, Old Sandgate Road, Clayfield 1914 Mr Maddock Hughes, Marine Parade, Southport Mr A. S. Huybers, Corner New Sandgate Road & Adelaide Street, Clayfield Mr A. S. Huybers, New Sandgate Road, Clayfield 1915 Mr. E. K. Brodrib, Gladstone Road, Dutton Park 1916 Mr Matthew Laird, Southport Mr R. J. Archibald, Latrobe Terrace, Bardon (Remodelling) 1918 Mr A. S. Huybers, Moreton Street, Newfarm Dr Wallis Hoare, Hanlon Terrace & Windmere Road, Hamilton Mrs Parker, NoLeod Street, Herston Miss Powell, Northgate 1919 Mr R. J. Morris, Corner Windsor Road & Prospect Terrace, Red Hill Mr L. L. Powell, Windmere Road, Hamilton Dr C. R. Brown, Windmere Road, Hamilton (Alterations and Additions) 1920 Mrs O. Sandel, Windmere Road, Hamilton Mr C. R. Christmas, Ascot Mr H. H. Henchman, Circe Street, Ascot (Alterations and Additions) 1921 I.O.O.F. Orphanage, Manly (Alterations and Additions) Dr A. Crawford, Caboolture 1923 Mr L. L. Powell, 50 Eldernell Avenue, Hamilton Mr W. Webb, Clayfield 1924 Mr W. Fraser, New Farm

Commercial work 1910 Perry House, Corner Albert & Elizabeth Streets, Brisbane 1913 E.S. & A. Bank, Eagle Street, Brisbane Carlton Club Hotel, Queen Street, Brisbane (Alterations and Additions) 1915 Parbury House, Eagle Street, Brisbane (Supervision)(Alterations and Additions) Exton & Co. Ltd., 333 Ann Street, Brisbane (Alterations and Additions) Preston House, Corner Queen Street and Eagle Lane, Brisbane Jenyns House, 327 George Street, Brisbane Robert Reid’s Building, Corner Edward & Charlotte Streets, Brisbane B. A. F. S. Dispensary, 331–333 George Street, Brisbane Hide & Skin Store, J. W. H. Turner & Co., Corner Longland & Master Streets, Bulimba 1918 B. A. F. S. Dispensary, 146 Wickham Street, Valley (Alterations and Additions) 1919 Exton House, 337 Queen Street, Brisbane Thomas Brown, Corner Eagle & Queen Streets, Brisbane (Alterations and Additions) Inglis Limited, Corner Boundary & Adelaide Streets, Brisbane Commercial Bank of Australia, Southport 1920 N. B. A. in Thomas Brown, Corner Eagle & Queen Streets, Brisbane National Bank of Australia, Mareeba Ward Motors, Mackay (Alterations and Additions) Ruston & Hornsby Warehouse, 472 Ann Street, Brisbane R. Jackson, Corner Brunswick & Water Streets, Valley Bonney & Clarke, Corner Elizabeth & George Streets, Brisbane 1921 National Bank of Australasia, Home Hill National Bank of Australasia, Atherton Rickleman’s Building, Victoria Street, Mackay 1922 Queensland Pastoral Supplies, Bowen Street, Brisbane (Alterations and Additions) Commercial Bank of Australia, Cairns William Brooks, Wickham Street, Valley Perry House, Corner Albert and Elizabeth Streets, Brisbane (New Floor) 1923 R. Jackson, Corner Water and Brunswick Streets, Valley National Bank of Australasia, Innisfail Empire Chambers, Corner Queen & Wharf Streets, Brisbane (Four Floors) Professional Chambers, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane 1924 R. Jackson Warehouse, Corner Ann & Wandoo Streets, Valley Griffith House, Queen Street, Brisbane Ballow Chambers, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane Penfold’s Building, Ann Street, Brisbane National Bank of Australasia, Bundaberg National Bank of Australasia, Gipps Street, Fortitude Valley Commercial Bank of Australia, Murwillumbah Commercial Bank of Australia, Townsville Commercial Bank of Australia, Nambour L. Uhl & Son, Petrie Bight, Brisbane (Alterations and Additions) Roma Street Investments, Roma Street, Brisbane (Alterations and Additions) 1925 Nestles Building, Ann Street, Brisbane Warehouse for Mrs Alice Wilson, Charlotte Street, Brisbane New Tattersalls Hotel, Blackall National Bank of Australasia, Home Hill National Bank of Australasia, Cairns National Bank of Australasia, Stanthorpe Commercial Bank of Australia, Ipswich Austral Motors Building, 95 Boundary Street, Valley

Ecclesiastical work 1919 Methodist Church, Kennedy Terrace, Bardon 1920 St. Luke’s Church of England, Rosewood 1921 St. Paul’s Church of England, Winton 1923 Holy Trinity Church Complex, 39 Gordon Street, Mackay (Thought to be completed by Powell) 1924 Methodist Church, Vulture Street, West End (Alterations and Additions) Cathedral Wall, Adelaide Street, Brisbane

Schools and hospitals 1919 Somerville House, ‘Cumbooqueapa’, 253 Vulture Street, South Brisbane (Classroom Block) 1921 St. Martin’s War Hospital, 373 Ann Street, Brisbane