Thomas Pye

Thomas Pye (1861–1930) was an Australian architect. He worked for over 33 years in the Public Works Department in Queensland. Pye contributed significantly to major buildings including the completion of the Public Offices (Treasury Building) and Rockhampton Customs House, as well as the design for the Lands and Survey Offices (Lands Administration Building). He was responsible for the heightened expectations which produced the best public buildings yet seen in Queensland.

Early life Thomas Pye was born in 1861 in Lancashire, England to Edward Pye, a farmer, and Ellen Newett. After receiving “an excellent training” as an architect in England, Pye emigrated to the colonies in c.1882. He was involved in a number of projects while at the firm, most notably the Imperial Hotel in Brisbane.

Later life and death After leaving the Works Department, Pye practiced privately in Brisbane.

Year completed Structure name Location Notes 1885 Villa and Stable for W. Pickering (as Clark and Pye); Lytton Road, East Brisbane 1889 Relief Stonework Panels, Alice Street Wing, Parliament House 69 Alice Street, Brisbane 1897–1898 Post Office, 98 Palmerin Street, Warwick 1898–1899 Queensland Stock Institute College Road, 1899 Customs House Rockhampton (designed with G.D. Payne) 208 Quay Street, Rockhampton 1899–1900 East Brisbane State School 90 Wellington Road, East Brisbane 1899–1900 Post Office, 114 Brisbane Street, Ipswich 1901 Naval Offices 3 Edward St, Brisbane 1901 Decoration of Government Buildings in Brisbane(Customs House, the Treasury Buildings, Geological Museum, Lands Office, Government Printing Office, and various others) Primarily George, Queen and William Streets, Brisbane 1901 Stanthorpe Post Office 14 Maryland St, 1901–1905 Land Administration Building (formerly Executive Building) 142 George Street, Brisbane 1904 Former North Ward Defence Complex additions (drill hall and administration offices) 4–6 Oxley Street, 1905 Woolloongabba Post Office (former) 765 Stanley Street?1906–1921date unknown “Tekowai” House for W.G. Chancellor; Vulture Street, South Brisbane 1908 Brisbane General Post Office, Elizabeth Street additions 280 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane 1909 Former Dispenser’s House, Diamantina Hospital Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba 1910 Charters Towers Police Station (formerly Charters Towers Police Barracks) 49 Gill Street, Charters Towers 1910 School of Musketry (former) 431 Lloyd St, Gallipoli Army Barracks, 1910 Small Arms Magazine (former) Murray Av, Enoggera Barracks, Enoggera 1911–1912 Mackay Technical College (former) Alfred Street, 1911–1915 Brisbane Central Technical College (former) 2 George Street, Brisbane 1911–1915 Enoggera Magazine Complex Inwood Rd, Enoggera Military Camp, Enoggera 1913 Remount Complex (former) Wynter Rd, Enoggera 1914 Wooloowin State School 663 Lutwyche Road, 1914 ‘A’ Block Central Queensland Institute of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) Rockhampton Campus(formerly ‘A’ Block, Rockhampton State High School and Technical College) Bolsover Street, Rockhampton 1914–1915 Warwick Technical College and State High School Victoria Street, Warwick 1914–1915 Windsor State School 270 Lutwyche Rd, 1915–1916 Block ‘C’, Rockhampton District Court (formerly Rockhampton Branch of the Queensland State Government Savings Bank) 42 East Street, Rockhampton 1916–1917 Toowoomba Technical College (former) 124 Margaret Street, Toowoomba 1919 ‘D’ Block, Rockhampton State High School and Technical College; Alma Street, Rockhampton 1919–1921 Cairns Court House (former) 38–40 Abbott St, Cairns 1925 Enoggera Memorial Hall and School of Arts Cnr Trundle and Wardell Streets, Enoggera