William Archer

William Archer (1820–1874) was an Australian architect, naturalist, grazier, politician and member of the prominent Archer family. He was the second son of Thomas Archer, a prominent pastoralist and politician himself. A keen interest in architecture led to him going to London to study architecture when he finished school, where he studied under William Rogers and Robert Stephenson. During his life he built many colonial buildings across Tasmania, served as a member of both the Tasmanian House of Assembly and Tasmanian Legislative Council and made significant contributions to botany, with several native Tasmanian plants named after him. Despite this, he died penniless at Fairfield Estate, which belonged to his brother Joseph Archer, on 15 October 1874.

Architectural works

Residences Part of Woolmers Estate Cheshunt House, Meander Valley Corunastylis archeri (the elfin midge orchid) and the genus Archeria are named after him.