William McMinn

William McMinn (1844 – 14 February 1884) was an Irish-born Australian surveyor and architect, based in Adelaide in the colony of South Australia.

Early life and education McMinn was born in Newry, County Down, Ireland, in 1844. He was a son of Joseph McMinn and his wife Martha McMinn, née Hamill, who with their large family emigrated to Adelaide on the Albatross, arriving in September 1850. Newspaper reports only mention Mrs McMinn and 8 children aboard Albatross.

No details of his (or his brothers') schooling are known, however no teacher of that or similar name has yet come to light. It is likely the youngest children were home-educated, with the boys receiving tuition in drafting and surveying from a tutor.

Career

After completing school, he was articled to the architect James Macgeorge, and was appointed to the Architect-in-Chief's office, but in April 1864 left for employment as a chainman in Boyle Travers Finniss's 1864–65 expedition to Northern Australia surveying the area around Escape Cliffs and the Adelaide River. Following a breakdown of morale in the settlement, McMinn and six others (Stow, Hamilton, Hake, Edwards, White, and Davis, the last two being boatmen) purchased a 23-foot open boat which they dubbed the Forlorn Hope and sailed it to Champion Bay, near Geraldton, Western Australia.

McMinn began practising as an architect in 1867, briefly in partnership with Daniel Garlick, and later with some others, but usually independently. Completed in 1878, it was the first building of the university. During this period he also designed one of the buildings in Torrens Park, now Scotch College, Adelaide, with Woods.

He designed the original wing of the Adelaide Children's Hospital, and won second place for his design of a bridge over the River Torrens.

During the 1880s, McMinn was commissioned the South Australian Company to design a set of buildings at no. 187-207 Rundle Street, Adelaide. These were built in stages from east to west, and included the Austral Hotel as well the building which later housed Malcolm Reid & Co. Ltd furniture emporium. The first building, comprising 14 shops and a hotel to provide accommodation in the three storeys above, were completed in January 1880. The section later occupied by Malcolm Reid was completed last, around 1883. The completed group occupies almost two town acres, and is unusual in Adelaide in South Australia on account of its extent. The buildings are heritage-listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.

Later life and death McMinn died in North Adelaide on 14 February 1884. Mary McMinn (c. 1830 – 6 October 1918) arrived separately in July 1850 aboard Sultana, married William Brewer (c. 1812 – 30 December 1877) in 1857, lived in Kapunda Eliza Anna Brewer (died 1918? ) married John Rudall (died 1897) in 1864; married James Bray in 1899 Annie Josephine Brewer (born 1864) married David McIntosh Cameron in 1885 Mary Hamill Brewer (born 1866) married Mayoh Miller in 1886, lived Avoca Station, New South Wales Frank Ernest Brewer (Born 21 Feb 1859) Married (6 June 1882) Rose Jane Hammond (b 26 July 1861), Lived in Adelaide and Fremantle WA Jane McMinn (30 September 1831 – c. June 1914) married F. S. (Frederick Simeon) Carus Driffield (c. 1828 – 18 June 1889) on 22 January 1856 Three unmarried sisters: Sally or Sallie, Martha, and Elizabeth R. "Lizzie" McMinn (c. 1840 – 26 December 1937) ran a small school for girls from the family home, then in February 1884 founded Tormore House School, North Adelaide, which they ran for 13 years. They left for England on 15 December 1897, retiring to "Wolverton Gardens" in Ealing. Gilbert Rotherdale McMinn (1841–1924), worked as a surveyor on the Overland Telegraph Line, in February 1871 discovering Simpsons Gap, which proved a better route for the line. He served in various senior public service positions in the Northern Territory. McMinn Street, Darwin is named for him. Joseph McMinn (c. 1846 – 9 February 1888) married Charlotte Isabella "Chatty" Wells (1856– ) of Penola, was also a surveyor on the Overland Telegraph, later in charge of Willowie State forest, Wilmington, South Australia, where he died. William D'Urney McMinn (1884– ) married Clarice Duck (died 6 May 1938) at Rosedale, Victoria on 15 March 1917 and had a large family