Alfred Edward Simpson

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Alfred Edward Simpson (29 June 1868 – 9 September 1940) was an architect in South Australia, for 18 years that State's Architect in Chief.

caricature by J. H. Chinner

History[edit]

Simpson was born in Woodville, South Australia, the only child of Edward Robert Simpson (c. 1833 – 11 July 1900) of the South Australian Company and Jane Mossman "Jeanie" Simpson née Davie (c. 1837 – 15 April 1910) who married on 28 February 1865. Jeanie married again, to William Gilbert MP on 14 April 1904.[1]

Simpson was educated at Prince Alfred College and the University of Adelaide before being articled to D. Garlick & Son architects. He was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Architects and on 17 March 1890 joined the S.A. Works and Buildings Department as a draftsman, and was promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Public Buildings in November 1917 and Superintendent in 1920.[2]

Simpson was elected a Fellow of the South Australian Institute of Architects in 1914. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.[3] He was awarded the Imperial Service Order in June 1936.[4]

He retired in June 1938[5] and died two years later.

Notable works[edit]

Family[edit]

Simpson married Frances Isabella Kell (died 7 November 1946 at vicarage, North Adelaide) on 7 September 1898.

  • Brian Kell Simpson (1899– ) married Elsie Gwendoline Sandford Colquhoun (1901– ) in 1927
  • Dorothy Mary Kell "Mollie" Simpson (10 March 1903 – 19 May 1970), one of South Australia's first physiotherapists, married Rev., later Canon, Horace Percy Finnis (died 1960) on 6 January 1945.
  • Bessie Hope Kell Simpson (1905– ) married Eric Alfred Burden (1903–1944) in 1935
    • John Edward Burden (b. 27 December 1935)
    • Robert Michael Burden (b. 25 May 1937) married (1) Margaret Anne Leahy (1937-1996) and (2) Margaret Stewart-Jones on 30 June 2000
      • Michael John Burden (Michael Burden) (b. 14 March 1960)
      • Alison Anne Burden (b. 4 October 1961)
    • Catherine Mary Burden (b. 27 May 1942)

They had a home in Watson Avenue, Toorak Gardens. They were not clearly related to the South Australian family of industrialists.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Family Notices". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XLI, no. 12, 218. South Australia. 22 June 1904. p. 1. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Concerning People". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXXV, no. 22, 826. South Australia. 6 January 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ a b Collins, Susan (2008). "Architects of South Australia:Simpson, Alfred Edward". Architecture Museum, University of South Australia.
  4. ^ "Adelaide peoiple honored". The News (Adelaide). Vol. XXVI, no. 4, 031. South Australia. 23 June 1936. p. 3. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Designer of Parliament Additions Retires at 70". The News (Adelaide). Vol. XXX, no. 4, 647. South Australia. 16 June 1938. p. 4. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Teachers' College". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. XCII, no. 26, 706. South Australia. 22 March 1927. p. 10. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.