Dermatologist, Historian & Soldier

Location: Pres*P*13

Born on 13 March 1882 at Carr’s Plains, near Stawell, Victoria the seventh of nine children to Holford Highlord Wettenhall (1840-1920, Stawell Cemetery) and Mary née Dennis (1846-1917) and younger brother of Marcus (q.v.). After his education at Geelong College and Ormond College, University of Melbourne (MB, BS, 1906) he spent a period as resident at Hobart Hospital, Tasmania; until his retirement in 1959 his medical practice was exclusively in dermatology where his major interests “were related to radium and superficial X-ray therapy which he used for a wide range of conditions”. During the Great War he joined the (British) Royal Army Medical Corps (1914-16) serving on the hospital ship Panama in Malta and later in France with the 9th Royal Munster Fusiliers returning to Australia in March 1916; he transferred to the Australian Army Medical Corps for the duration of the war until his discharge in 1919 with the rank of Major.  

For many years Wettenhall was honorary consultant to the Melbourne Hospital (1922-42) and was a foundation fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (1938) and Australian College of Dermatology (1948). “Friendly, philanthropic and generous with his knowledge he could appear autocratic”, for many years he became a respected figure in Victoria’s historical circles, as foundation president of the Genealogical Society of Victoria (1941-49) and president of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria (1952-55); with the noted author Bob Croll (1869-1947) he co-wrote “Dr Alexander Thomson: a pioneer of Melbourne and founder of Geelong” (1937). 

Residing at Aberfeldie – 577 Toorak Road, Toorak, Wettenhall died on 21 July 1965 survived by two sons of his marriage to Jane neé Creswick (1884-1928); Henry (q.v.) became a noted paediatrician and ornithologist. In June 1925, Wettenhall donated £0-10-0 to The Gordon Memorial Committee for the erection of the statue of Adam Lindsay Gordon (q.v.).

Source: 
ADB Volume 12 1891-1939 (Smy-Z).
The Age 23 July 1965.
The Argus 25 June 1925 p10.
Allen, H. (ed), “University of Melbourne Record of Active Service 1914-18” (1926).
Corfield, J & Persse, M., “Geelong Grammarians. A Biographical Register Vol I 1855-1913” (1996).

(Image reproduced with permission of The Genealogical Society of Victoria Inc)

Politician & Farmer

Location: CofE*Y*958

Born on 26 January 1876 at Carr’s Plains, near Stawell, Victoria the son of Holford Highlord Wettenhall (1840-1920, Stawell Cemetery) and Mary née Dennis (1846-1917); his father was a noted pastoralist and politician in the Wimmera district. Marcus the sixth born of nine children and elder brother of Roland (q.v.) was educated at the local state school, Toorak and later Geelong Colleges before matriculating in 1893 later becoming an outstanding athlete. 

But he was always destined to follow in his father’s footsteps; by 1907 he was actively managing the 400-acre orchard Glen Holford, near Pomonal, on the northern slopes of the Grampians established by his father around 1890 until his health broke. A subsequent subdivision of the Carr’s Plains run in 1909 saw Wettenhall acquire 3000 acres which he held until 1923 and was a pioneer of the bulk handling of wheat in Victoria having designed and built his own silos at Mernong in 1919. Prominent with the Central Fruitgrowers’ Association of Victoria, Wettenhall had his sights on the political arena; in 1912 he joined the People’s Party to join the fight against King O’Malley’s (c1858-1953) Commonwealth Bank scheme only to become a supporter of the bank by 1920 describing socialism as “flabby golliwog”. 

Elected to the seat of Lowan in the Legislative Assembly (1920-35) for the Victorian Farmers’ Union he became briefly honorary minister (Sep 1923-Mar 1924) (“few saw any signs of political genius to justify early promotion”) he was of that rare visionary breed whose advocacy on many issues notably transport made him “years ahead of his colleagues” whose speeches were “frequent, vigorous and well argued”. Described as “of middle height and medium build, with brown hair, pale complexion and sharp features”, in 1928 Wettenhall was compared to the great Duke of Wellington – “a hard master, sparing of praise, lavish of censure, often brusque to the edge of brutality” who as a politician had come “thus far and no further, who cannot cherish very fond hopes of one day sitting in the premier’s chair”. 

Member of the Federal Council of Woolgrowers (1926-35) and councillor of the University of Melbourne (1925-40), in 1917the family moved to Melbourne and resided at 39 St. George’s Crescent, Ashburton where he died a day before his 75th birthday; in 1920 his second daughter Phyllis died just a day after her paternal grandfather aged eight-years old. Married to Leila née Warner (1880-1973), they had six children; Holford (b 1903; married Grace née Howett), Thirza (married John Cox), Marcus (1911-1943; married Ada née Crooks), Phyllis (1912-1920), Peter (b 1913; married Esther née Good) and Hugh (b 1917; married Sybella daughter of Hugh Macindoe (q.v.).

Source: 
ADB Volume 12 1891-1939 (Smy-Z).
Browne, G., “Biographical Register of the Victorian Parliament 1900-94” (1985).
The Argus 1 November 1920.
The Age 26 January 1951.
The Herald 25 January 1951.
Geelong Advertiser 14 January 1928.
Corfield, J & Persse, M., “Geelong Grammarians. A Biographical Register Vol I 1855-1913” (1996).

Paediatrician, Ornithologist & Conservationist

Location: Pres*P*14

Buried in the same plot as his parents, Wettenhall was born on 18 September 1915 in England the son of Roland (q.v.), a medical practitioner serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps and Jane née Creswick (1884-1928); after his education at Geelong College (1930-34), he graduated with honours at the University of Melbourne (MD, MBBS, 1940) before being appointed resident medical officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The following year he enlisted as Surgeon-Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy (1941-44) on HMAS Nepal (UK and East Africa) and HMAS Shropshire (New Guinea) until ill-health forced his discharge.  

On his return Wettenhall began a lifelong association with the Royal Children’s Hospital (1948-90) where he became fascinated with paediatric endocrinology – the science of hormonal disorders in children – he recognised an association between neonatal goitre and maternal asthma; he served as senior physician (1948-73), endocrinologist (1973-80) and honorary consulting endocrinologist (1980-90). As Australia’s first specialist paediatric endocrinologist, in 1962 he established the Endocrine Clinic at the hospital and internationally recognised for his clinical trials of oestrogen for tall girls and oxandrolone for short boys; in later years he found it distressing that a minority of those felt they had suffered as a result of treatment and supported follow-up studies. 

Wettenhall was a keen ornithologist and conservationist. His love of birds was ignited by yellow robins at the family’s beach-house at Mount Martha; his private collection of some 300 fine volumes covering natural history, Australiana and Antarctica was sold in 1995 to fund the Norman Wettenhall Foundation to support “the protection, maintenance and understanding of Australian living nature and the environment and habitat with which it exists, with particular emphasis on bird life”. Described as “urbane, involved, talkative, persistent, gregarious, generous and fun”, he was associated with many organisations including National Trust (1956-77), Australian Conservation Foundation (1965-69), National Museum of Victoria (1963-78) and council (1978-83), inaugural chairman Heide Park and Art Gallery (1980-88) and Geelong College (1960-91) of which Wettenhall House is named.

Dr Gary Warne who succeeded Wettenhall as Director of Endocrinology said;

“as a clinician, Norman was warm and compassionate, and a meticulous observer and recorder of information. As a person he was blessed with an extraordinary good nature, boundless energy and enthusiasm for a wide range of causes, and youthful exuberance. He had a profound sense of contentment about him and was never remotely envious of anyone else, yet neither did he ever doubt his own ability. He was generous to his colleagues and never sought fame or recognition for himself”.  

Wettenhall died on 27 November 2000 after a short illness. In 1947 he married Joan née Lamb and they had four children; Gilbert (b 1948), Adam (b 1951), Jane and Helen.

Source: 
The Age 9 December 2000.
Endocrine Society of Australia newsletter (April 2001).
Bright Sparcs Biographical entry – (http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P003207b.htm).
Corfield, J & Persse, M., “Geelong Grammarians. A Biographical Register Vol I 1855-1913” (1996).

Soldier, Sportsman & Stockbroker

Location: CofE*V*163

The son of the well-known manufacturer and merchant, Hugo Wertheim (q.v.) and Sophie Emilie (1864-1953), Wertheim was born in Melbourne on 22 December 1893. Educated at Melbourne Church of England (Boys’) Grammar School (1901-10), for a period he worked for his father’s business and was a champion tennis player who for many years represented Victoria in interstate championships (1913-27); in 1922 he played for Australia in a Davis Cup tie against the former Czechoslovakia. 

Enlisting on 16 June 1915 as a Private with the 23rd Battalion AIF, Wertheim arrived at Gallipoli just over a month before the end of that fatal campaign before transferring to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion as 2nd Lieutenant on 19 March 1916 and took part in the units’ operations at Pozieres in July-August where it lost 202 casualties; and at Flers in November. In January 1917, he was seconded for duty with the Intelligence Corps and posted to the 2nd Australian Divisional Headquarters; he figured prominently in operations during 1917, in particular Menin Road in September when steps were taken to prepare for the inevitable German counter-attack. Historian CEW Bean wrote;

“to obtain early news of it [the counter-attack], German prisoners as they arrived were taken to forward centres for interrogation, and by 7 a.m. Captain Wertheim…learned from one of them that the counter-attack division for that sector lay at Moorslede and Waterdamhoek, and would probably come up in omnibuses and debouch about 9 or 10 a.m. from the north of Polygon Wood”. 

Largely for the important role he played in the campaign by providing this vital information of the planned counter-attack, Wertheim had the privilege of being mentioned in the personal despatches of the commander-in-chief of the British Army, Sir Douglas Haig on 7 November 1917. In March 1918, three months after the five Australian Divisions were finally unified into an Australian Corps, Wetheim was transferred to Corps Headquarters and took part in the great advances of that year. Three times mentioned in despatches, he returned to Australia in February 1919. 

In civilian life, Wertheim co-founded with Clive Williams a stock and share brokerage firm of “Williams & Wertheim” (Collins Street, Melbourne) and continued to play tennis until in 1929 he was struck with a debilitating illness that left him bed stricken for two years. Eighteen months before his death he defied doctor’s orders and went about his business affairs until he suddenly collapsed in the city and died at Mount St. Evin’s Hospital, East Melbourne on 11 October 1933 aged 39 survived by his wife Marjorie née Felsted and three sons. Amongst the many sporting and business luminaries to attend were Sidney Myer (Box Hill Cemetery), Henry (Harry) Hopman (1906-85), (Sir) Norman Brookes (St. Kilda Cemetery), Hector (Pat) O’Hara Wood (1891-1961) and members of the Baillieu establishment family.

Source: 
The Argus 13 October 1933.
The Sun News-Pictorial 13 October 1933.
The Age 13 & 14 October 1933.
The Herald 12 & 13 October 1933.
Bean, C., “The Official History of Australia in the War 1914-18” .
“Liber Melburniensis”, Centenary Edition (1965).
Kiddle, J. (ed), “War Services of Old Melburnians 1914-18” (1923).
Allen, H. (ed), “The University of Melbourne Record of Active Service” (1926).
AWM “Biographical Cards for the Official History 1914-18”, AWM140

Merchant & Manufacturer

Location: CofE*V*165

Born on 12 July 1854 at Hesse Cassel, Germany, Wertheim migrated to Victoria in 1875 “thoroughly equipped with a sound business and commercial training” not to mention an abundance of courage, determination and perseverance to succeed; against well-established businesses with unlimited capital and a misconception that German goods were “cheap and nasty” he immediately established a manufacturing firm as well as an importer of Hapsburg pianos, American organs and Electra cycles. 

For some four decades, “Wertheim” became synonymous with sewing machines; over time the firm “developed into one of the best known and largest establishments of the kind in the Australian States…and acquired a world-wide reputation”. After importing pianos for many years, the company went on to build a factory in Bendigo Street Richmond (later Channel 9 studios from 1955) designed by Nahum Barnet at a cost of some £25,000; it was opened with much fanfare in October 1908 attended by over 300 persons amongst them Andrew Fischer (1862-1928) who was to become prime minister the following month, Senator Sir Robert Best (1856-1946), Senator William Trenwith (q.v.), Melbourne Lord Mayor Sir Henry Weedon (Melbourne General Cemetery), Samuel Mauger (Melbourne General Cemetery), Frank Tate (Box Hill Cemetery), the musicians Percy Grainger (1882-1961) and George Marshall-Hall (q.v.), Archdeacon William Hindley (Boroondara Cemetery) and Carl Pinschoff (Boroondara Cemetery). The premier Thomas Bent (q.v.), never one to miss an occasion made a typical egotistic speech saying that “he had helped to ensure the land for the factory” while the Prime Minster Alfred Deakin (St. Kilda Cemetery) in a characteristic speech noted that the factory was the first in Victoria to make pianos and paid tribute to “the enterprise, courage and the capacity of Wertheim deserved all honour”. The last word was left to Theodore Fink (1855-1942) who referred to Wertheim “as having grown from the controversial position of a merchant into a patriotic position of manufacturer. Few men with such opportunities for a life of ease would have embarked on such an enterprise” in a statement which was greeted by the dignitaries with loud applause. 

Wertheim died the day before his 65th birthday having been in failing health for some time; his home Gotha – 24 Kensington Road, South Yarra which was built in the 1880s at a cost of £40,000 was demolished in the mid 1930s. The former Victorian premier Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC (b 1948) is a descendant of Hugo Wertheim.

Source: 
The Argus 22 October 1908 & 19 June 1935.
The Age 12 July 1919 & 2 September 1938.
Melbourne Punch 29 October 1908 & 17 July 1919.
The Australasian 30 January 1915.
Smith, J. (ed), “Cyclopedia of Victoria” (1903).
“A Biographical Register 1788-1939” (Vol II).

(Image courtesy La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria, H42549/9)

Judge & Barrister

Location: CofE*V*212

Power, prestige and prosperity are bywords for colonial dynasties like the à Beckett family. But unlike the Clarkes, the Chirnsides and the Armytages, the à Becketts inherited a queerness out of character with their upper-class standing. Take for example, this passage in Joan Lindsay’s (1896-1984) delightful book “Time Without Clocks” (1976) describing the return to Australia with her husband (Sir) Darryl Lindsay (1889-1976);

“My Father whom we later learned had shown no marked enthusiasm at the prospect of an artist son-in-law had bicycled down to the wharf to meet us…A firm believer in established marriage, the Church of England, Debentures and the Melbourne Club, in small matters my Father had small regard for the conventions…he had arrived at the Pier bolt upright on his old-fashioned push bike across whose handlebars was strapped a long-handled tennis racquet shaped like an egg-spoon. He wore much washed white and grey striped flannel pants and for reasons best known to himself an almost threadbare sports jacket of Harris tweed. His handmade buckskin shoes were dazzlingly white. His tweed cap several sizes too large was pulled hard down over bright blue eyes half hidden by tufts of greying eyebrows”.

That Joan Lindsay’s father was at the time a senior King’s Counsel as well as an acting judge of the Supreme Court made no difference. The à Beckett heritage took little heed to matters of convention and fashion.

Theyre à Beckett Weigall (1860-1926) was a third generation member of the à Beckett dynasty, a dynasty synonymous with the law. Indeed, the à Becketts were associated with the Bar and the Bench ever since the arrival in 1846 of Theyre’s great-uncle Sir William à Beckett (1806-69) who was appointed a resident judge (1846-52) and later the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1852-57). However, it was Theyre’s grandfather, Thomas Turner à Beckett (1808-92, Melbourne General Cemetery) who was responsible for the à Beckett name being associated with the law until at least the death of William Weigall (1874-1959; Springvale Botanical Gardens) in 1959. By then, the à Beckett name had lost its place in the public’s consciouness and focus had shifted to another branch of the dynasty – the artistic Boyds.

Born on 10 February 1860 in Elsternwick, Melbourne, Theyre was the eldest child of seven children to London-born parents Theyre Weigall (1831-1911) and Marian née à Beckett (1841-1919, CofE*O*93) who married in April 1859. Theyre senr arrived in 1854 on board the John Banks not long after his future wife. The story goes that Weigall was chosen as associate to Justice Henry Stonor after his appointment to the Supreme Court Bench before constitutional government. An accusation of being a party to improper practices led to Stonor’s hasty return to England to successfully clear his name leaving Weigall “a strange young man in a strange young country”. Though admitted to the Bar in December 1860, he never practiced law, instead serving in the Treasury as Curator of Intestate Estates until his retirement in 1895; he died on 20 November 1911 aged 80 and is buried with his son Alfred (1863-88) in CofE*U*122. Theyre jnr and his brothers attended the traditional à Beckett family school – Melbourne Boys’ Grammar – from 1870 to 1875 under the brilliant Dr John Bromby (1809-89, Melbourne General Cemetery). Head of the school in his final two years, he won the matriculation classics exhibition; Sir Edward Mitchell, KC (1855-1941, St. Kilda Cemetery) was a fellow student and life long friend in the law and sport.

From Melbourne Grammar to Melbourne University, (Trinity College, 1875-80) Weigall followed the only vocation then known to the à Becketts – law (LL.B, 1880; LL.M, 1886). Not that he needed any encouragement; his uncle (Sir) Thomas à Beckett (1836-1919, St. Kilda Cemetery) was a rising equity lawyer and lecturer in law of procedure at the University (1874-81). It was while at university that Weigall became a respected rival and lifelong friend of (Sir) Isaac Isaacs (1855-1948, Melbourne General Cemetery) and the two were to share first-class honours with Weigall winning the exhibition in 1877-78. Called to the Bar on 5 April 1881, Weigall read in his uncle’s chambers specialising in equity law, procedure and company law; when Uncle Tom was elevated to the Bench in September 1886, Weigall took over a large part of the practice. Weigall’s expertise was recognised in the administration of trusts and the “comparatively firm foundation…of trusts in Victoria …is attributed in no small degree to him”. By the late 1890s, Weigall’s rising reputation attracted the attention of The Australasian who noted his courtroom manner when “unravelling a complex argument, his habit is to support his right elbow with the other arm, while he saws the air with his outstretched hand, fixing his gaze the while on a remote part of the ceiling”. A King’s Counsel from 20 November 1906 until his death, Weigall practised widely in the Victorian Supreme Court and the High Court; in 1919 he was one of only three practising KCs in Victoria.

Outside the law, Weigall loved the open air. Tennis was a life long passion; he was president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Victoria (1909-25). And apart from cycling, he loved nothing more than the monthly walks in the country with the Wallaby club.

Described as a “kindly, humorous and witty man, charming and courteous”, Weigall’s elevation to the Bench and likely Knighthood was assured, but for his opposition to capital punishment. First offered an appointment to the Supreme Court in 1920, he refused, but later accepted a temporary appointment (1923-26) – a position he held until his sudden death from pneumonia on 8 June 1926. As a judge, his rulings were sound, though slow, verbose and cautious earning him the good humour of his peers. Acknowledged as an equity specialist, he never sat in criminal cases.

The end for Weigall came suddenly and unexpected. Having sat in Chambers on the Thursday before his demise, he was suffering a mild cold. When the Courts rose, he walked to South Yarra with Justice (Sir) Frederick Mann (1869-1958) much for the worse of wear and his condition developed into influenza. On his doctor’s orders, he remained in bed throughout the weekend until his condition became serious on Sunday night and he died the following morning. News of Weigall’s demise caused an outpouring of grief amongst the legal profession like no other then or since. The Chief Justice Sir William ‘Iceberg’ Irvine (1858-1943) spoke with great emotion when he said;

“The great catastrophe which has fallen upon us makes it extremely difficult for me to give expression to our feelings…His loss to the Bench and to the community is irreparable. Though all people knew of him as a distinguished lawyer for many years, it is only those of us who were closely associated the few short years that he occupied a position on the Bench, who are capable of estimating the true measure of his greatness as a judge…he was capable of mastering any judicial problem that came before him…his place will be almost impossible to fill. He was a fast friend, a loyal colleague, and a very distinguished judge”.

And to no one was the news of Weigall’s death more severe than Sir Isaac Isaacs who said of his fellow judge that “he never lost a friend or made an enemy”. The cream of the legal profession from Sir Adrian Knox (1863-1932), Chief Justice of the High Court down attended an impressive funeral at the Brighton General Cemetery that left the Weigall family home St. Margaret’s – 151 Alma Road, East St. Kilda punctually at 3:00pm. Unpunctuality was anathema to Weigall, as Joan Lindsay put it, the à Becketts were “a family of clock winders, conscientious followers of road maps and railway guides”.

Source: 
ADB Volume 12 1891-1939 (Smy-Z).
The Argus 9 June 1926 p1 & p18, 10 June 1926 p10.
The Age 9 June 1916 p 8, 10 June 1926 p9.
The Australasian 25 Dec 1897 p1411, 25 Nov 1911 p1402 & 12 Jun 1926 p1469.
The Herald 8 June 1926 p1.
The Sun News-Pictorial 9 June 1926 p2 & 10 June 1926 p3.
The Sydney Morning-Herald 9 June 1926 p16.
Lindsay, J., “Time Without Clocks” (1994) p8-9.
Lindsay, D., “The Leafy Tree. My Family” (1965) p131-132.
“Liber Melburniensis”, Centenary Edition (1965) p37.
The Melburnian Vol LI (No.2) 26 Aug 1926 p147-148.
Grimwade, R. (ed), “The Bohemians Melbourne” (1931).
Dean, A., “A Multitude of Counsellors” (1968) p185.

Athlete & Physical Culturist

Location: Meth*E*13

Born on 27 March 1882 at Brighton, Melbourne to a large family of German-born Robert Weber, a market-gardener and Eliza née Head; details of his education is unknown but he distinguished himself early in his career as a competitive sportsman in sprints, hurdles (1900) and cycling (1902). 

Weber was later attracted to the loosely termed “physical culture movement” then gaining popularity but still largely a freak novelty, and around 1908 opened a business at 155 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne – “Weber & Rice Health and Strength School” which soon became part of the Melbourne sporting scene; ‘Professor’ Weber taught the fine art of “wrestling, correct breathing and poses plastiques”. At a time when fitness was for the sporting fraternity, Weber was beyond the times in a brave attempt to see a typically sedate mainstream public take up a more active life; he also helped to create an avenue for aspiring sportsmen and future sporting coaches. 

Described as “six feet (182.9cm) tall and fourteen stone (88.9kg), beautifully portioned, handsome as well as strong”, he resided at 2 Victoria Crescent Mont Albert where he died suddenly from heart failure (coronary occlusion) on 20 November 1930, aged 48; Weber’s second wife, Ivy née Filshie (1892-1976) widow of Thomas Mitchell (d 1917) whom he married on 7 March 1919 was the second women elected to the Victorian Parliament and the first at a general election (1937).

Source: 
ADB Volume 12 1891-1939 (Smy-Z).
The Argus 21 & 22 November 1930.

Company Director

Location: CofE*U*53

Born on 13 December 1866 at Geelong, the son of Thomas Webb (1830-98) and his wife Ellen née Webb (1836-1924). After his education at Geelong Grammar School (1877-81) in which he matriculated and passed the Civil Service Exam (1881), he went on the become “a leading figure in shipping and banking circles” as chairman of Huddart Parker Ltd and the Commercial Bank of Australia (1920-50) serving as a director for 36 years. Webb also held directorships with Australian National Airways, Hebbern Collieries and Metropolitan Coal. 

He died on 14 November 1951 and was interred two days later in the same family plot.

Source: 
Corfield, J & Persse, M., “Geelong Grammarians. A Biographical Register Vol I 1855-1913” (1996).

If you have any further information to add to this biography, please contact us. All contributions will be gratefully acknowledged.

Architect

Location: CofE*U*54

Charles Webb who went on to design some of the most widely recognised buildings of Melbourne was born at Sudbury, Suffolk, England on 26 November 1821 the son of William Webb, a builder and Elizabeth née Hayward; after his education at Sudbury Academy and apprenticeship with a London architect, he followed in the footsteps of his brother James (q.v.) and migrated to Port Phillip (Victoria) arriving 2 June 1849 on the Spartan; shortly after both brothers formed a successful architectural and surveying partnership (1849-54) their most important early commission being the design of the original St. Pauls’ Church, Swanston Street (1850) and Mac’s Hotel, Franklin Street (1853), but mostly houses in the Brighton locality including Chilton – 1 Wellington Street (1853). 

In partnership with Thomas Taylor (1854-58), Webb designed the Gothic style Church of England Boys’ Grammar School, South Yarra (1856) noted for its “simplicity and lack of ostentation, dignity and functional suitability”; St. Andrew’s Church, Brighton (1856) and Christ Church, South Yarra (1856). Webb then practised on his own for the next thirty years (1858-88) when two sons – Charles and Alfred – joined him in the firm “C Webb & Sons” – 161 Collins Street. A contemporary of Lloyd Tayler (q.v.), the list of prominent buildings still standing alludes to Webb’s greatness as an architect and his belief to build “something permanently rather that will be used only temporarily”; he once wrote;

“to be a good and clever architect one must accumulate in the mind a great fund of material to work on. Study well what others have done, make their ideas your own, and they by study and application will generate or engender others”. 

These include the Gothic Revival-styled Church of Christ, Swanston Street (1863); Wesley College, Prahran (1864) (“an elegant structure in the plain style of Italian architecture”); the classical Renaissance-styled Royal Arcade, Bourke Street (1869); Christ Church, Dingley (1872); the Italianate mansion Mandeville Hall – Mandeville Crescent, Toorak (1876); John Knox Presbyterian Church, Gardenvale (1876); the £23,500 South Melbourne Town Hall (1878); Tasma Terrace – Parliament Place, East Melbourne (1878); the Tudor-style South Melbourne Primary School – Dorcas Street (1880); Mosspennoch – Clarendon Street, East Melbourne (1881) for James Purves QC (1843-1910); the Grand Hotel (Windsor), Spring Street (1884); and Charsfield – St. Kilda Road (1889). Described by a descendant as “a tall man, erect of posture and immaculate of dress, smooth hair and a fluffy white beard framing a serene face”, Webb was a foundation member of the Victorian Institute of Architects (1856) and president in 1882-83. 

A wealthy man by the 1880s with an estate of nearly £30,000, Webb died at the home he designed in 1865, Farleigh – Park Street, Brighton on 23 January 1898 aged 76; his wife Emma née Bridges (d 1893) whom he married in December 1851 predeceased him.

Source: 
ADB Volume 6 1851-90 (R-Z).
“Ancestor” (September 2002).
Brighton Southern Cross 29 January 1898.
“The Victorian Historical Magazine” (August-November 1970).

(Image reproduced from “The Victorian Historical Magazine”, August-November 1970).

Parliamentary Official

Location: CofE*V*206

Born at St. Kilda, Melbourne on 14 April 1859 the son of Scottish-born Thomas Watson. After his education at Wesley College he entered the counting-house of “McNaughton, Love & Co” (Flinders Lane) before joining the Railway department (1875-82). In 1882 he was selected by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Peter Lalor (Melbourne General Cemetery) to fill the position of assistant clerk of committees and accountant and later secretary to the Speaker (1882-88); he then rose rapidly through the service becoming sergeant-at-arms, secretary to the Railway Standing Committee (1890-92) under Thomas Bent (q.v.), second clerk assistant, clerk of private bills, and clerk of committees. By 1902 he was Clerk of Legislative Assembly (1902-10) before his final appointment as Clerk of Legislative Council and Clerk of Parliaments (1910-12). Described as “capable, earnest and zealous”, Watson published “The First Fifty Years of Responsible Government in Victoria” (1905) (“a book which has ever since been accepted as a standard work of reference”). 

In 1888 he married Kathleen née Hall and they resided at Glendora – Nepean Highway, Elsternwick where he died on 5 December 1912 after suffering a breakdown some two years previously; The Age commented that;

“Mr Watson was a man of ceaseless energy and industry, and it was his devotion to his duties that undoubtedly shortened his life. He had exceptional ability as an administrator and organiser, and these qualities enabled him to bring the work of a large number of Parliamentary officials under his control to its present high state of efficiency”. 

The Premier William Watt (1871-1946) paid tribute to Watson’s personal qualities saying that “he had shown unfailing courtesy and splendid energy and address. His genial and sincere nature and warm heart had won him a deep place in the affections of the House”, while the Governor Sir John Fuller (1864-1915) in a letter to the Premier said that;

“the terribly sudden death of Mr TG Watson has brought to an end the career of a singularly honourable and faithful servant, and leaves a gap in the official Parliamentary life of Victoria which it will not be easy to fill. Both Lady Fuller and I will be glad if you will convey to Mrs Watson and the members of her family our most sincere condolence, and at the same time our appreciation of the high character and sterling qualities of the friend that we have lost”.

In a rain-drenched burial service, so high was Watson held in esteem that both houses of Parliament adjoined for the first time in respect for an officer of Parliament.

Source: 
The Argus 6 & 9 December 1912.
The Age 6 & 9 December 1912.
The Herald 6 December 1912.
“A Biographical Register 1788-1939” (Vol II).
Smith, J. (ed), “Cyclopedia of Victoria” (1903).

(Image reproduced with kind permission of the Victorian Parliament Library)