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Jim’s
Australiana Spot – 2UE - March 13, 2011
Francis Greenway was born near Bristol son of Francis Greenway and
from a family of mason, architects and builders. His family had been
quarrymen, builders and masons for generations. He was 5 feet 3 inches
high, broad, with hazel eyes, auburn hair and a ruddy complexion.
He oozed self confidence, was artistic, temperamental and was quick
to take offence and to anger.
Greenway became an architect "of some eminence" in
Bristol and nearby Bath His only remaining building in the United
Kingdom is the Clifton Club. He also designed Christ Church Downend.
In 1809 he and his brothers became
bankrupt over a failed housing development and in 1812 he pleaded
guilty "under the advice
of his friends", to forging a document - it seems to have been
a document of agreement forged in order to protect his character
in the bankruptcy case.
He was sentenced to death; this sentence was later commuted to 14
years transportation. He spent time in the hulks waiting transportation.
Greenway had been friendly with Admiral
Arthur Phillip who was living in retirement at Bath, and Phillip
wrote a letter to Governor Macquarie recommending Greenway to him.
Greenway arrived in Sydney, on the transport General Hewitt in
February 1814 his wife and children followed on another ship.
He commenced work as a colonial architect by designing houses and
additions to houses. Greenway first met Macquarie in July 1814 and
Macquarie suggested he construct a town hall and courthouse and gave
Greenway an instruction book to follow.
Greenway was so offended by this that
he responded with a letter declaring his skills suggesting his Excellency
should utilise the opportunity for a better, more classical design. "...
it is rather painful to my mind as a professional man to copy a building
that has no claim to classical proportion and character."
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Hyde Park Barracks |
St James Church |
Francis Greenway
In 1816 Greenway was involved in an incident with Captain Sanderson.
He had designed and decorated a series of Masonic aprons for members
of the local military Masonic Lodge but had not finished Captain
Sanderson's apron in time for a special event.
A letter of apology from Greenway
angered the Captain who sent for Greenway and attacked him with
a horse whip. Greenway could not defend himself against an officer
as he was a convict. He brought a case against Sanderson and won.
He was awarded damages of £5. The
main problem was that Greenway was seen as an upstart felon who dared
to engage on equal terms with officers. He was never very politically
clever or diplomatic.
Between 1816 and 1818, while still a convict, Greenway was responsible
for the design and construction of the lighthouse t South Head, it
was later pulled down and the present replica was built in 1880.
After the success of this project
he was given his ticket of leave and began acting as Civil
Architect and Assistant Engineer responsible to Captain Gill, Inspector
of Public Works on a salary of three shillings a day. He was given
a house to live in - in George Street - and went on to build many
significant buildings in the new colony.
Hyde Park Barracks, Government House Stables, The female Factory
at Parramatta, St James' Church, St Matthews' Windsor and St Lukes'
Liverpool. There are still 49 buildings in central Sydney attributed
to Greenway's designs. He was given a full pardon by Macquarie in
1819.
He was an important citizen but his arrogance made him misjudge
his authority. He made many enemies and eventually fell out with
Macquarie. Greenway had financial worries and attempted to charge
fees for the designs and for the work he had done while employed
by Macquarie. He also asked for a land grant and cattle.
After he was dismissed by the next governor, Brisbane, in 1822,
he continued to follow his profession with little success. Although
he got his grant of land, at Maitland, he does not appear to have
received the cattle.
In 1835 he advertised that "Francis Howard Greenway, arising
from circumstances of a singular nature is induced again to solicit
the patronage of his friends and the public". In other
words, he was destitute.
His long suffering wife, Mary, looked after him and their five children
and ran a school for young ladies to make ends meet. Governor Macquarie
described her as a pleasant and respectable lady.
After Mary died in 1826 he attempted to sell the house he had been
given to live in by Macquarie but the government took back the house
saying he had no right to sell it.
Greenway died at his Maitland property, probably of typhoid in 1837,
aged 59. The exact date of his death is not known. He was buried
in East Maitland cemetery on 25 September 1837, but his grave is
unmarked.
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