1890 Born in Melbourne, 7th April
1900 Studied at Melbourne Grammar School, then spent sometime
working as a junior at several Melbourne practices notably with
Alec Eggleston while studying architecture construction at The
Working Men's College (now RMIT) and in Sydney afterwards. He
spent a couple of years joining the army and being sent to London,
where he took advantage of the opportunity to study at the Architectural
Association, Town Planning Institute and also at the Institute
of Sanitary Engineers.
1913 Stephenson's first experience in health care field
as Assistant Architect for Wooroloo Sanitorium,WA.
1920 Stephenson passed his examination, became an Associate
of the R.I.B.A. He returned to Melbourne, then set up a practice
with Percy Meldrum, which projects had scattered around three
states from the beginning (Melbourne, Canberra and Tasmania).
He also took charge of the Architectural School at Swinburne
Technical College (-1923).
1924 Mrs. Lachlan Mackinnon, the president of the Children's
Hospital, commissioned the firm's first opportunity for health
care project.
1925 - 26 Stephenson & Meldrum had completed three
minor hospital commissions.
1927 Stephenson went to the US to study the design and
equipment development in hospitals and returned to Melbourne
after three months. He changed the direction of his firm's concentration
to hospital design, as he saw the field was promising, also carrying
forward his interest while studying in England where he took
hospital design as his thesis subject.
1930 He joined the R.A.I.A as an Associate.
1933 Stephenson was raised to a Fellow of the R.I.B.A.
1935 He was raised to the same grade in the R.A.I.A.
1937 Percy Meldrum resigned (to begin practice with Arthur
Noad), the firm became 'Stephenson & Turner'.
1941 The firm won the Street Prize of The Royal Institute
of Architects (Pathological Block at the Women's Hospital, Carlton).
Sulman Award (King George V Hospital in Sydney).
1946 "Sulman' and 'Street' prizes for 'Yarralla Military
Hospital' in Sydney.
1947 Stephenson was awarded the 'Royal Gold Medal' of
the R.I.B.A (the first and so far the only Australian to be awarded).
1964 Max Collard (one of the presidents of the R.A.I.A)
awarded him the 1963 'Gold Medal' of the R.A.I.A.
1967 Stephenson passed away. His partners at the time
were:
L.J.Bishop, D.V.Dunn, J.D.Fisher, R.G.Freeman, E.E.Harvie, L.A.C.Haug,
G.l.Moline, G.R.Philip, K.K.Sedgfield, A.P.Stephenson, R.R.Trengrove,
J.H.Wilcox.
PROJECTS
1930 Jessie McPherson wing, Queen Victoria Memorial
Hospital for women and children (William Street, Melbourne-demolished).
In this project, Stephenson introduced new systems for the constructions
and equipment. Also, Miss Ellison Harvie, his first articled
student who became a partner in the firm, broke new ground by
designing smaller wards.
1932 - 33 Former Newspaper House (247-249 Collins Street,
Melbourne).Previously a Renaissance Revival warehouse, Stephenson
& Meldrum won the competition to remodel the ffaçade
for Sir Keith Murdoch (one of Newspaper 'baron'). Murdoch's aspiration
indicated the distinguishing mosaic mural by Napier Waller.
1933 St.Vincent's
Hospital (Victoria Parade, East Melbourne). The firm's first
major hospital project. The designs derived from Stephenson's
research and travel for hospitals. Stephenson, Turner and Sedgfield
(a student worked in his office) turned all the 'old formulas'
for hospitals upside down.
1934 Mercy Hospital
(Grey Street, East Melbourne). With clean, sweeping balconies,
notable for their long and deeply shadowed figures and also the
full expressions of verticals. Ever since it arose, Stephenson's
name has been associated with a handsome, highly studied form
of Modernism. The hospital is Stephenson's big break.
1935 Freemasons
Hospital (Corner Albert & Clarendon Streets, East Melbourne).
Nearby The Mercy Hospital, Freemasons' plan is more neatly arranged
and façade is more resolved.
1936 - 41 Royal Melbourne Hospital (132 Grattan Street,
Parkville). The construction began in October 1939. Client: The
Committee of Management of the century old Royal Melbourne Hospital
who finally won permission from the Victorian Government to replace
its mid-city hospital to a spacious 11 acres new site in Parkville.
Full of Stephenson's new innovations and departures in design,
equipment and technology, said to be the most developed hospital
project of his.
1939 King George V Pathological Block,
Women's Hospital (Swanston Street, Carlton). 1941 Meritorious
Street Architecture Medal, awarded in 1942. (RVIA Journal, Jan-Feb
1938,pg 241 ; RVIA Journal May 1939 pg. 74-85). Classical expression
of the late 30's and early 40's.
1939 - 41Former Royal Banking Chambers (287-301 Collins
Street, Melbourne). Frederick Romberg, who at the time worked
at Stephenson & Turner, designed the all-glass cornice level
restaurant. A mix of Classicism and Streamline, good example
of modern detailing (polished stone podium, entrance framing
and foyer interior).
Bibliography:
'Sir Arthur Stephenson - Australian Architect'
'The Making of a Profession',Freeland.
'Melbourne Architecture',Goad.
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