Basic Biographical Details Name: | Alexander Davidson | Designation: | | Born: | 17 May 1839 | Died: | 2 January 1908 | Bio Notes: | Alexander Davidson was born 17 May 1839, the son of Samuel Davidson of 9 Rose Street, Edinburgh and later of 6 William Street, Edinburgh and of Mary Kennedy. An RSA student, he was recommended to the Trustees' Academy by Walter Carmichael. He entered on 23 June 1856 and left on 30 June in the same year. He was articled to John Henderson in whose office he met and befriended the young George Henderson, also an articled clerk. After Henderson's early death in 1862, Davidson was persuaded by Rev John Cooper, related by marriage to the Davidson family, then on a visit to Edinburgh in mid-1864, to emigrate to Australia to undertake work there for Cooper's congregation. Davidson, accompanied by his young cousin and future wife, Eugenia Cooper Davidson, departed for Australia in the autumn of the same year. (They were married the following year). Within a few months he designed a church for Cooper's Presbyterian congregation at Rokewood in Victoria. After a dispute with his congregation over the payment of his stipend, Cooper left Rokewood, though Davidson remained there, gaining the patronage of local families, in particular Scottish émigrés.
In May 1867 George Henderson arrived in Australia, presumably persuaded by his friend Davidson and by the promise of colonial work. At first he acted as an unpaid associate to Davidson, though before long both Henderson and Davidson were able to send money home to assist their respective families, a number of large commissions coming their way in late 1868 and in early 1869 and the practice moved to Geelong in Victoria. A partnership was formalised in late 1869, with Davidson receiving 2/3 of the profit and the younger partner 1/3. In early 1870 the partners won the important commission of Geelong College in Newtown and in line with stylistic developments in Britain used for the first time 'constructional polychromy'. A venture in the field of speculative building in Geelong was however not a success and a series of unfortunate episodes of losing jobs to other architects and disputes with contractors (relating to a clause written by the practice in their terms of agreement about their right to be the sole judge of quality without arbitration) caused them financial difficulties. Moreover in the early 1870s there was a short depression in the wool industry and some sources of work temporarily dried up.
The first partnership ended in December 1873 and although a new one was formalised in July 1874 with Davidson now receiving 5/9 of the profits, by this time Henderson who had lived with Davidson and his wife since his arrival in Australia found this arrangement a strain. Moreover he was becoming disillusioned with the work. Henderson largely fulfilled the role of office manager and was responsible for the costing of the jobs. It is unclear how much hand he had in design work. Only occasionally did he make site visits. In December 1875 he received an offer of work from William Hay in Edinburgh and the Davidson/Henderson partnership was terminated on less than friendly terms in April 1876, Henderson sailing home later that year.
In the later 1870s Davidson, now trading under the name Alexander Davidson & Co, ran into personal and financial difficulties. Two of his children died of diptheria and he created ill feeling in Geelong when standing for election to the Town Council in Geelong by denouncing another candidate, a rival local architect. After a short-lived association with the Melbourne architect E G Ovey, formed for the construction of a hotel in Collins Street in East Melbourne he announced that he intended to conduct offices at Temple Court in Melbourne as well as at Malop Street in Geelong. A short-lived partnership with George Raymond Johnson in 1881 in the venture to reconstruct the Geelong Exhibition Building was disastrous when he failed to win the contract. A major commission for the Colac Shire Hall commission was postponed. In July 1882 he closed the Geelonmg office and left finally for Melbourne. Between June 1885 and March 1887 he held the appointment of Architect for the Melbourne Tramway Trust. He remained in Melbourne until his death from an asthma attack on 2 January 1908. In his later years he reverted to using the Jacobean style he had used as an apprentice in John Henderson's office though he always retained a passion for Medieval sources and in particular those illustrated by Viollet-le-Duc. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | ![Item 1 of 10](images/table_item.gif) | Rokewood, Victoria, Australia | Business | 1864 | 1869 | | ![Item 2 of 10](images/table_item.gif) | Geelong, Victoria, Australia | Business | 1869 | | | ![Item 3 of 10](images/table_item.gif) | Hope Street, West Geelong, Victoria, Australia | Business | After 1877 | | | ![Item 4 of 10](images/table_item.gif) | Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia | Private | c. 1881 | | | ![Item 5 of 10](images/table_item.gif) | 62, Collins Street East, Melbourne, Australia | Business | 31 July 1882 | 1884 | | ![Item 6 of 10](images/table_item.gif) | O'Connor's Chambers/100, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Australia | Business | 1884 | 1887 | | ![Item 7 of 10](images/table_item.gif) | 75, Chancery Lane, Melbourne, Australia | Business | 1888 | 1888 | | ![Item 8 of 10](images/table_item.gif) | 117, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Australia | Business | 1888 | 1893 | | ![Item 9 of 10](images/table_item.gif) | 84, Powlett Street, Melbourne, Australia | Business | 1894 | 1906 | | ![Item 10 of 10](images/table_item.gif) | 11, Madden Grove, Albert Park, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia | Private | c. 1908 | | |
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | ![Item 1 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | George Henderson | 1867 | Late 1869 | Assistant | | ![Item 2 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | J Hill Kays | After 1884 | Before 1886 | Assistant | |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | ![Item 1 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1865 | Kurac-a-Ruc Homestead | Rokewood | | Victoria | Australia | Additions | ![Item 2 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1865 | Rokewood Episcopalian Church | Rokewood | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 3 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1865 | Rokewood Presbyterian Church | Rokewood | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 4 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1866 | House, Gala | Lismore | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 5 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1867 | Residence, Barunah Plains Station | Inverleigh | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 6 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1867 | Wesleyan Church | Mortlake | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 7 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1867 | Wurrock | Rokewood | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 8 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1868 | Common School, Ondit | Ondit | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 9 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1868 | Kuruc-a-Ruc, Overseer's House | Rokewood | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 10 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1868 | Mechanics Institute | Rokewood | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 11 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1868 | Residence, Watch Hill | Colac | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 12 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1869 | Barwon Park | Winchelsea | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 13 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1869 | Episcopal Church | Colac | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 14 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1869 | Homestead Eilyer | Lake Bolac | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 15 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1869 | National Insurance Company Building | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 16 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1869 | Victoria Woollen and Cloth Manfacturing Co | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 17 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1869 | Wesleyan Parsonage | Ashby | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 18 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1870 | Belleville | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 19 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1870 | Geelong College, Newtown Hall | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 20 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1870 | Honddu double villas | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 21 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1870 | Oddfellows Hall | Colac | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 22 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1870 | Presbyterian Church | Ceres | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 23 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1870 | Residence, Myer Street | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 24 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1870 | Titanga Residence and Station Buildings | Lismore | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 25 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1871 | Erskine Church | Carlton | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 26 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1871 | Grandstand for Geelong Racing Club | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 27 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1871 | Mooleric Residence | Mount Gellibrand | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 28 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1871 | Presbyterian Manse | Shelford | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 29 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1871 | Prsebyterian Church | Skipton | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 30 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1872 | Excell Lonargon & Co warehouse | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 31 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1872 | Geelong Hospital, Lunatic Wards | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 32 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1872 | Larra Homestead, stable and offices | Lismore | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 33 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1872 | Monument to Thomas Austin | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 34 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1872 | Narrepumelap Homestead | Wickliffe | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 35 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1872 | Presbyterian Manse | Lismore | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 36 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1872 | Residence, Mount Mercer | Mount Mercer | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 37 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1872 | Sydney Hotel | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 38 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1873 | Dwelling House, Myers and Fenwick Street corner | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 39 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1873 | Eastern Cemetery, lodge and gates | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 40 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1873 | Eurack | Mount Hesse | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 41 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1873 | Geelong Infirmary and Benevolent Asylum | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | Arcaded verandahs | ![Item 42 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1873 | House, Gala | Lismore | | Victoria | Australia | Additions | ![Item 43 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1873 | Mooramong Homestead | Skipton | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 44 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1873 | Residence, Cooinda Elliots Hill | Bellarine | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 45 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1873 | Residence, Newtown Hill | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 46 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1873 | Residence, Victoria Parade | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 47 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1873 | United Methodist Free Church | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 48 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1873 | Yeo Homesread | Colac | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 49 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1874 | Barwon Woollen Mill | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 50 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1874 | George Street Woolstores | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | New store | ![Item 51 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1874 | Glen Alvie | Colac | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 52 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1874 | Synnot and Co Wool Warehouse | Gellong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 53 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1875 | Geelong Free Library | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 54 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1875 | Victoria Hotel | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 55 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1875 | Wesleyan Parsonage | Chilwell | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 56 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1876 | Fernside Villa and stables | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 57 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1876 | Homestead Eilyer | Lake Bolac | | Victoria | Australia | Additions | ![Item 58 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1876 | Mountside Homestead | Mount Hesse | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 59 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1876 | Tuppal Station Buildings | Deniliquin | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 60 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1876 | Two storey hotel | South Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 61 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1876 | Wesleyan Church | Newtown | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 62 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1877 | Barwon Woollen Mill | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | Further minor work | ![Item 63 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1877 | Bruce Residence | South Yarra | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 64 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1877 | Ducker's Auction Rooms | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 65 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1877 | Glendinning Residence | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 66 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1877 | Hall's Hotel | Balranald | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 67 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1877 | Narrepumelap Homestead | Wickliffe | | Victoria | Australia | Outbuildings, gates and gate lodge | ![Item 68 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1877 | Ondit Presbyterian Church | Ondit | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 69 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1877 | Residence, La Trobe Terrace | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 70 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1877 | Roebuck Residence | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 71 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1877 | Wickliffe Presbyterian Church | Wickliffe | | Victoria | Australia | Tower and other works | ![Item 72 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | Bush Inn | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 73 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | Clarke's Stores | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 74 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | Colac Shire Hall | Colac | | Victoria | Australia | Unexecuted designs | ![Item 75 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | Eastern Cemetery, Dr Geddie's Monument | East Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 76 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | Hotel, Collins Street | | | Melbourne | Australia | | ![Item 77 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | New buildings, Moorbool Street | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 78 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | Residence | Ascot Vale | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 79 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | Shire Hall | Meredith | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 80 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1879 | Convent of Mercy | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | New wing | ![Item 81 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1879 | Grand Pacific Hatel | Lorne | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 82 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1879 | New buildings, Lorne | Lorne | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 83 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1879 | Robinson and Cullen's Saleyards | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 84 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1880 | Avalon Homestead, North Shore | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 85 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1880 | Cottage | Appollo Bay | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 86 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1880 | Cottage | South Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 87 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1880 | Double villa, Western Beach | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 88 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1880 | New residence, Western Beach | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 89 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1880 | Pirra Homestead | Lara | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 90 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1880 | St Paul's Sunday School | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 91 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1881 | Golden Age Hotel | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | Additions and alterations | ![Item 92 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1881 | Mack's Hotel | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | Alterations and additions | ![Item 93 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1881 | RC Church, Batesford | Batesford | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 94 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1882 | Cottage, Meredith | Meredith | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 95 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1882 | Hotel, Meredith | Meredith | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 96 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1883 | Werribee Presbyterian Church and Manse | Werribee | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 97 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1885 | Brunswick Street Engine House | Fitzroy | | Melbourne | Australia | | ![Item 98 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1885 | Werribee Club | Werribee | | Victoria | Australia | Additions | ![Item 99 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1886 | Johnston Street Engine House | Collingwwod | | Melbourne | Australia | | ![Item 100 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1886 | Nicholson Street Engine House | Fitzroy | | Melbourne | Australia | | ![Item 101 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1887 | Gordon Technical School | Geelong | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 102 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1887 | North Melbourne Engine House | | | Melbourne | Australia | Attribution | ![Item 103 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1888 | Fitts House, Saltwater River | Kensington | | Sydney | Australia | | ![Item 104 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1888 | Surbiton Villa | Windsor | | Victoria | Australia | Attribution | ![Item 105 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1889 | Mechanics Institute | Sale | | Victoria | Australia | | ![Item 106 of 106](images/table_item.gif) | 1889 | Urangeline | Hawthorn | | Melbourne | Australia | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 1](images/table_item.gif) | Willingham, Allan | 1983 | Two Scots in Victoria: the architecture of Davidson and Henderson | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 1](images/table_item.gif) | Argus | 25 November 1865 | | Melbourne | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | ![Item 1 of 1](images/table_item.gif) | Courtesy of Mark Turnbull, Clive Lucas Stapleton & Partners, Sydney | Information sent to Dictionary | | |
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