Joseph Charles Fowell

Joseph Charles Fowell (2 August 1891 – 3 July 1970) was a prominent Australian 20th century architect. Renown for his ecclesiastical architecture, Fowell was primarily responsible for the design of over forty churches in New South Wales and Victoria, including Catholic churches at North Sydney (1937), Parkes (1939) and Neutral Bay (1941).[1]

Born in Albany, Western Australia and educated in England, Fowell returned to Australia in 1919 where he worked with Professor Leslie Wilkinson at Sydney University. In 1926 Fowell became an assistant to Henry Budden. Fowell created a number of architectural partnerships including:

• Fowell and McConnel: 1928-1939, with Kenneth McConnel
• Fowell and Mansfield: 1939-1946 with J. L. S. Mansfield
• Fowell, Mansfield & Maclurcan: 1946-1962 with D. C. B. Maclurcan
• Fowell, Mansfield, Jarvis & Maclurcan: 1962-1970 with O. R. Jarvi

Notable works

BMA House won the 1933 RIBA Medal.

BMA House elevation.

Year	Work	Firm	Location	Image	Award(s)	Comments	Notes
1930	British Medical Association (BMA) House	Fowell and McConnel	135-137 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW		1933 RIBA Street Medal and Diploma	The first RIBA medal to be awarded in Australia.	[2]
1935	St. Anne's Church		Blair & Mitchell Streets, Bondi, NSW		1935 RAIA Sir John Sulman Medal	The first church to win this award. Later remodelled in 1964.	[3]
1937	St Peter's, Church of England		Proston, Queensland
1937-39	St Mary's, North Sydney		North Sydney, NSW
1938-39	St Canisus' College		Pymble, NSW
1941	St Joseph's		Neutral Bay, NSW
1943	Orient Line Building	Fowell, McConnel & Mansfield	2-6 Spring Street, Sydney, NSW		1943 RAIA Sir John Sulman Medal	Since remodelled.
1956	St Augustine's Church	Fowell, Mansfield & Maclurcan	Meehan Street, Yass, NSW			Sculpture at this Church was created by prominent Australian Sculptor Tom Bass.
1962	P&O		565 Hunter Street, Sydney, NSW		1962 RAIA Gold Medal	Since remodelled.
1965	Gladesville Bridge		Victoria Road, Drummoyne and Huntleys Point, NSW
1967	Church of St Rose	Fowell, Mansfield, Jarvis & Maclurcan	Rose Street, Collaroy Plateau, NSW

References

1. Martin, Pamela; Reynolds, Peter. "Fowell, Joseph Charles (1891–1970)". Australian Dictionary of Biography (published first in hardcopy 1996 ed.). National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
2. "BMA House". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00252. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
3. "St. Anne's Church". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01706. Retrieved 2 June 2018.

Bibliography

• "Church of St Rose, Collaroy Plateau, Sydney" (Photograph). State Library of Victoria. Retrieved 20 March 2006.
• Martin, Pamela (1988). Fowell, Mansfield, Jarvis & Maclurcan, 1929-1970 (Thesis) (B.Arch. ed.). University of New South Wales.
• Australian Dictionary of Biography
• Father Laurie Bent, St Augustines, Yass, 2006.

External links

• Royal Australian Institute of Architects Sulman Awards
• About St Annes Church, Bondi; NSW Heritage
• About BMA House, Sydney; Australian Heritage Database
• RAIA: Significant Lost & Altered Sydney Office Buildings