Harry Kent (architect)

Harry Kent - Architect
Mount Royal (now Australian Catholic University), Strathfield
Born	1852 Devonshire, England
Died	1938 Sydney, New South Wales
Nationality	Australian
Occupation	Architect
Practice	Harry C. Kent (1882-1899) Kent & Budden (1899-1912) Kent Budden & Greenwell (1912-19) Kent & Massie (1919-1930)
Buildings	State Heritage Register: Former CBC Bank (Cnr George & Barrack Streets Sydney) built between 1921-25 Extensions to Mariners Church in 1927 (98-100 George Street Sydney)

Harry Chambers Kent (1852–1938) was an English-born Australian architect. He was Sydney-based during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and a leader of his profession as President of the Institute of Architects of NSW (1906–07). During his career he was associated with the design of over 670 buildings. Many of his designs are heritage listed and two are on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.

Kent was born in Devonshire, England, the son of the Rev. Samuel Chambers Kent and his wife Emily Deacon. A year after his birth, the Kent family emigrated to Australia and the Reverend Kent was appointed Principal of the Camden College in Newtown, New South Wales. Harry Kent was educated at Camden College and the University of Sydney where he graduated with a Master of Arts in 1875. Before his graduation Kent was articled to James Barnet, the New South Wales Colonial Architect, and in 1873 to John Horbury Hunt.

Kent and his extended family were all active Congregationalists at a time when that Christian denomination was very influential in the upper middle classes of Sydney society and business. Much of his firm's work came from the church and members of its parishes. Despite his father leaving the church in 1879 for the Anglican Church of Australia, Kent maintained a lifelong dedication to the Congregational Church.