Henry Austin Wilshire

Henry Austin Wilshire (HA Wilshire) was an architect and was a prominent member of Sydney society in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Although he is not generally well known, he was an active and innovative architect, and a contributor to the community with interests in town planning and transport issues.

Wilshire was born in Potts Point (Sydney) on 8 September 1860, into one of Sydney's oldest and best-connected families. He was the youngest son of James Robert Wilshire MLC, Sydney's second elected mayor, who had died the week before Henry was born. His mother, Sarah Wilshire, lived until 1912, a well-regarded, active member of the community. The family moved to Burwood around 1880. In 1888 Wilshire married Hephzibah Maude Stewart, and they had one daughter, Lena, born in 1889. They moved to the Mosman/Cremorne area in 1893, and remained there for 30 years until Henry's death on 6 August 1923. During this period they lived in at least seven different residences, at least three of which were designed by Wilshire.

Wilshire began his architectural career in around 1879, articled to the well-known Mansfield Brothers. As an architect he was very active and versatile, designing many residences and other buildings, both as a sole practitioner and, from 1913 until 1923, as a partner in HA Wilshire and Day. His buildings include Grafton Gaol in 1891, the heritage-listed Bennett and Wood (Speedwell bicycles) building in Sydney in 1908, and Warringah Hall (see eg Ajax Films), Neutral Bay in 1910. The Grafton community had been agitating for many years for a new gaol to be constructed and, following the first competition for the design of a NSW public building, Wilshire was awarded first prize of 100 guineas, and was given the task of instigating its construction. The building is now heritage listed. (It was reported that he also won fourth prize in the same competition, and had earlier won second prize for a design for the Brisbane premises of the Royal Bank of Queensland and third prize for the Thomas Walker Hospital (Rivendell Child, Adolescent and Family Unit) in Concord, Sydney.)

Wilshire was an active member of the profession, being a member of the (then) Institute of Architects of New South Wales from at least the late 1880s. He was a member of the Committee of the Institute on various occasions from 1893 through to 1919, and held a number of executive positions including Vice-President (1897–1899) and Honorary Treasurer (1901).

...
Wikipedia