Stephenson and Turner

Originally known as Stephenson and Meldrum (1921–1937), Stephenson and Turner (1938–1995) were Australian architects in the 1930s that pioneered the modernist movement in Australian architecture, specialising in hospital and institutional design during the interwar period. As hospitals were among the first large scale buildings to adopt the new modern aesthetic, the modern Australian hospital played an important role in the development of Modernism in Australian architecture.

The directors were Arthur Stephenson, Percy Meldrum and Donald Turner.

Sir Arthur George Stephenson (1890–1967), architect, born in 1890 at Box Hill, Victoria. In 1907 Stephenson worked for Swansson Brothers while studying construction at the Working Men’s College. He joined the Australian Imperial Force in 1915 as a lieutenant, promoted to captain and awarded the Military Cross. After WWI, Stephenson remained in London and studied at the Architectural Association School (AA) and joined the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 1920. He returned to Melbourne and established Stephenson & Meldrum in 1921.

Stephenson was largely responsible for the firm’s direction to specialize in hospital and industrial architecture. He also lectured, wrote widely and was a member of numerous committees, including the International Hospitals Federation, the Hospital Advisory Council (Melbourne) and a trustee of the National Museum of Victoria. In 1954 Stephenson was knighted for services to architecture and was the first Australian to receive a RIBA Gold Medal in 1964. The Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) awarded him a Gold Medal in 1963 and was made honorary fellow by The American Institute of Architects in 1964.

Percy Meldrum (1887–1968), architect, born in 1887 at Casterton, Victoria and educated at Ballarat College. In 1907 he studied architecture and articled to Melbourne Architect A. A. Fritsch from 1907 until 1913, where he won the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects Bronze Medal. In 1913 Meldrum travelled to Chicago and admired the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. Then travelled to England in 1914 and worked with the War Office designing aircraft hangars. In 1919 Meldrum joined the AA, where he met and taught Arthur Stephenson and Donald Turner. A fine draftsman and watercolorist, Meldrum was the artistic director and collaborated with some of Melbourne’s prominent artists, including Napier Waller, whose mosaic featured on the façade of the Newspaper House in Melbourne (1933). Stephenson and Meldrum’s partnership ended in 1937, with Meldrum moving on to practice with Arthur Noad, to form Meldrum and Noad.

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