Knowledge (XXG)

Robert Russell (architect)

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265:"That was largely settled for me by the first settlers who built their huts on the present site of the future city, and whom I sought to disturb as little as possible in making the survey. The idea was to have as few of the huts as possible actually in the streets, from which in a very little time they would have to be removed. The old falls on the Yarra really determined the position of the city. The first hut builders kept close to them. The preference for the locality – the high ground between Queen, King, Flinders, and Bourke streets – lasted for some time after the building of Melbourne had begun, and all of the earlier buildings shown on old plans are dotted about there." 33: 337:"Those are my reasons for saying that Mr. Hoddle practically adopted my survey of the site of the city. The credit of making the first survey was a mere matter of detail then, though years later the honour came to be one worth claiming. The original plan of Melbourne which I prepared, and which I looked upon as my own property, as I was merely filling in time, was sent to my father in England, who had it printed, and some of the copies were afterwards supplied to the Public Library. That briefly is the story as to how I came to make the first survey of the city of Melbourne." 366: 316:
city. It is true I accompanied Mr. Hoddle on horseback when he started from Batman's-hill, and began his round to his starting-point, but I was merely a looker-on. That I was the first "surveyor in charge" at Port Phillip; that I was superseded, as I then thought and still think, unfairly; and that Mr. Hoddle drew his lines of street on the plan of my survey, drawn by Mr D'Arcy, under my instructions, prior to Mr. Hoddle's arrival, and which may still be seen at the surveyor-general's office, are facts much more to the purpose. – I am, &c. ROBERT RUSSELL
249:"On one occasion we found our horses not quite ready for the trip into the bush and decided to spell them for a week. While we were waiting it occurred to me that we might as well fill in the time by making a survey of the site of the future settlement. I took the triangulation, Mr Darke worked along the river, and Mr D'Arcy, who was a first-class draughtsman, prepared a plan showing the natural features of the ground. I suppose we were about a week over it altogether." 270: 1013: 421:
In addition to being an architect and surveyor Russell did 'extensive work as a sketcher, amateur photographer, etcher, lithographer (and) carver'. He did valuable work as an amateur artist by preserving many original sketches of Melbourne in its early years, in both water-colour and pencil and in
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You state that, "Messers. Darke, D'Arcy, and Russell, at one time were hard at work defining the outlines, fixing the boundaries, and marking the corners of the streets" of Melbourne. This is a thorough fiction. I never defined, fixed, or marked one outline, boundary, or corner of the incipient
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Another early colonist, Robert Frost, 'who arrived on the site of the city before a tree was felled or a sod turned' supported Russell as having first 'laid out' the city and said 'the honour has been wrongly borne by Mr Hoddle'. However, it is argued by some, especially descendants of
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that "It is to Hoddle that we owe the provision for squares, park lands and exits from the city, and he is entitled to be called the first surveyor and planner of Melbourne." The question continued to spark debate in newspaper letters pages and at meetings of the
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left Sydney he asked Russell to send him his survey of Melbourne which drew on a 'general plan' held 'in the Sydney office generally approved as suitable for laying out a new township' which Russell had a copy of. Along with D'Arcy and Darke, Russell accompanied
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published an article which set out the reasons why it believed 'a gentleman so intimately associated with the foundation of Melbourne as to deserve the honour of a civic funeral'. Two days later a 'Letter To The Editor' appeared:
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Circumstances following their arrival led to group undertaking the survey of Melbourne which set out the inner city street grid as it is known today. Russell recalled that after disembarking from the
140:, the oldest building remaining in central Melbourne (albeit not on its original site). He was also a prolific and talented artist and his work is held by major libraries and galleries in Australia. 666: 190:
from 'London, and Hobart Town, on Tuesday last' and among the 'passengers from England' was 'Mr. Robert Russell, surveyor'. In possession of letters of introduction to
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to lead a party to establish an official settlement the following year. As part of this Russell was appointed as Surveyor and assigned Frederick Robert D'Arcy and
798: 1067: 1082: 1097: 1087: 180:. This experience gave Russell 'a preference for surveying, as allowing greater leisure' and his 'curiosity about Australia led to his emigration'. 411:, the oldest building in Melbourne (though moved just outside the city grid in 1914) and one of the very few pre-Gold Rush buildings in the city. 503: 348: 32: 1017: 277:
In May 1837 Russell had to 'return to Sydney to complete surveying commitments' and was to be 'relieved by Mr. Surveyor Hoddle'. Before
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Russell later practised as an architect in Melbourne until he was forced to retire by old age. He kept his mind to the last and died at
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1952 an exhibition of his 'lost paintings' was held at the Tye gallery in Melbourne Russell's artwork is in the collections of the
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was the colony's surveyor when the first plan of Melbourne was officially published this led to the city design being dubbed the
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suggested in 1935 'Just who made the original survey of Melbourne may well be a matter for discussion for centuries to come'.
1092: 495: 132:, active in Australia. He conducted the first survey of the site of the nascent settlement of Melbourne on the banks of the 226:
and illegally settle on the site of what would become Melbourne. In response, the Imperial authority in London authorised
1062: 443: 431: 365: 427: 227: 312:"Sir, – Permit me to correct a small mistake in your narrative of this date concerning the late Mr. Robert Hoddle. 191: 245:
his 'party of three' commenced 'surveying the shores of Port Phillip Harbour' but this work was interrupted when:
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as assistants. They 'received orders to proceed to Port Phillip forthwith'. They arrived at Port Phillip on the
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When asked how he determined the position of the future city he referred to the 'illegal' arrivals of
1077: 1072: 219: 903: 418:, Melbourne, on 10 April 1900, aged 92. He married and was survived by two sons and two daughters. 258: 231: 211: 173: 75: 439: 415: 904:"St James Old Cathedral, Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H0011, Heritage Overlay HO478" 1035: 485: 575: 517: 509: 499: 198:, Russell was employed by the Survey Department as an 'acting assistant' on 22 October 1833'. 183: 149: 56: 750: 333:'s work on the first plan of Melbourne in great detail. In closing he was quoted as saying: 861: 195: 177: 453:
named their St. Kilda Road property 'Robert Russell House' in recognition of his work.
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Leslie. After a 'sound education', Russell 'had his first business experience' in
152:, London, England, the son of Robert Russell, a merchant, and his wife Margaret, 291: 269: 254: 223: 207: 133: 773:
Searle, Percival (1949). "Robert Russell (1808–1900), architect and surveyor".
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as he made his own survey, before Russell returned to Sydney. As
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Portrait of surveyor & architect Robert Russell, about 1890
164:. After some time in London, where he worked in the office of 670:. NSW: National Library of Australia. 25 July 1837. p. 2 579:. National Library of Australia. 26 September 1833. p. 2 160:
in 1823 where he was articled to the architect and surveyor
831:(44). Historical Society of Victoria. 1927. Archived from 754:. National Library of Australia. 13 August 1897. p. 8 438:. There is a portrait of him in old age painted c1890 by 323:
In 1899 at the age of 91, he gave a lengthy interview to
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Robert Hoddle's survey of the town of Melbourne in 1837.
128:(13 February 1808 – 10 April 1900) was an architect and 186:
of 23 September 1833, noted the arrival of 'the ship
111: 95: 83: 64: 42: 23: 667:The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 986:"Russell's Name Will Live On – St. Kilda Road" 628: 626: 624: 622: 8: 494:. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, 31: 20: 919: 917: 364: 329:explaining the circumstances of his and 461: 857: 846: 449:In 1969, the Victorian chapter of the 984:Whitford, Graham (15 December 1969). 479: 477: 475: 473: 471: 469: 467: 465: 7: 1068:Australian people of English descent 349:Royal Historical Society of Victoria 925:"Design & Art Australia Online" 876:"Matter For Discussion not Dispute" 548:Australian Town and Country Journal 1083:19th-century Australian architects 1048:Encyclopedia of Australian Science 1036:Australian Dictionary Of Biography 776:Dictionary Of Australian Biography 491:Australian Dictionary of Biography 451:Australian Institute of Architects 14: 1042:Design & Art Australia Online 1098:19th-century Australian diarists 1011: 718:"The First Surveys of Melbourne" 436:State Library of New South Wales 16:Australian architect (1808–1900) 1088:19th-century Australian artists 825:"Victorian historical magazine" 222:(now called Tasmania) to cross 214:organised rival groups of free 496:Australian National University 1: 946:"Lost Paintings in City Show" 799:"Robert Russell Of Melbourne" 543:"The Late Mr. Robert Russell" 486:"Russell, Robert (1808–1900)" 444:National Library of Australia 432:National Library of Australia 690:"The Late Mr. Robert Hoddle" 428:National Gallery of Victoria 908:Victorian Heritage Database 194:, then Surveyor General of 1114: 1030:Hoddle's 'official' survey 1018:Robert Russell (architect) 407:In 1839, Russell designed 373:, Melbourne, in the 1800s. 634:"The Father of Melbourne" 442:in the collection of the 424:State Library of Victoria 319:East Melbourne, Oct. 29." 119: 91: 30: 884:. Vic. 21 December 1935 779:. Angus & Robertson 571:"Shipping Intelligence" 395:37.70722°S 144.938306°E 856:Cite journal requires 599:"The Convict Sullivan" 409:St James Old Cathedral 374: 371:St James Old Cathedral 339: 321: 274: 267: 251: 148:Russell was born near 138:St James Old Cathedral 136:in 1836, and designed 103:St James Old Cathedral 78:, Melbourne, Australia 1093:Settlers of Melbourne 1025:Russell's 1836 survey 1020:at Wikimedia Commons 973:NLA index of holdings 400:-37.70722; 144.938306 368: 335: 310: 272: 263: 247: 1063:Australian surveyors 910:. Heritage Victoria. 391: /  259:John Pascoe Fawkner 238:on 5 October 1836. 232:William Wedge Darke 212:John Pascoe Fawkner 202:Survey of Melbourne 168:, Russell moved to 115:Survey of Melbourne 440:Frederick McCubbin 375: 275: 188:Sir John Rae Reid' 1016:Media related to 835:on 30 August 2013 746:"Early Melbourne" 576:The Sydney Herald 505:978-0-522-84459-7 261:the year before: 220:Van Diemen's Land 184:The Sydney Herald 150:Kennington Common 123: 122: 57:Kennington Common 1105: 1015: 1001: 1000: 998: 996: 981: 975: 970: 964: 963: 961: 959: 942: 936: 935: 933: 931: 921: 912: 911: 900: 894: 893: 891: 889: 872: 866: 865: 859: 854: 852: 844: 842: 840: 821: 815: 814: 812: 810: 795: 789: 788: 786: 784: 770: 764: 763: 761: 759: 751:The Colac Herald 742: 736: 735: 733: 731: 714: 708: 707: 705: 703: 686: 680: 679: 677: 675: 658: 652: 651: 649: 647: 630: 617: 616: 614: 612: 595: 589: 588: 586: 584: 567: 561: 560: 558: 556: 539: 533: 532: 530: 528: 484:Harley Preston. 481: 406: 405: 403: 402: 401: 396: 392: 389: 388: 387: 384: 369:Russel designed 351:years later. As 228:William Lonsdale 71: 53:13 February 1808 52: 50: 35: 21: 1113: 1112: 1108: 1107: 1106: 1104: 1103: 1102: 1053: 1052: 1009: 1004: 994: 992: 983: 982: 978: 971: 967: 957: 955: 944: 943: 939: 929: 927: 923: 922: 915: 902: 901: 897: 887: 885: 874: 873: 869: 855: 845: 838: 836: 823: 822: 818: 808: 806: 797: 796: 792: 782: 780: 772: 771: 767: 757: 755: 744: 743: 739: 729: 727: 716: 715: 711: 701: 699: 688: 687: 683: 673: 671: 660: 659: 655: 645: 643: 632: 631: 620: 610: 608: 597: 596: 592: 582: 580: 569: 568: 564: 554: 552: 541: 540: 536: 526: 524: 506: 483: 482: 463: 459: 399: 397: 393: 390: 385: 382: 380: 378: 377: 363: 204: 196:New South Wales 192:Thomas Mitchell 178:ordnance survey 176:to work on the 146: 107: 79: 73: 69: 60: 54: 48: 46: 38: 26: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1111: 1109: 1101: 1100: 1095: 1090: 1085: 1080: 1075: 1070: 1065: 1055: 1054: 1051: 1050: 1044: 1038: 1032: 1027: 1008: 1007:External links 1005: 1003: 1002: 976: 965: 937: 913: 895: 867: 858:|journal= 816: 805:. 6 April 1960 790: 765: 737: 709: 681: 653: 618: 590: 562: 534: 504: 460: 458: 455: 362: 359: 301:death in 1881 203: 200: 145: 142: 126:Robert Russell 121: 120: 117: 116: 113: 109: 108: 106: 105: 99: 97: 93: 92: 89: 88: 85: 81: 80: 74: 72:(aged 92) 66: 62: 61: 55: 44: 40: 39: 36: 28: 27: 25:Robert Russell 24: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1110: 1099: 1096: 1094: 1091: 1089: 1086: 1084: 1081: 1079: 1076: 1074: 1071: 1069: 1066: 1064: 1061: 1060: 1058: 1049: 1045: 1043: 1039: 1037: 1033: 1031: 1028: 1026: 1023: 1022: 1021: 1019: 1014: 1006: 991: 987: 980: 977: 974: 969: 966: 953: 952: 947: 941: 938: 926: 920: 918: 914: 909: 905: 899: 896: 883: 882: 877: 871: 868: 863: 850: 834: 830: 826: 820: 817: 804: 800: 794: 791: 778: 777: 769: 766: 753: 752: 747: 741: 738: 725: 724: 719: 713: 710: 697: 696: 691: 685: 682: 669: 668: 663: 657: 654: 641: 640: 635: 629: 627: 625: 623: 619: 606: 605: 600: 594: 591: 578: 577: 572: 566: 563: 550: 549: 544: 538: 535: 523: 519: 515: 511: 507: 501: 497: 493: 492: 487: 480: 478: 476: 474: 472: 470: 468: 466: 462: 456: 454: 452: 447: 445: 441: 437: 433: 429: 425: 419: 417: 412: 410: 404: 386:144°56′17.9″E 372: 367: 360: 358: 356: 355: 350: 345: 344:Robert Hoddle 338: 334: 332: 328: 327: 320: 317: 313: 309: 306: 305: 300: 295: 293: 289: 288:Robert Hoddle 285: 280: 271: 266: 262: 260: 256: 250: 246: 244: 243:Stirlingshire 239: 237: 236:Sterlingshire 233: 229: 225: 221: 217: 213: 209: 201: 199: 197: 193: 189: 185: 181: 179: 175: 171: 167: 163: 159: 155: 151: 143: 141: 139: 135: 131: 127: 118: 114: 110: 104: 101: 100: 98: 94: 90: 86: 82: 77: 68:10 April 1900 67: 63: 58: 45: 41: 34: 29: 22: 19: 1010: 993:. Retrieved 989: 979: 968: 956:. Retrieved 949: 940: 928:. Retrieved 907: 898: 886:. Retrieved 879: 870: 849:cite journal 837:. Retrieved 833:the original 828: 819: 807:. Retrieved 802: 793: 781:. Retrieved 775: 768: 756:. Retrieved 749: 740: 728:. Retrieved 721: 712: 700:. Retrieved 693: 684: 672:. Retrieved 665: 656: 644:. Retrieved 637: 609:. Retrieved 604:The Colonist 602: 593: 581:. Retrieved 574: 565: 553:. Retrieved 546: 537: 525:. Retrieved 489: 448: 420: 413: 376: 361:Later career 352: 340: 336: 325: 322: 318: 314: 311: 303: 296: 276: 264: 252: 248: 242: 240: 235: 205: 187: 182: 162:William Burn 153: 147: 125: 124: 70:(1900-04-10) 18: 1078:1900 deaths 1073:1808 births 662:"Ship News" 398: / 292:Hoddle Grid 255:John Batman 224:Bass Strait 208:John Batman 134:Yarra River 1057:Categories 457:References 383:37°42′26″S 144:Early life 84:Occupation 59:, England. 49:1808-02-13 1046:Entry in 1040:Entry in 1034:Entry in 995:30 August 951:The Argus 930:30 August 809:30 August 783:30 August 723:The Argus 695:The Argus 639:The Argus 514:1833-7538 326:The Argus 304:The Argus 166:John Nash 158:Edinburgh 96:Buildings 87:Architect 522:70677943 434:and the 416:Richmond 299:Hoddle's 216:settlers 206:In 1835 170:Drogheda 130:surveyor 112:Projects 76:Richmond 990:The Age 958:25 June 888:25 June 881:The Age 839:25 June 803:The Age 758:25 June 730:25 June 702:25 June 674:25 June 646:25 June 611:25 June 583:25 June 555:25 June 527:25 June 354:The Age 174:Ireland 520:  512:  502:  430:, the 331:Hoddle 284:Hoddle 279:Hoddle 218:from 997:2013 960:2013 932:2013 890:2013 862:help 841:2013 811:2013 785:2013 760:2013 732:2013 704:2013 676:2013 648:2013 613:2013 585:2013 557:2013 529:2013 518:OCLC 510:ISSN 500:ISBN 257:and 210:and 65:Died 43:Born 297:At 154:née 1059:: 988:. 948:. 916:^ 906:. 878:. 853:: 851:}} 847:{{ 829:11 827:. 801:. 748:. 720:. 692:. 664:. 636:. 621:^ 601:. 573:. 545:. 516:. 508:. 498:. 488:. 464:^ 446:. 426:, 294:. 172:, 999:. 962:. 934:. 892:. 864:) 860:( 843:. 813:. 787:. 762:. 734:. 706:. 678:. 650:. 615:. 587:. 559:. 531:. 51:) 47:(

Index


Kennington Common
Richmond
St James Old Cathedral
surveyor
Yarra River
St James Old Cathedral
Kennington Common
Edinburgh
William Burn
John Nash
Drogheda
Ireland
ordnance survey
The Sydney Herald
Thomas Mitchell
New South Wales
John Batman
John Pascoe Fawkner
settlers
Van Diemen's Land
Bass Strait
William Lonsdale
William Wedge Darke
John Batman
John Pascoe Fawkner

Hoddle
Hoddle
Robert Hoddle

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