John Lee Archer - Personal Life

Personal Life

John Lee Archer, born 26 April 1791 near Thurles, Ireland, was an important factor in the development of the townships of Tasmania during early settlement. The only son of engineer John Archer and Charlotte Lee of Kent, John Lee Archer spent much of his life working in the fields of engineering and architecture both in Ireland and Australia.

The first records show that Archer, at the age of 18, was taught under the guidance of Charles Beazley, an architect based in London. Commencing in April 1809, Archer remained under Beazley’s instruction for the duration of his three year term of articles before moving on to the office of John Rennie in April 1813 in the position of drawing clerk. Rennie, often referred to as “The Bridge Builder” offered a stable base for Archer to advance his skills in engineering and design. When Archer’s employment with Rennie was terminated in 1818, he returned to Ireland and worked as an engineer for over 8 years, building his reputation. Following his father’s death in 1822 and the ongoing strain of the economic depression of the time, Archer sought to find employment elsewhere. His opportunity came in December 1826 when John Rennie’s son recommended Archer for the position of Colonial Architect in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) as the need arose for the development of public buildings and offices to accommodate the growing convict and free-settler population of Van Diemen’s Land. Upon arrival in Hobart Town on 2 August 1827, Archer immediately commenced work in the role of Civil Engineer and Architect for the colony. Alongside the high demand for prisons and other buildings of a convict nature, the rise in free settlers due to the ongoing depression called for the development of other public works to accommodate the needs of colonial life, such as police offices, public offices, military barracks and churches. For the majority of the 11 years that John Lee Archer served as Civil Engineer and Colonial Architect, he was responsible for all government commissioned buildings, many still notable today. Archer married Sophia Mattinson of Hobart on 3 September 1833 and the pair established a home in New Town with their many children. Due to a temporary decline in colonial revenue Archer was retrenched in 1838 but was never reinstated in his role. As others moved in to take over his responsibilities in his absence, Archer became isolated from his profession at the age of 47 with little hope of local employment opportunities. In October of the same year Archer took the position of police magistrate for the district of Horton and stayed with this role for the remainder of his life. John Lee Archer died at the age of 61 on 4 December 1852, and is buried at Circular Head.