Kilburn, Edward G.

Description

Agent TypePersonPlace of BirthHobart, TasmaniaPlace of DeathMelbourne, AustraliaActivities & OccupationsArchitectsPhotographersGenderMaleHistoryE G Kilburn was born in Tasmania, and was the son of Douglas T Kilburn, who is considered to be one of Australia's great photographers. Kilburn attended Scotch College in Melbourne, and then returned to Tasmania, where he was appointed chief draftsman to Henry Hunter of Hobart in 1882. In January 1885, Kilburn entered into a partnership with the Melbourne architect W H Ellerker. Kilburn was an enthusiast for American architecture. In 1889 Kilburn embarked on a nine month tour of Europe and America, returning with a series of architectural photographs, most of which were probably acquired from commercial sources. This visit, during which he consulted with Americans about the most interesting contemporary architectural work in the United States, has been credited as having a major effect in introducing these architectural trends to Australia. After his return in December of that year, the firm produced two full-blown American Romanesque designs in competitions for the Commercial Bank of Australia headquarters in Melbourne, and the Broken Hill Municipal Buildings, New South Wales. Neither design was ever built, however, the more modest 'Priory' school in St Kilda was begun in the same year, and was the first thoroughgoing example of the American Romanesque archictural style in Australia. Kilburn also designed a number of residential and commercial buildings in Melbourne and its suburbs, some of which have been lost over the years, though some still remain.
At the end of 1890 the partnership with Ellerker dissolved, and Kilburn entered sole practice. His T B Guest house, 'Cestria', in Hawthorn, was another of the earliest local examples of the American Romanesque, and another building at 64 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne in 1892 was reported to be 'both inside & out ... in the Romanesque style with very original treatment quite unlike anything seen in Melbourne'. Kilburn died in April 1894 of typhoid fever, aged 34, and was recorded in the minutes of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects as 'undoubtedly one of the leading Artists of the Profession in our Colony.'Search records of this agent

Series

[UMA-SRE-20150153] EDWARD GEORGE KILBURN PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION

Image

Lambert Trees House

Dates

Date1859-1894

Names

TitleMrGiven NameEdwardMiddle NameGeorgeFamily NameKilburn

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Kilburn, Edward G.