On this day, 200 years ago, 25th August 1817, Edmund Thomas Blacket, Australian architect, was born.
Edmund Blacket was born in England in 1817 and arrived in Sydney in 1842. He was appointed as Diocesan Architect by Bishop Broughton in 1847, despite having no previous architectural training. He had enjoyed sketching and measuring churches in his youth. He was to design a great many Anglican churches in New South Wales and other states, in the Gothic Revival style.
Blacket designed many significant buildings, including St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney and the Great Hall of the University of Sydney as well as St Paul’s College.
Blacket served as the official Colonial Architect from 1849 until 1854, but left to undertake the design of the first buildings for the University of Sydney..
Blacket's architectural practice was highly influential in the development of Australian architecture. He worked with a number of other architects of both Australian and international importance: James Barnet, William Wardell and John Horbury Hunt.
The State Library of New South Wales holds a range of original materials relating to Edmund Blacket, including architectural plans. family papers and his drawing box, pictured below
Drawing box contains 'Blacket Bros, Sydney' st Ebony and pine laminated cylindrical rule; J.S. Staedtler metal 'Mars' pencil box with selection of eight late 19th and early 20th century metal and bone drawings instruments.