Architect who was born in Canterbury, England of Edward Beasley (a dyer) and his wife Caroline. Beasley was educated at Wesley College in Sheffield before being articled to a firm in Dover. He then worked in London, Oxford and Carlisle before going to South Africa where he worked for the public works. He married Fanny Clarke in 1877 in England.
In 1886 Beasley arrived in Victoria. Beasley opened his own practice and one of his first commissions was the Presbyterian church in St Kilda in 1887. He lectured at The Working Men’s College (now RMIT), the University of Melbourne and was involved in the Victorian Institute of Architects. Beasley and Little went into practice together in 1891-1895. They undertook a number of major commissions. In 1893 Beasley presented lectures at The Working Men’s College. He is listed in private practice in the West Australian Post Office Directory of 1897. In January 1896 Beasley joined the Public Works in Western Australia as a specification draftsman. From July 1897 he was appointed Assistant Architect and in 1901 he was Acting Chief Architect. Beasley and John Grainger had previously worked in a variety of interconnecting practices in Melbourne including Grainger’s own practice. Beasley had joined the Public Works in a lower position than Grainger and succeeded him in 1905. He is credited with designs for the Art Gallery, the Public Library, Fremantle Technical School and, with Grainger, Parliament House among many other places. He retired in 1917.
Beasley was a member of the West Australian Society of Arts and exhibited with them in 1896. This was when the aims of the society were “to advance Painting, Sculpture, Architectures and Kindred Arts in the colony.” There were many architects in those first few years. His exhibit was the Design for St Albans Church Armidale. Beasley was a conservative architect knowledgable in the eclectic architectural language of the late 19th century. He believed that the style of buildings should suit their purpose. He was responsible for the Art Gallery Wing of the Museum, Government House Ballroom, Parliament House, College Claremont Teachers’ and a great number of Government works throughout the State. In his retirement he lectured at the University of Western Australia 1920-21 and retired to live in Albany where he became choirmaster of Scots Church.
- Writers:
- Dr Dorothy Erickson
- Date written:
- 2010
- Last updated:
- 2011
