Architect and amateur painter Edwin Summerhayes was born in Greenwich in 1868 son of George, a builder. He was educated at Christ College London and at sixteen accompanied his parents to Australia. He was articled to James Hill in Adelaide and completed his training under William Pitt in Melbourne. He arrived in Western Australia at the beginning of the gold boom in 1894 and ended up setting up practice in Coolgardie.
He returned to Victoria to marry Florence May Camm in 1896 and they were in Western Australia in 1897 when their son Reginald was born. In Coolgardie he designed the Turkish Baths, the Jewish Synagogue, the Presbyterian Church, the Mechanics Institute and worked on the Exhibition Building. He was a foundation member of the West Australian Institute of Architects in 1896 and became known for his 'comfortable homesteads and villas’ that 'abound in all parts of Western Australia’.
Summerhayes who was a Freemason became Member of Claremont Municipal Council by 1904. He was also a Major in the volunteer forces 11th Infantry Regiment in 1911. In 1912 he set up in partnership with Harold Boas (in later years senior Partner) in Oldham Boas Ednie Brown and Partners.
Summerhayes was an amateur painter and exhibited with the West Australian Society of Arts 1911. He served in France in 1916-7.
- Writers:
- Dr Dorothy Erickson
- Date written:
- 2010
- Last updated:
- 2011
