Design and Art Australia Online

architect, decorator and scene painter, was born in the north of England, son of John Willson and Ellen, née Kerr. To judge by a set of signed watercolour designs for the interior decoration of the new Tasmanian Government House (1856, p.c.), he was an excellent draughtsman. On 31 May 1860, giving his occupation as gentleman, he married Hannah Elizabeth Davis at Lincoln Grange, Campbell Town; they had six children (one deceased). Willson was still in Tasmania in 1863 when he designed the largest transparency in Sydney for the marriage of the Prince of Wales in June (executed by Walter Renny 's firm) to be erected over the entrance of Government House, Sydney. It was said at the time to be by 'Mr Wilson [sic] of Tasmania’ in contradistinction to William Wilson , then working in Sydney as a scene painter.

J.H. Willson moved to Sydney after winning first and second prizes in the competition for the Sydney Town Hall (1866); the present facade (perspective drawing c.1866: photo ML) and vestibule (the original hall) follow his design (Town Hall Archives). As city architect Willson lived in his home “Norwood” in Petersham and designed a new Temperance Hall and the Woolloomooloo Fish Markets before he died on 7 April 1872, aged forty eight. Buried in Rookwood Cemetery which, at the time, was called Haslam’s Creek Necropolis, his funeral was organised by sculptor Walter McGill, of Ultimo Road Sydney, his executor and friend.

Writers:

Staff Writer

Date written:

1992

Last updated:

2017