Michael F. Cavanagh was born in 1860. He was an architect who was a member of the South Australian Society of Arts with whom he exhibited regularly. Cavanagh came to Perth in 1895 and he was joined by his brother James. They undertook much work for the Roman Catholic Church including convents, monasteries, the Bishop's Palace, Church of the Oblate Fathers in Fremantle, St John of God Hospital in Subiaco and St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Kalgoorlie. The Esplanade Hotel was their design.