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From: "thomas fussell" <>
Subject: Charles TIFFIN
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 21:33:55 +1000


Listers,
I had previously posted the following on another list and was advised by
a member of that list to post it to this site on the grounds that there
are "some very knowledgable folks that write on this board". I would be
most grateful if SKS could provide me with assistance or point me in the
right direction.

I work with the Department of Public Works in Brisbane, Queensland,
Australia and am part of a team writing the history of the Department
since its early colonial days.
In 1859, Queensland became a State, separated from New South Wales,
filled with hope for the future but with few resources to start such a
great enterprise.

Charles Tiffin was appointed to be the first Colonial Architect and in a
relatively short time undertook some important project in Queensland,
including the Parliament House which is still used for that purpose
today. He is a very important figure in the architecture of the State
and will feature prominently in the book under research and preparation
at the moment.

Information that I have found through IGI suggests that Charles was the
son of Robert Tiffin and Jane Haig who are reported to have married at
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1820.
They had the following children:
NameBaptisedPlace
Ruth Tiffin30 July 1820Saint Nicholas,
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
William Andrew20 January 1822Saint Nicholas,
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Robert Tiffin17 August 1823Saint Nicholas,
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Jane Agnes16 October 1825Saint Nicholas,
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Andrew Haig30 November 1828Saint Nicholas,
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Mary Ann30 November 1828Saint Nicholas,
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Charles15 May 1831Saint Nicholas,
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Charles11August 1833Saint Nicholas,
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Sarah14 June 1835Saint NicholasParish
Register and Nonconformist
Elizabeth11 February 1839Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

Robert Tiffin is reported to have been a whipmaker who I understand
employed one other person.
Robert Tiffin died died 26 December 1854, after his wife who died 15
September 1853.

Charles Tiffin is reported to have possibly trained as an architect
under John Edward Watson in Newcastle and to have migrated to Australia
about 1855. He first landed in Geelong in Victoria and then moved to
Hobart in Tasmania where he practiced for a time with William Davidson.
He married Mary Ann Haig (age 24 b. 1832) on 1 January 1857 in Hobart.
His wife's father may have been related to his mother. He was Andrew
Haig, a retired sea captain and successful merchant. Andrew Haig died in
Hobart 18 February 1871, aged 77 years which suggests a birth date
around 1794. his death certificate confirms a birth in England but no
details of where.

Shortly afterwards Charles and Mary Ann moved to Queensland and in 1859
became Colonial Architect on the establishment of Queensland as a
separate State.

His life was relatively short and he died, aged 40, on 9 January 1873 in
Sydney of long standing liver and kidney disease. His wife returned to
Brisbane where she remained until her death.

I would appreciate any assistance that might be available to confirm the
information that I have, to find any details of his early family life,
to discover any information on Andrew Haig and his relationship to the
family and to find out anything available on Charles' early
architectural training with John Watson.

Would there be any local records of his departure for Australia? What
ship he might have taken and just when he could have left?

Charles is and important son of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne as well as an major
figure in Queensland architectural history. I appreciate that I am
asking for a great deal of assistance and can only offer some
acknowledgement of the sources in the book when it is published for
anyone who can help with the history of Charles, his family and early
training and life in England.

I hope that SKS can assist,

Kind regards,


Thomas Fussell
Brisbane Queensland



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