John Lee Archer

John Lee Archer (1791-1852), architect and engineer, was born in Ireland and emigrated to Tasmania in 1827. He received his early training with first Charles Beazley in London 1809-1812, then he went to work as a drawing clerk with John Rennie. It was here that he would have been involved with the design of London Bridge (now in the USA) and Waterloo Bridge, as well as lighthouse design and other engineering works.

He arrived in Hobart on the 2nd August 1827 to take up a position as Civil Engineer and Architect. He held this post for eleven years during which he designed all the Government buildings erected in the colony during this period. His works include:

Military:
* Angelsea Barracks, including Canteen Building 1831-4, Drill Hall 1828, Subalterns' Quarters 1828
* Ordnanace Stores, Hobart 1829
* Powder Magazine 1828
* Richmond Barracks 1833-4

Bridges & Harbour Work:
* Argyle Street Bridge 1836
* Bridgewater Causeway 1835
* Harrington Street Bridge 1831
* Hobart Rivulet realigned 1828
* Jordan River Bridge, repaired 1835
* Richmond Bridge, repaired 1826-35
* Ross Bridge 1831-6
* Entally Chapel, Hadspen 1835
* Sullivan's Cove Improvements 1830

Religious:
* Jericho Church 1834
* Norfolk Plains Chapel 1829-32
* St David's Church, Hobart (new tower) 1828
* St George's Church, Battery Point 1836-8
* St John's Church, New Town 1830-3
* St John's Church, Ross 1838
* St Luke's Church, Bothwell 1828-9
* St Luke's Church, Campbell Town 1836
* St Luke's Church, Richmond 1834-6
* St Paul's Church, Stanley 1843-4
* St Peter's Church, Hamilton 1834
* Trinity or Penitentiary Chapel, Hobart 1831-4
* Westbury Church 1836

Civil:
* Court House Hobart, extended 1835
* Court House, Launceston 1837
* Court House & Police Offices, New Norfolk 1831
* Custom House, Hobart 1835-41
* Custom House, Launceston 1836
* Government House, Hobart alterations and repairs
* Offices & Treasures Room, Hobart 1829
* Police Offices, Murray Street, Hobart 1833-35
* Public Offices, Murray Street, Hobart 1837-40

Dwellings:
* Chaplain's Cottage, Maria Island 1827
* Commandant's House, Maria Island 1829
* Gaoler's House, Richmond 1832
* 'Highfield', Stanley 1843
* 'Jutland', New Town, (Archer's own house) 1831
* Parsonage, Hobart, 1837
* Parsonage, St John's Parish, New Town 1835
* Store Keeper's Residence, Circular Head 1851

Gaols:
* Factory, Maria Island 1829
* Female Factory, Cascades 1827
* Female House of Correction, Launceston, 1832
* Hobart Gaol, 1829
* Lock-up Houses, New Norfolk 1830
* Oatlands Gaol, 1834
* Richmond Gaol, 1832-5

Hospitals:
* Hamilton 1836
* Norfolk Plains 1836
* Oatlands 1836

Lighthouses:
* Cape Bruny 1835-8
* Low Head 1833-8

Others:
* Dairy 'Highfield' for the Van Diemen's Land Company 1842
* Hot House, Domain Garden, Hobart 1829
* Store House, for the Van Diemen's Land Company 1843

Schools:
* Infant School, Hobart 1833
* National Day School, Hobart 1835
* Orphan Schools, Hobart 1830
* Parsonage House, Hobart converted to school 1837
* Public School, New Norfolk 1828
* Richmond School House, 1834-5