Edward Prowse

Edward Prowse was born in 1824 in the Bristol region in England. Prowse emigrated to Australia at the age of 25 with his friend Edward Snell, having first considered America. He arrived in Adelaide on the Bolton on 29 November 1849.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/Media/CHC%20Images/Vol%2009%20-%2005.%20Cattell%20-%20Edward%20Snell%27s%20Diary%20-%20A%20Journeyman%20Engineer%20in%20Bath%20in%20the%201840s.pdf |title=John Cattell, EDWARD SNELL'S DIARY: A JOURNEYMAN ENGINEER IN BATH IN THE 1840s |access-date=12 April 2014 |archive-date=13 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413155411/https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/Media/CHC%20Images/Vol%2009%20-%2005.%20Cattell%20-%20Edward%20Snell%27s%20Diary%20-%20A%20Journeyman%20Engineer%20in%20Bath%20in%20the%201840s.pdf |url-status=dead }} Prowse and Snell met at the Avonside Ironworks in Bristol, Snell called him 'one of the respectables'. Prowse introduced Snell to the writings of Thomas Paine and almost succeeded in converting him to deism, prompting something of a crisis of faith.

Prowse married Mary Ann Carbin (née South) in Geelong, Mary Anne, had previously been married to Thomas Carbin of Adelaide.[http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=3313&p=localities.oceania.australia.sa.general Ancestry.com Message Board, 'Death date and place for Thomas Carbin d abt 1851 please'] Eward and Mary had at a large number of children, including Ellen (Nellie) Prowse 1854-1944, born at Geelong, Victoria. Nellie died a spinster without issue.[http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.prowse/86/mb.ashx Ancestry.com Message Board Ellen Prowse] (see also "Prowse Family History" by Mrs Sandor L Tako (Susan Tako) Hendersonville, North Carolina) pages 195-6. compiled by Erwin MATTHEWS, husband of Pam PROWSE.

Prowse first moved to Yatala, South Australia (on the north east outskirts of Adelaide), where in 1850 he obtained the position as Clerk, Collector and Surveyor to the District Road Board of the Hundred of Yatala,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38444612 |title=DISTRICT ROAD BOARD. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=8 February 1850 |accessdate=12 April 2014 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} but resigned this position in 1852.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38455281 |title=RESIGNATION. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=6 February 1852 |accessdate=12 April 2014 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} This may have been to try his luck on the Victorian gold fields, as he returned in 1855 and was appointed engineer for what had become the Shire of Yatala, but he appeared to develop a conflict with some of the councillors, who sacked him, but he was reinstated when he reapplied for his position.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38447795 |title=THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=Adelaide |date=12 December 1851 |accessdate=12 April 2014 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Prowse formed a partnership with Edward Snell in May 1854 after Snell's former partner, Frederick Kawerau decided to return to Germany.Huddle, Lorraine, 1983-03, Architects of early Geelong [Series of parts] Investigator, Vols. 18 & 19Edward Snell, The Life and Adventures of Edward Snell, The Illustrated Diary of an Artist, Engineer and Adventurer in the Australian Colonies 1849, 1988, p. 344. the partnership was dissolved in 1855.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91868235 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer |location=Vic. |date=4 October 1855 |accessdate=12 April 2014 |page=1 Edition: DAILY |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

His extensive architectural practice in Geelong is recorded in the Geelong Advertiser, including: listing as architect for Ingleby and called tenders for erection of dwelling (Raith) at Herne Hill (18 September 1854); tenders called by Snell & Prowse for erection of a store, Victoria Terrace for George Armytage (which became Dennys' store later) (5 May 1855); tenders for the erection of a 3-storey house at the corner of Yarra and Corio Streets (13 July 1855); erecting a new building near Moorabool Pier (27 July 1857); tenders for "Hermitage" (4 May 1858); called tenders for a new store Lt. Malop Street (23 April 1861); and called for tenders for brick additions, Christ Church School (20 June 1861).[https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20100323053200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/15140/20100323-1632/www.geelongcity.vic.gov.au/common/Public/Documents/8cbd8269743b7a7-Geelong%20Advertiser%20Index%201850-1866%20A-E.pdf GEELONG HERITAGE CENTRE GEELONG ADVERTISER INDEX 1850–1866 A-E]{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

The architecture practice was evidently booming in the height of the gold rushes, causing Prowse to advertise for a trainee architect in 1856.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91869369 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer |location=Vic. |date=26 January 1856 |accessdate=12 April 2014 |page=3 Edition: DAILY |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Prowse was appointed town surveyor in Geelong, but was dismissed in 1860, in what appears to be a personal feud with some councillors. A vote in council reinstated him when he reapplied for the position.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5688469 |title=GEELONG. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=23 August 1860 |accessdate=12 April 2014 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Prowse investigated the railway accident in 1857, with John Millar, Engineer-ln-Chief to the Geelong Water Commission, which was caused when two trains collided near Little River.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7140158 |title=THE LATE RAILWAY ACCIDENT. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=12 October 1857 |accessdate=12 April 2014 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} He also lectured at the Geelong Mechanics Institute on architectural subjects.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91865286 |title=THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. |newspaper=Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer |location=Vic. |date=9 July 1855 |accessdate=12 April 2014 |page=2 Edition: DAILY |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Edward Prowse was engineer on the Corio District Roads Board up to his death in 1862, when he was succeeded by J. V. Bartlett.Geelong Advertiser, 3 February 1862

Prowse died suddenly on 2 January 1862 of Apoplexy leaving "a widow with a large and helpless family to mourn his loss."{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5707714 |title=G[?]ELONG. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=3 January 1862 |accessdate=4 April 2014 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

• 'The Hermitage', for George Armytage Snr. 1859-60{{Cite web |url=http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/themes/2308/municipality-of-newtown-victoria |title='Municipality of Newtown, Victoria', Museum Victoria |access-date=12 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142630/http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/themes/2308/municipality-of-newtown-victoria |archive-date=13 April 2014 |url-status=dead }}
• "The Heights", 140 Aphrasia Street, Newtown, 1855[http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/heritagevic/?timeout=yes#detail_places;517 Victorian Heritage Database]
• Werribee Park bluestone homestead 1857
• Melaleuka, 221-229 Matthews Road, Leopold, 1854 (Snell & Prowse) {{Cite web|url=http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/heritagevic/?timeout=yes#detail_places;1919|title=VHD}}
• Frogmore, Hamilton Highway, Fyansford 1854 [http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/heritagevic/?timeout=yes#detail_places;512 Victorian Heritage Database]
• "Duke of Wellington" Hotel 281 Pakington Street NEWTOWN, repairs and alterations 20 July 1859[http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/heritagevic/?timeout=yes#detail_places;16186 Victorian Heritage Database]
• Ingleby House, two storey bluestone homestead of 1860 near Winchelsea established by George Armytage Jr. in 1842.{{Cite web |url=http://www.heritage.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahpi/record.pl?RNE3701 |title=Register of the National Estate, Ingleby Homestead and Outbuilding Identifier: 3701 |access-date=12 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413143729/http://www.heritage.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahpi/record.pl?RNE3701 |archive-date=13 April 2014 |url-status=dead }}
• "Raith", formerly "Malboona" and "Atlantis Heights" (Snell and Prowse) 1854Geelong Advertiser 18 September 1854
• 2 Skene Street Newtown[http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/heritagevic/?timeout=yes#detail_places;16562 Victorian Heritage Database]
• St. Paul's Church of England, Latrobe Terrace, corner Brougham Street, Geelong (Snell and Kawerau 1853) (Snell and Prowse 1855)[http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/heritagevic/?timeout=yes#detail_places;528 Victorian Heritage Database]
• St Marks Anglican Church, Bellarine Hwy, Leopold, Victoria, 1859.[http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=3639 Australian Heritage Database Place ID 3639]
• St Thomas Church of England Cnr Barwon Terrace & Hesse Street, WINCHELSEA, 1860[http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/heritagevic/?timeout=yes#detail_places;69769 National Trust Register]
• Christ Church, Moorabool Street, corner McKillop Street, Geelong addition by Snell, Kawarau and Prowse, removed earlier chancel, added transepts and a new chancel. completed c1856[http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/heritagevic/?timeout=yes#detail_places;534 Victorian Heritage Database]

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Category:1824 births

Category:1862 deaths

Category:19th-century Australian architects

Category:English emigrants to colonial Australia

Category:19th-century English architects