Ernest Henry Bayer (21 March 1852 – 20 October 1908) was a

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

n architect, a founder of the South Australian Institute of Architects. His surname has also been spelled Beyer.

History

Bayer was born in Adelaide, the third son of Dr Frederick Charles Bayer ( – 1867) and Grahame Eliza Bayer née Kent (c. 1831 – 4 April 1892). Doctor Bayer arrived in Australia from Germany aboard the ''Heloise'' in 1847. His widow, who was a daughter of Dr Benjamin Archer Kent (1808 – 25 November 1864) of

Kent Town Kent Town is an inner suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters local government area. History Kent Town was named for Benjamin Archer Kent (1808 – 25 November 1864), a medical practition ...

, married again, on 12 April 1881, to T. Reynolds of Caerphilly, Wales. Bayer was sent to England for education, attending Hanwell College,

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, former county in South East England, now mainly within Greater London. Its boundaries largely followed three rivers: the River Thames, Thames in the south, the River Lea, Le ...

, then studied architecture, completing his articles with a London architect, one Saunders, and was elected an Associate of the

Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...

(RIBA). He returned to Adelaide in 1873, and by July 1874 had set up a practice in Central Chambers,

Waymouth Street Waymouth Street, often spelt as Weymouth Street in the early days, is an east–west street running between King William Street and West Terrace in the Adelaide city centre in South Australia. The street is named after Henry Waymouth, a foundi ...

. In 1880 he went into partnership with Latham A. Withall, as Bayer & Withall, with offices in Insurance Chambers,

Pirie Street Pirie Street is a road on the east side of the Adelaide city centre, South Australia. It runs east–west, between East Terrace and King William Street. After crossing King William Street, it continues as Waymouth Street. It forms the south ...

, later Grenfell Chambers,

Grenfell Street Grenfell Street () is a major street in the north-east quarter of the Adelaide city centre, South Australia. The street runs west-east from King William Street to East Terrace. Its intersection with Pulteney Street is formed by Hindmarsh Squa ...

. The partnership dissolved late 1884, Bayer returned to a solo practice in Grenfell Chambers, and Withall took their head draftsman

Alfred Wells Alfred Wells (May 27, 1814 – July 18, 1867) was a U.S. Representative from New York. Biography Alfred Wells was born in Dagsboro, Sussex County, Delaware on May 27, 1814. He pursued classical studies, and later studied law in the office ...

into partnership as Withall & Wells, with offices in Register Chambers,

. Other notable associates were J. Quinton Bruce, Henry Ernest Fuller and

Louis Laybourne Smith Louis Edouard Laybourne Smith (1 April 1880 – 13 September 1965) was an Australian architect and educator in South Australia. Born in the Adelaide inner-southern suburb of Unley, he became interested in engineering and architecture whil ...

. He was briefly associated with Rowland Rees in the restoration of the

Adelaide Club The Adelaide Club is an exclusive Gentlemen's club (traditional), gentlemen's club situated on North Terrace, Adelaide, North Terrace in the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. Founded in 1863, the club comprises members of the Adelaide E ...

on North Terrace.

Other activities

*Bayer was a member of the Architectural Students' Association, and elected vice-president in September 1884. *He was a member of the committee that founded the

South Australian Institute of Architects The South Australian Institute of Architects (SAIA) was a professional association for architects in South Australia, founded in 1886. It was preceded by the South Australian Association of Architects, Engineers, and Surveyors and the South Aust ...

, and was elected one of the first councillors.

Selected works

(mostly while in partnership with Withnall) *Christian Brothers College, Wakefield Street, Adelaide, (several wings 1878, 1880) * Academy of Music, Rundle Street (1879) *(perhaps) Cathedral Hotel, North Adelaide (1880) * Estcourt House, Tennyson (1882) *Pier Hotel, Largs Bay (1882) *Grandstand at Victoria Park Racecourse (1882) *"Forest Lodge", Aldgate (1890-1895) for John Bagot *Ramsgate Hotel, Henley Beach (1897)

Last days

Bayer suffered heart problems, which was the cause of his death at home in Glenelg. His remains were buried at the

West Terrace Cemetery The West Terrace Cemetery, formerly Adelaide Public Cemetery is a cemetery in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the state's oldest cemetery, first appearing on Colonel William Light's 1837 plan of the Adelaide city centre, to the south-west of ...

, Adelaide.

Family

Bayer married Harriet(t?) D'Arbon "Sissie" Tolley (c. 1854 – 29 September 1919), eldest daughter of Albion James Tolley, on 11 March 1875. They had four daughters *Evelyn Grahame Bayer (2 March 1876 – 1876) *Emmeline Kent Bayer (17 March 1877 – ) married Arthur Bristowe on 18 January 1900 *Kathleen Lucie Bayer (13 May 1879 – ) married Wyndham Slaney Poole in 1915. Poole was a son of Frederic Slaney Poole. *Fannie Gausden Bayer (13 July 1884 – ) married Frank Newton Lewis on 15 February 1912. *Marjory Gladys Bayer (4 December 1888 – ) married Frank Meeten Bradshaw of Victoria on 3 June 1913. and three sons *Ernest Rupert Bayer (9 December 1881 – 1964) married Alvina Liebich in 1911 *Frederic Charles Bayer (7 February 1886 – 1967) married Gertrude Adelaide Menz on 10 September 1912, divorced 1934 *Charles Edward Bayer (1891 – 1944) married Kathleen Jane Rogers on 9 April 1921 They had a home on Brougham Place, North Adelaide, later on Smith Terrace, Glenelg. C. A. Bayer, hydraulic engineer, was a brother. His sister Lucy Gray Bayer married Sydney Constantine Tolley on 7 April 1881

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bayer, Ernest 1852 births 1908 deaths Architects from Adelaide