Sydney Ancher

Sydney Ancher
Ancher in December 1948
Born
Sydney Edward Cambrian Ancher

(1904-02-25)25 February 1904
Woollahra, New South Wales
Died8 December 1979(1979-12-08) (aged 75)
Waratah, Newcastle, Australia
EducationSydney Technical College
OccupationArchitect
Years active1924–1966
SpouseAaletha Ethel Hasemern (1926—1970)
Parent(s)Edward Ancher, Ethel Parsons
Awards
PracticePrevost & Ancher, Ancher Mortlock and Murray (1952—1964), Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley (1964—1975), Ancher Mortlock and Woolley (1975—2013)[1]
BuildingsKillara House (own)
ProjectsNorthbourne Housing Group, ACT

Sydney Edward Cambrian Ancher ARAIA ARIBA (25 February 1904—8 December 1979), was an Australian architect from Woollahra, Sydney. His fascination with Europe contributed to the introduction of European internationalism in Australia. He also had a significant impact on the establishment of modern domestic architecture and the Sydney School.[2]

Early life

Sydney Ancher was the son of New Zealand journalist Edward Albert Ancher and his Australian wife Ethel Puah, née Parsons. He was educated at Mosman Superior Public, North Sydney Boys’ High and Sydney Technical High School.

Sydney Ancher’s House was constructed in 1955, 15 Bogota Avenue, Cremorne Point. The two story dwelling comprises a lower garage and upper living quarters with an open patio space. The interior has varnished wooden flooring and a lighting system made from a series of rectangles.

Architecture career

From 1924 Ancher undertook architectural studies at the Sydney Technical College at night and qualified as an architect in 1929. Ancher was articled to the architect E.W.S. Wakeley between 1924—1926 and between 1926—1930 gained a range of architectural experiences with Wunderlich Limited and architects Prevost, Synnot & Ruwald, and Ross & Rowe. In 1931 he was awarded the Australian medallion and the Byera Hadley travelling scholarship.[3]

After working with Reginal Prevost (as Prevost & Ancher), Sydney Ancher founded his solo practice in 1946 before co-founding Ancher, Mortlock and Murray with his assistants Stuart Murray and Bryce Mortlock in 1952. Young architect Ken Woolley was added to the company name in 1964 becoming Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley, until Stuart Murray departed in 1975, when Ancher Mortlock and Woolley was established.[4][5]

Notable Projects

  • Prevost House, 65 Kambala Road, Bellevue Hill, NSW, 1937[6] (As Prevost & Ancher)
  • Ancher House (Poyntzfield), 3 Maytone Avenue, Killara, NSW, 1945. Awarded Sir John Sulman Medal, 1945.[7]
  • Ancher House II, and Maytone Avenue group of houses, Killara, NSW, 1947.[8]
  • Hamill House, 4 Maytone Avenue, Killara, NSW, 1948[9]
  • Farley House, North Curl Curl, NSW, 1948
  • House, Killeaton Street, St Ives, NSW, 1950
  • Laverty House, 207 Eastern Road, Wahroonga, NSW, 1953[10]
  • Ancher House III, 15 Bogota Avenue, Cremorne Point, NSW, 1957[11][12]
  • Northbourne Housing Group, Canberra, ACT, 1962[13]

Recognition

In 1945 Ancher was awarded the prestigious Sulman Medal for his own house in Killara.

In later years he dedicated himself to architectural education, receiving the RAIA Gold Medal in 1975 for his efforts.

In 2007 the ACT Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects recognised his legacy with the Sydney Ancher Award as the named award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing.

Family life

On 26 November 1926 he married Aaletha Ethel Hasemer, a stenographer, at the Presbyterian Church, Mosman, Australia.

Death

Ancher retired in 1966. His wife died in 1970 and he died on 8 December 1979 in hospital at Waratah. He was cremated.

References

  1. ↑ "Ancher Mortlock and Woolley". Architecture AU. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  2. ↑ “Premier Opens £1/4m Parade Of Master-built Homes”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 April 1963. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  3. ↑ Apperly, Richard E. (2006). "Sydney Edward Cambrian Ancher (1904–1979)". Australian Dictionary of Biography.
  4. ↑ "Provost House, Bellevue Hill NSW, 1937". Docomomo Australia. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  5. ↑ "Ancher Mortlock and Woolley". ArchitectureAU.com. 4 July 2026. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Prevost House, Bellevue Hill NSW, 1937". Docomomo Australia. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  7. ↑ "Architecture: arrival of modernism: Sydney Ancher". State Library of NSW. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  8. ↑ "Maytone Avenue Group". Docomomo Australia. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "4 Maytone Avenue, Killara, NSW 2071". realestate.com.au. 20 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "Revival of the Modernist Home – Iconic Sydney Ancher Home sells, 207 Eastern Road, Wahroonga". amandarobertson.com.au. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Sydney Ancher and 15 Bogota Avenue, Neutral Bay". At home in North Sydney. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  12. ↑ "Ancher House III". Docomomo Australia. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  13. ↑ Cheng, Linda (8 May 2015). "Sydney Ancher's architectural legacy under threat". Architecture AU. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  • Ancher, Mortlock, Murray and Woolley: Sydney Architects 1946–1976, David Saunders, Sydney: Power Institute of Fine Arts, University of Sydney, 1967
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