Anderson, William

ANDERSON, William

Text ANDERSON, William (?–?) was in Sydney in September 1884 when he was appointed a foreman of works in the Queensland Public Works Department. The Colonial Architect JJ CLARK recommended Anderson to supervise the new Public Offices (Treasury Building), claiming to have known him for about 18 years as a foreman “on buildings of the best class”. With delays and indecision over commencement of the Public Offices, Anderson was re-allocated to the Immigration Depot at Kangaroo Point, the Boggo Road Gaol and additions to the Government Printing Office. Delays in finalising John PETRIE’s accounts led to Anderson’s dismissal by Clark’s successor, George CONNOLLY in April 1887. Clark later claimed that although Anderson “was the best inspector the Government ever had, the very fact of my appointing him from Victoria kept him constantly in hot water”. Anderson was not the clerk of works who was employed in the New South Wales Department of the Engineer for Harbours and River Navigation from 1858. He died in 1875. A South Australian architect (1856–1928) of the same name who practised in Adelaide from 1893 is too young to match Clark’s claims.