Blackmann & Sulman

BLACKMANN & SULMAN was a Sydney-based partnership of CHE BLACKMANN and J SULMAN formed in October 1886. According to Freeland (1971) the half-share in the partnership cost Sulman £3,000 when in 1886, the salary for Charles McLAY, the most senior draftsman in the Queensland Colonial Architect’s office was £250pa. In addition, provision was made for each partner to take responsibility for the other’s family if necessary, which within a year it was. Sulman was obliged to do so after Blackmann deserted the practice and his family and moved to America. Their Queensland work was new Brisbane premises for the Australian Mutual Provident Society and for the Mutual Life Association of Australia, both highly regarded. Under Sulman, the name of the partnership was retained after Blackmann’s departure, at least until mid-1888 and possibly for another year until Sulman entered partnership with JP Power.