Queensland Architects Database

Ferguson, John Given

FERGUSON, John Given (1837-1893) was born in Newton, Limavardy, Londonderry, Ireland, the son of William Lackey Ferguson (1805–1866), bricklayer and building contractor, and Mary Jane Given, the daughter of Robert Given (1789-1833) and sister of George Given (1815-1883), builders and architects of Limavady, Co. Derry. John arrived at Moreton Bay with his younger brother Robert FERGUSON in 1860 and three years later was joined by his father and the rest of his family. It is likely that John worked with his father who became a building contractor at Ipswich where John married Catherine Manson Sinclair on 13 November 1862. He was a bricklayer in Brisbane by 1872. On 1 July 1875 he was appointed a foreman of works in the Queensland Public Works Department including supervision of the Roma St Railway Station before he was stationed at Townsville from 1877. He transferred to Brisbane in June 1879 to replace his brother Robert. In 1885 again following in the footsteps of his brother, John moved to the Department of Public Instruction as Superintendent of School Buildings, succeeding Robert and continuing his highly successful school designs. In addition to schools, John was responsible for teachers’ residences, numerous additions, improvements, playsheds, repairs, painting, fencing and minor works. John was also responsible for varied institutions as well as schools and teachers’ residences and orphanages. He remained in this post until his death from pneumonia on 30 May 1893, after which responsibility for school buildings reverted to the Works Department. His son JS FERGUSON was also an architect.

Education

-1859With his father and/or uncle,Limavady, Co. Derry
Qualifications / Membership:

Migration and Travel

1860
Arr Moreton Bay
Employed:
-1866
With William Lecky Ferguson, contractor, Ipswich
Self-employed:
1875-
1 July 1875: Foreman of Works, Buildings Branch, Dept of Public Works & Mines
-1877-
Foreman of Works, Townsville, Buildings Branch, Dept of Public Works
1879-
1 May 1879: Foreman of Works, Brisbane, Buildings Branch, Dept of Public Works
1885-
16 Apr 1885: Superintendent, State school Buildings, Dept of Public Instruction
-1893
died 31 May 1893.

Genealogy

[PGF] Robert Ferguson (‒) architect, Limvardy,

[MGF] Robert Given (1789‒1833) d. 31 May 1833, Limavardy [carpenter/architect]

[MU] George Given (1815-1883) b. 1815; d. 1 Oct 1883, Limavardy [builder and architect, Limavady, Co. Derry] .

[F] William Lecky Ferguson (1805–1866) b. 31 Mar 1805, Keenaught, Drumachose, Limavady, Londonderry, Northern Ireland; d. 23 Dec 1866, Ipswich, Qld.

[S, 1835, Magilligan, Ireland / [M] Mary Jane Given (1811–1905) b. 1811, Derry, Cavan, Ireland; d. 1 Jan 1905, Hope St, South Brisbane, Qld.

  • [FiL] Robert Given (1789-1833)
  • [BiL] George Given (1815-1883)
  • [11C/1-6B]John Given FERGUSON(1837-1893) b. 26 Mar 1837, Newtown, Limavady, Londonderry, Ireland; d. 30 May 1893, Brisbane, Qld.
  • [S, 13 Nov 1862, Qld / M] Catherine Manson Sinclair (1834–1908) b. 1 May 1834, Caithness, Scotland; d. 15 Oct 1908, Qld.
  • [6C/1-4B] William Ferguson (1863‒1891) b. 30 Aug 1863; d. 22 June 1891, Brisbane, Qld.
  • [6C/2-4B] George Ferguson (1867‒1871) b. 26 June 1867; d. 26 May 1871, Qld.
  • [6C/3-4B] James Sinclair FERGUSON (1872‒1958) b. 25 Sep 1872, Brisbane, Qld; d. 29 Sep 1958, Brisbane, Qld.
  • [6C/1-2G] Catherine Elizabeth Ferguson (1875‒?), b. 18 Jan 1875; d. ?
  • [6C/2-2G] Eleanor Jane Ferguson (1877‒1927) b. 27 Feb 1877; d. 16 Nov 1927, Brisbane, Qld.
  • [6C/4-4B] Francis Stanley Ferguson (1879‒1899) b. 6 Apr 1879, Qld.; d. 22 Jan 1899, Brisbane, Qld.
  • [11C/2-6B] Robert FERGUSON (1840‒1906) b. 2 Jan 1840, Isle of Man St, Limavady, Londonderry, Northern Ireland; d. 13 Aug 1906, Brisbane, Qld.

References

Entries for George and Robert Given, Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720-1940; Townsville Herald: 11 Apr 1879, 2 and 7 June 1879, 2; Brisbane Courier, 12 Mar 1888, 5; WOR/A, 1884/875, QSA.

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