CHEESMAN, Jack Denyer COLLECTION Architecture Museum, University of South Australia CHEESMAN, Jack Denyer SERIES 179, 198, 200, 209, 242, 327, 347, 361 Biography Jack Denyer Cheesman (2/1/1905–8/7/1994) will be remembered as a leader in the trend to modernism in South Australia and for his role in the professionalisation of architecture in the 1930s and 1940s. Cheesman studied architecture at the South Australian School of Mines and Industries and School of Arts from 1923 to 1926, concurrently working for the Architect-in-Chief’s Department under George Gavin Lawson, an important influence on the younger generation of architects. After working for two years at McMichael and Harris in Adelaide he furthered his architectural studies in New York while working in the large practice of York and Sawyer. In 1931, following six months’ study and sketching in Europe, he returned to Adelaide, becoming a partner in Gavin Lawson and Cheesman in January 1932. During World War Two he designed war-related buildings in Adelaide and Darwin. In 1946 Maurice Doley joined Lawson and Cheesman and the new firm of Lawson, Cheesman and Doley undertook both architectural and engineering commissions. Lawson retired in 1952 and in 1954 Keith Neighbour joined the firm, it becoming Lawson, Cheesman, Doley and Partners when he and three of the senior architects, R.A. Brabham, A.L. Brownell and Newell J. Platten, became partners. The firm grew and mutated, with new architects replacing those who retired or died, and by 1973 it employed over 100 people in offices in Adelaide and Sydney; it was the largest architectural firm in South Australia and the third largest in Australia. Commercial buildings that Cheesman’s firm designed include Holden’s administration building at Woodville (1926) and the Ridley Memorial Entrance, Wayville Showgrounds. During the 1930s the firm designed Greater Union cinemas in Perth, Sydney and Townsville. In association with Bates Smart McCutcheon, Cheesman supervised the construction of the MLC Building, Victoria Square, Adelaide. Other commercial buildings in the Adelaide CBD overseen by the firm included BP House, the Guardian Insurance Building and the IMFC Building. Suburban residential projects included a block of flats at Millswood and a two-storey dwelling at Cumberland Park displaying the modern style. He designed buildings at Flinders University and the University of Adelaide, the last being the Law School at the University of Adelaide (1967). He also designed two churches of distinction, St Saviours Church of England at Glen Osmond and Colonel Light Gardens Church of England (1958). Cheesman was an active member of Institutes of Architects. After joining the South Australian Institute of Architects as an Associate in 1926, he was a member of Council from 1932 to 1952 (Treasurer, 1932; Honorary Secretary, 1937–40; President, 1945–47). When the state-based institutes federated to form the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA), he was a Federal Councillor (1946–52) and Federal President (1948–50). In 1950 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects and in 1968 was awarded a Life Fellowship of the RAIA. He was a Life Fellow of the Royal Australian Planning Institute and in 1970 was made an Affiliate of the Australian Institute of Building. His influence on the profession was extensive, his initiatives including the Small Homes Service of South Australia, which provided architecturally designed houses to the public for a Page 1 Architecture Museum, University of South Australia. Email [email protected] last updated 9 April 2019 CHEESMAN, Jack Denyer COLLECTION Architecture Museum, University of South Australia nominal fee; the South Australian Architects’ Act, which instituted the registration of Architects from 1939 (with Hubert H. Cowell); and the Town Planning Institute (with Dean Berry). He also served on both Commonwealth and State government advisory committees, including the Canberra Siting Review Committee, the SA Town Planning Committee and the SA Planning Appeal Board. This is an abridged version of: Julie Collins, (2008) ‘Jack D. Cheesman’, Architects of South Australia database, online at http://www.architectsdatabase.unisa.edu.au/arch_full.asp?Arch_ID=65 SOURCES Collins, Susan and Collins, Julie (2006) Architectural Preludes: One Hundred Years of Student Drawings, Louis Laybourne Smith School of Architecture and Design, University of South Australia, Adelaide. Freeland, J.M. (1971) The Making of a Profession, Angus and Robertson, Sydney. ‘Jack Denyer Cheesman’, Architecture Australia, November–December 1994: 82–83. Page, M. (1986) Sculptors in Space: South Australian Architects 1836–1986, RAIA (SA), Adelaide. COLLECTION DESCRIPTION This collection consists of Jack Cheesman’s work while he was a student at New York University 1929 to 1931; photographs of architectural works by Cheesman; plans for various clients of the firm Cheesman, Doley, Neighbour and Raffen in its various incarnations; lino cuts by Cheesman. It includes correspondence with various colleagues and friends and papers relating to various organisations, some related to architecture (RIBA & RAIA) and some not, with which Jack Cheesman was involved as well as material related to Cheesman's work on advisory committees. These included both Commonwealth and State Government committees such as the Canberra Sitting Review Committee, the SA Town Planning Committee and the SA Planning Appeal Board (where he became a Commissioner), the Adelaide City Council, and the National Trust. It also contains agendas, correspondence etc. relating to Conventions attended or organised by Cheesman and overseas trip ephemera; Copies and amendments of the Real Property Act 1866-1961; Ephemera, diaries, photographs, biographical material, certificates, news clippings, speech notes, oral histories, and watercolours by Cheesman. The collection also holds papers relating to the South Australian Institute of Architects from its formation, including Roll Books and membership records. Page 2 Architecture Museum, University of South Australia. Email [email protected] last updated 9 April 2019 CHEESMAN, Jack Denyer COLLECTION Architecture Museum, University of South Australia SERIES LIST SUMMARY Student work Series 179 This Series consists entirely of Jack Cheesman’s work while he was a student at New York University (which followed the Beaux-Arts, Institute of Design curriculum), 1929 to 1931. See Special List Miscellaneous items Series 198 This series consists of photographs of Adelaide Steamship Company office block, Yatala South District Council Chambers before remodelling, Lobethal and environs, lino cuts by Cheesman and various personal letters. See Special List Architectural Plans Series 200 This series consists of plans for various clients of the firm Cheesman Doley Neighbour and Raffen. See Special List Papers, correspondence Series 209 This series consists of general correspondence and papers. It includes correspondence with various colleagues and friends and papers relating to various organisations, some related to architecture (RIBA & RAIA) and some not, with which Jack Cheesman was involved. This series contains material related to Cheesman's work on advisory committees. These included both Commonwealth and State Government committees such as the Canberra Sitting Review Committee, the SA Town Planning Committee and the SA Planning Appeal Board (where he became a Commissioner), the Adelaide City Council, and the National Trust. This series also consists of agendas, correspondence etc. relating to Conventions attended or organised by Cheesman and overseas trip ephemera. It has been organised according to Cheesman’s file index. See Special List Real Property Act Series 242 Copies and amendments of the Real Property Act 1866-1961 as held by Cheesman. See Special List Personal papers Series 327 Ephemera, diaries, photographs, biographical material, certificates, news clippings, speech notes, Oral history, watercolours, architectural plans belonging to Jack Cheesman. See Special List South Australian Institute of Architects papers Series 347 Papers relating to the South Australian Institute of Architects. See Special List Books, Printed items and Publications Series 361 Page 3 Architecture Museum, University of South Australia. Email [email protected] last updated 9 April 2019 CHEESMAN, Jack Denyer COLLECTION Architecture Museum, University of South Australia Special List Series 179 Student work This Series consists of Jack Cheesman’s student work, some of which was done while he was studying at New York University (which followed the Beaux-Arts, Institute of Design curriculum), 1929 to 1931. All of this series is in the file plan drawers except S179/4/1-7 in Boxes and S179/3/11/52 oversize) Series No. Description Date S179/1/1 Freehand sketch of detail for Technical High School, student 1920 drawing S179/1/2 Freehand drawing of frieze molding n.d. S179/1/3 Freehand drawing of half releaved column capital against n.d. moulding (Note: unsigned, style is not consistent with other drawings in this series) S179/1/3A Freehand drawing of rosette n.d. S179/1/4 Design for a memorial to Filippo Brunelleschi to be erected August in the church of St. Lorenzo, Florence, student work, signed 1926 S179/1/5 Composition from the Greek Temple of Diana Propylaea, June 1926 Elevsis, student work, “Problem no. 2, scale, signed S179/1/6 Window, Nerne Church, Kent, Example of Decorated 1926 (Gothic) Architecture, Testimonies