University of Melbourne Archives

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Records Creators
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Creator:
Purnell, Arthur William
Biography: Born in Geelong and educated at Geelong College, Purnell worked in China, mainly Canton (Guang Zhou) 1900-1910, forming a partnership with US- born engineer Chas. Paget (for which J S Gawler, later University of Melbourne consultant architect, worked c.1907-10). He designed many substantial buildings including a concrete factory which was later requisitioned by Sun Yat Sen as the first Chinese presidential palace. Returning to Australia, apparently because of his wife's dislike of the climate, Purnell practised solely and in a string of partnerships, mainly in Melbourne but also Sydney, for some fifty more years, designing a range of building types which included the southern stand of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Activities/Occupation: Architects
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