John Harry Grainger
Encyclopedia
John Harry Grainger Although most sources give 1855 as the birth year, the Grainger Museum
states that 1854 is the correct year. was a British-born architect who emigrated to Australia in 1877, and father of musician Percy Grainger
.
, where their only son, christened George Percy Grainger, was born on 8 July 1882.
Grainger was involved in the musical life of Adelaide, organised the first string quartet in Adelaide, and provided space in their house for the string quartet to rehearse. Percy Grainger ascribes some of his exposure to music early on in his father's love of music.
John Grainger was an accomplished artist, with broad cultural interests and a wide circle of friends. These included David Mitchell, whose daughter Helen later gained worldwide fame as an operatic soprano
under the name Nellie Melba
. John's claims to have "discovered" her are unfounded, although he may have offered her encouragement.
John Grainger moved his family to Melbourne
in 1882, when he was awarded the tender for the design of Princes Bridge
His son Percy Grainger, was born in Melbourne 1882. John was a heavy drinker and a womaniser who, Rose learned after the marriage, had fathered a child in England before coming to Australia. His promiscuous lifestyle placed heavy strains upon the relationship, particularly when Rose discovered shortly after Percy's birth that she had contracted a form of syphilis
from her husband. Despite this, the Graingers stayed together until 1890, when John went to England for medical treatment.
On his return to Australia he settled in Adelaide (living for a year or so with his sister May and her husband George Sydney Aldridge. Most of his water colour paintings (of which there are 10 in the Grainger Museum
) date from this second Adelaide period.
across the Yarra River
in Melbourne
.
He also won prises for his design of a unique swing bridge at Sale, Victoria. He designed at least 14 bridges, five water supply and irrigation schemes, and a large number of buildings, many of which are on heritage registers in both Australia and New Zealand. Today he is largely forgotten.
He was Chief Architect to the Western Australian Government from 1897 to about 1905, when he retired from that post owing to ill health. He later returned to Melbourne, where he died in 1917.
Grainger Museum
The Grainger Museum is a repository of items devoted to the memory of the composer and pianist Percy Grainger, located in the grounds of the University of Melbourne, Australia....
states that 1854 is the correct year. was a British-born architect who emigrated to Australia in 1877, and father of musician Percy Grainger
Percy Grainger
George Percy Aldridge Grainger , known as Percy Grainger, was an Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist. In the course of a long and innovative career he played a prominent role in the revival of interest in British folk music in the early years of the 20th century. He also made many...
.
Family background
John Harry Grainger was born on 30 November 1854 at 1 New Street, Westminster from a Northumbrian family of builders, architects and engineers. His parents were John Grainger, Master Tailor and Mary Ann Grainger, née Parsons. He grew up in Durham, England. Percy Grainger related that he was told "Grainger Street" in Newcastle-on-Tyne was so-called because an uncle, or other relative, had built most of the houses in the street. John Grainger appears to have lived with an uncle while in England, but as his parents were not deceased — they are listed as still living in Westminster in the 1881 census, it is unclear why. Winifred Falconer, his companion later in life, wrote in an unpublished manuscript in the mid-1930s that he lived with an uncle who was an important influence on him during his childhood. Percy believed that his father received much of his education at a monastery school in France at Yvetot (between Le Havre and Paris).Early career
In 1877, at the age of 22, John came to Australia and became Assistant Architect & Engineer to the South Australian Government. In October 1880 he married Rose Annie Aldridge, daughter of an Adelaide hotel-keeper; the couple settled in the Melbourne suburb of North BrightonBrighton, Victoria
Brighton is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Bayside. At the 2006 Census, Brighton had a population of 20,651...
, where their only son, christened George Percy Grainger, was born on 8 July 1882.
Grainger was involved in the musical life of Adelaide, organised the first string quartet in Adelaide, and provided space in their house for the string quartet to rehearse. Percy Grainger ascribes some of his exposure to music early on in his father's love of music.
John Grainger was an accomplished artist, with broad cultural interests and a wide circle of friends. These included David Mitchell, whose daughter Helen later gained worldwide fame as an operatic soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
under the name Nellie Melba
Nellie Melba
Dame Nellie Melba GBE , born Helen "Nellie" Porter Mitchell, was an Australian operatic soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian Era and the early 20th century...
. John's claims to have "discovered" her are unfounded, although he may have offered her encouragement.
John Grainger moved his family to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1882, when he was awarded the tender for the design of Princes Bridge
Princes Bridge
Princes Bridge may refer to:* Princes Bridge, in Melbourne over the Yarra River* Princes Bridge railway station, Melbourne* Princes Bridge, over the Barwon River in Victoria...
His son Percy Grainger, was born in Melbourne 1882. John was a heavy drinker and a womaniser who, Rose learned after the marriage, had fathered a child in England before coming to Australia. His promiscuous lifestyle placed heavy strains upon the relationship, particularly when Rose discovered shortly after Percy's birth that she had contracted a form of syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
from her husband. Despite this, the Graingers stayed together until 1890, when John went to England for medical treatment.
On his return to Australia he settled in Adelaide (living for a year or so with his sister May and her husband George Sydney Aldridge. Most of his water colour paintings (of which there are 10 in the Grainger Museum
Grainger Museum
The Grainger Museum is a repository of items devoted to the memory of the composer and pianist Percy Grainger, located in the grounds of the University of Melbourne, Australia....
) date from this second Adelaide period.
Bridge designs
Grainger won professional recognition for his design of the Princes BridgePrinces Bridge
Princes Bridge may refer to:* Princes Bridge, in Melbourne over the Yarra River* Princes Bridge railway station, Melbourne* Princes Bridge, over the Barwon River in Victoria...
across the Yarra River
Yarra River
The Yarra River, originally Birrarung, is a river in east-central Victoria, Australia. The lower stretches of the river is where the city of Melbourne was established in 1835 and today Greater Melbourne dominates and influences the landscape of its lower reaches...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
He also won prises for his design of a unique swing bridge at Sale, Victoria. He designed at least 14 bridges, five water supply and irrigation schemes, and a large number of buildings, many of which are on heritage registers in both Australia and New Zealand. Today he is largely forgotten.
He was Chief Architect to the Western Australian Government from 1897 to about 1905, when he retired from that post owing to ill health. He later returned to Melbourne, where he died in 1917.