John Francis (Jack) Hennessy

John Francis (Jack) Hennessy (1887–1955) was an Australian architect, with the same name as his architect father, John Francis Hennessy, with whom he was in partnership as Hennessy & Hennessy from 1912 to 1924.[1] As principal of the firm after his father retired from 1924 to 1955, he was responsible for many major Art Deco office buildings in capital cities in Australia and New Zealand in the 1930s, as well as many projects for the Catholic Church in Queensland, and the Great Court of the University of Queensland.

John Francis (Jack) Hennessy
John Francis (Jack) Hennessy in 1910
Born
John Francis Hennessy

(1887-01-08)8 January 1887
Burwood, Sydney, New South Wales
Died4 September 1955(1955-09-04) (aged 68)
Sydney
Resting placeRookwood Cemetery
NationalityAustralian
Alma mater
OccupationArchitect
Years active1912 – c. 1940s
Parent
Practice
BuildingsGreat Court, University of Queensland
DesignHoly Name Cathedral, Brisbane

Early life

Hennessy was born on 8 January 1887 at Burwood, Sydney. After completing his secondary education at the Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham, and St Patrick's College, Goulburn, he studied architecture at Sydney Technical College and at the University of Pennsylvania. He gained experience with firms in America and Sydney, before becoming a partner with his father, John Francis Hennessy, trading as Hennessy & Hennessy in 1912.[2] John Hennessy retired in 1924, and the firm continued under Jack Hennessy Jnr, retaining the name, though they were also known as Hennessy, Hennessy & Co.[3]

Career

In the 1920s, Queensland Archbishop Duhig commissioned a number of projects for the Catholic Church in Brisbane, including the never-built Holy Name Cathedral, Brisbane. In the 1930s Hennessy designed a series large office buildings for three different insurance firms in three countries, and has been described as Australia's first international architect.[3] Another major project was the Great Court, University of Queensland in St Lucia, Brisbane, built between 1938 and 1979.[3]

In 1950, Hennessy was awarded over £25,000 by the court when he sued to recover his unpaid fees for the Holy Name Cathedral.[4]

Hennessy died of heart disease at his eldest son's home in Sydney on 4 September 1955, at the age of 68. He was buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery at Rookwood. The firm continued until 1968.[3]

Major extant works

References
  1. Howard, Rod. "Hennessy, John Francis (Jack) (1853–1924)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre for Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  2. East, John (August 2014). "Jack F Hennessy, architect of the Great Court at The University of Queensland" (PDF). Fryer Folios. 9 (1): 15–19. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  3. East, John W. (2013). "Australia's first international architect: a sketch of the life and career of Jack F. Hennessy junior" (PDF). St Lucia QLD, Australia. pp. 1–79. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  4. "£25,720 TO HENNESSY". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 17 May 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  5. "Corpus Christi Church (entry 601460)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  6. "Church of Saint Ignatius Loyola (entry 602532)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  7. "Newspaper House (entry 600150)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  8. "CML Building". adelaidia.sa.gov.au. Adelaide, Australia. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  9. t (1 January 1935). "Colonial Mutual Life building, Wellington". Colonial Mutual Life building, Wellin... | Items | National Library of New Zealand | National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  10. "University of Queensland, Great Court Complex (entry 601025)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
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