Arthur was born at Bondi on 27 October 1894, the eldest son of William Stewart Mowle and grandson of Mr A K Mackenzie of “Boonara”, Bondi.1
After working as an architect, in 1916 he enlisted in the AIF and underwent training as a pilot. His flying exploits ended in July 1917 when, having been severely wounded, he was shot down in a dogfight over France.2 After several months of hospital treatment he was repatriated and discharged early in 1918.
Rebuilding his life, he married Adrienne Elsie Genty in Sydney later that year. The reception was held at the prestigious Adams Hotel and featured a wedding cake adorned with a model aeroplane.3
Arthur’s architectural practice appeared to flourish. However, in June 1931 he relocated to a dairy farm at Barrington, near Gloucester, where he concentrated on the breeding of Australian Illawarra Shorthorn cattle.4
By 1934 his architectural practice was again in full swing and he designed many buildings in and around Gloucester including the Street & Parish shops, a grandstand for Gloucester Park, additions to Gloucester Dairy Company and a Presbyterian Church at Barrington.5
Around 1936 he moved back to Sydney and seems to have worked as an architect in government employ in his later years.6 He died in 1987 having been predeceased by his wife in 1981.7
Author: Penny Teerman
References:
1 Gloucester Advocate Friday 21 October 1932 Pg 2.
2 The Sun (Sydney) Monday 24 September 1917 Pg 2.
3 Sydney Morning Herald Saturday 2 November 1918 Pg 9.
4 NSW Land Registry Services online – Vol 4491 Fol 68 and Gloucester Advocate Friday 21 October 1932 Pg 2.
5 Gloucester Advocate – various editions 1934-1935.
6 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette Thursday 3 September 1959 (Issue 55) Pg 3155.
7 NSW BDM search: Deaths 15932/1987 and 8563/1981.
