Gerard Henry Bussell McDonell, born in 1908 at Cundle Plains, was the fifth son of John Joseph and Emily Mary McDonell (née Bussell).1 He was educated locally before graduating from the University of Sydney in 1932 with a BA in Architecture.2 Later that year, he opened his own practice which operated from Maloney and Haddan’s Building in Victoria Street, Taree.3
McDonell widened his experience by way of an extensive overseas trip commencing in 1935 and encompassing much of the UK, Europe, Scandinavia and Ireland. Details are provided in a chatty letter written from Dublin in late 1936 shortly before he returned to Australia.4
Following his marriage in June 1937, McDonell settled in Newcastle, before relocating to Sydney. It was in Elgin Street, Gordon on Sydney’s Upper North Shore that he designed a house for himself. This was the project which saw him awarded the prestigious and much coveted John Sulman Medal for Architecture (1940).5
Local examples of McDonell’s work include the Whitbread Stand in Taree Park (1934)6, Haddan’s dental surgery at 1 Manning Street, Taree (1938)7 and the convent at Wingham (1934).8
Continuing his professional career in Sydney, he later became a lecturer at the University of NSW and died in 1979.9
Author: Penny Teerman
References:
1 Mid North Coast Pioneers – http://mncp.scss.dyndns.info/individual.php?pid=I46821&ged=mncp.ged
2 State Library of NSW – R1061 https://search.sl.nsw.gov.au
3 Manning River Times Saturday 26 November 1932 P6
4 Manning River Times Wednesday 13 January 1937 P5
5 Catholic Freemans Journal Thursday 3 July 1941 P10
6 Northern Champion Saturday 12 May 1934 P4
7 Northern Champion Saturday 5 February 1938 P4
8 Wingham Chronicle Friday 7 December 1934 P2
9 Australian Cemeteries Index and NSW BDM Death Registration 11682/1979
