William Boles and James Henry Bolster: a tale of two architects

The long-awaited Manning River District Hospital was designed by Sydney architects, Bolster and Hotson. In December 1888, James Bolster visited Taree to view the completed building prior to its official opening on 23 January 1889.¹ 

Reputedly born to Irish parents in Hawaii,² James Bolster was well acquainted with Taree. James Bolster and his cousin James Edward Justelius were employed by their uncle, William Boles, in his Sydney based architectural practice.³ William, was a talented and prolific architect. Although most of his commissions were Sydney based, in 1876 he successfully competed to design a hospital at Bathurst⁴ and the following year undertook a church at Mudgee,⁵ with churches being something of a speciality.

William died in March 1880 aged only in his late 30s and the business was inherited by his nephews, who continued to trade as “William Boles”.⁶

In April 1880, a tender was placed for the construction of a church at Taree.⁷ Designed by Boles and supervised by his successors, the Wesleyan Church (now Uniting Church) in Albert Street, Taree was officially opened on 13 March 1881.⁸ A memorial window in the church pays tribute to its architect, William Boles.⁹

The partnership between James Bolster and James Justelius was dissolved in January 1887, whereupon James Bolster and John Hotson formed the business of Bolster and Hotson.¹⁰

Author: Penny Teerman