Vernon Family Collection, ca. 1880-1994

fonds

ca. 1880-1994

Textual Records, Graphic Materials

153770

This collection of family papers and records relates primarily to the lives and careers of Walter Liberty Vernon, NSW Government architect and soldier and Hugh Venables Vernon, architect and soldier. It also includes material concerning Geoffrey Hampden Vernon, physician and Olive Maud Vernon, nurse.
Walter Liberty Vernon was born in 1846 at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. After qualifying as an architect he set up his own practice in 1872. In 1883 he migrated to Australia. He designed his own house, 'Penshurst' at Neutral Bay, Sydney in 1884 but from 1895 lived at 'Wendover', Normanhurst, Sydney. In 1890 he was appointed NSW Government Architect.From 1909 he executed numerous site studies for the future federal capital and in 1909 was appointed to the Federal Capital Advisory Board. Vernon's other main interest was soldiering. He joined the NSW Lancers in 1885 and commanded them at Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. He rose to the rank of colonel and commanded the 2nd Light Horse Brigade from 1907 to 1910. He died in 1914, survived by his widow, two sons and two daughters.
Hugh Venables Vernon, elder son of W.L. Vernon, was born in 1877. He too trained as an architect and joined the NSW Lancers. He served in the Boer War and commanded the 1st Light Horse Regiment at Gallipoli. He also fought in France where he was awarded the D.S.O. He died in 1935.
Geoffrey Hampden Vernon, younger son of W.L. Vernon, was born in 1882. He graduated as a doctor in 1905 and served as a medical officer in the Middle East during World War I, winning the Military Cross. He also served in Papua-New Guinea as a medical officer during World War II. He died in 1946.
Olive Maud Vernon, younger daughter of W.L. Vernon, was born in 1871. She was a Senior Nursing Sister and was mentioned in despatches for valuable work with the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force 1914-1918. She died in 1925.

This collection contains manuscript and pictorial series. You may navigate to more detailed descriptions of these series from this collection record.

Other material relating to the military careers of W.L. Vernon and H.V. Vernon is located at the National War Memorial, Canberra and the Lancer Barracks, Parramatta. Material relating to the architectural career of W.L. Vernon is located in the Architecture Library, University of NSW and at Sydney University and the Archives Office of NSW.