Farncombe, 2 Princes Street (demolished)

Sydney William Smith was an architect and surveyor who had a long association with the City of St Kilda. He arrived in Australia in Sydney in 1852 and came to Melbourne in 1857. Though Smith’s endeavours spread far and wide his life centred in St Kilda. He married Sarah Anne Carter in 1859 who raised 9 children in their home in Princes Street, called Farncombe and designed by Smith and finished in 1871.

His first municipal position was in 1857 as the first surveyor for the St Kilda Municipality, just after its creation. From the 1860s onward he identified himself as the CE (Civil Engineer) for St Kilda Council, a role in which he surveyed and made roads, oversaw drainage and the like. He held this position until 1872 just after completing his house.  

The only notable building he designed before then was the first St Kilda Town Hall in 1859, in the form of an addition behind the court house on the corner of Barkly and Grey Streets, to which he also added a classical portico front. After his resignation, he served as surveyor to the City of Emerald Hill (South Melbourne) for the next 20 years, as well as similar positions such as for the City of Caulfield.

He designed a few other buildings, the best known are all in St Kilda, and still remaining. They include two adjacent houses in Grey Street, Villa Capri (1871) and Stradbroke (1872, the verandah is c1890), the chancel added to Christ Church Acland Street in 1872, and much later the Vicarage next door in 1885. He also designed the very vertical Courier/Record newspaper offices on Dorcas Street behind the South Melbourne Town Hall in 1881.

He died at Farncombe on June 13th 1886, and Sarah Smith remained at Farncombe until her death in 1914.

His oldest son, also Sydney W Smith (Sydney Wigham Smith), entered his father’s architectural firm, and continued it after his death, taking on Charles Ogg as partner in c1890 as Sydney Smith & Ogg. That firm became very successful after about 1900, especially known for designing numerous pubs, some with the assistance of noted Arts & Crafts designer Rober Haddon. The firm later became Sydney Smith Ogg and Serpell, whose output culminated in the grant Port Authority Building in 1930. Sydney W Smith (Jnr) died in 1933.