Smith & Johnson

Alfred Louis Smith and Arthur Ebden Johnson were architects who designed many public buildings of Melbourne in the classical style.

In 1843 Johnson was awarded the Soane medal for his entry in response to the Royal Institute of British Architects brief for the design of a 'Princely Palace'.

In 1846 at the age of 25 Johnson became partner of Horace Jones, city Architect of London; who in conjunction with Mr. Pearson erected Weighbridge Church in Surrey.

It was during this period that he met Alfred Smith, and it appears they may have cooperated even during the time of Johnson's employment at the PWD.

The technical planning of this project was heavily influenced in the London Law Courts competition of 1868 (as were the other entries) and the submission was successful, creating serious embarrassment for Wardell.

Its implementation was delayed when the Chief Justice, Sir William Stawell, suggested that Smith & Johnson should abandon their submitted design and follow the plan of the Four Courts in Dublin.

In 1889 Johnson was awarded the silver medal for Architectural Designs and Drawings in connection with the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition.

Born in London, Smith trained under the Master Builder Thomas Cubitt, who was from a family of well-respected architects working in the classical style.

[3] After emigrating to Melbourne in 1851 (a partial diary of his trip is held by the Brighton Historical Society), Smith was briefly employed by the Colonial Architects office.