Other members of the family have been Mayors of Hertford in England and participated in the American Civil War.

He arrived in Tasmania in 1821 on the ship Aguilar, where he settled at Brickendon – the second of the families two most famous homesteads – and began his farm with 30 merino sheep he had brought with him from England.

He was repeatedly asked to become a member of the Legislative Council but declined; he did however accept a position of Magistrate in 1835.

[22] He was progressively joined by his brothers, who immigrated from England to build the Panshanger, Brickendon, Northbury, Fairfield, Cheshunt, Woodside, Palmerston and Saundridge estates between them.

In 1826 he was appointed part of the first Legislative Council of Tasmania, which he remained a member of until he resigned due to ill health in 1845.

His wife, Sussanah Archer, survived until 1890 and was herself a notable member of the local community, being a contributor to the Longford Wesleyan Church, of which she laid the foundation stone.

His sons went on to inherit or buy various properties, including Longford Hall, Landfall and Huntsworth.

He immigrated to Van Diemens Land following his brothers success, where he built the Greek-revival Panshanger Estate in Longford.

He was highly successful until the bankruptcy of the family bank, Archer, Gilles and Co which in 1844 left him with debts of 70,000 pound, which he paid off before his death.

He became a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council in 1847, and held the post till his sudden death in 1853.

As he was not in line to inherit the estate, he pursued his own career and built Cheshunt House.

His many architectural projects include many of his families properties, most notably Woolmers[30] itself but also Saundridge at Cressy[31] and the non-archer Mona Vale.

[32] He in 1856 was appointed a Magistrate of Tasmania, and the same year elected Member for Westbury in the Tasmanian House of Assembly.

In 1862 he was elected a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council for Longford, which he represented for ten years.

[10] His son Alexander became a successful lawyer, in partnership originally with John Clemons.

From 1882 to 1887 he was a member of the House of Assembly for Norfolk Plains, during which time he was offered the posts of Speaker, Treasurer and Chief Secretary in succession and declined each.

He became a member of the Royal Commissions into Education and Prisons, and was Tasmania's representative to the 1878 Paris World Fair.

He became Treasurer of the Municipality during his time, and served on the Longford Show Society Committee, as well as being chairman of the Boards of Health, Rabbits, Fruits and Advice.

He studied at Cambridge, graduating with Bachelor of Arts, and returning home where he inherited the estate from his father upon his death.

He was educated at Launceston Church Grammar School and he inherited Woolmers upon his father's death and was during his life promoted community and sports movements.

He married Eleanor Mary Harrap and had one son, Thomas Edward Cathcart Archer.

[39] Two of their homes, Woolmers and Brickendon, are world heritage listed as part of the Australian Convict Sites area.

[40] Cheshunt House, designed and owned by William Archer (1820–1874), was featured on a stamp issued by Australia Post in 2004.