He was initially articled to James Hill in Adelaide, South Australia, and later William Pitt in Melbourne, Victoria.
Summerhayes came to Western Australia in 1894, during the gold rushes, and set up an architectural practice in Coolgardie.
He married Florence May Camm in Victoria in 1896, but had returned to Coolgardie by 1897, the year their son Reginald was born.
[2] Within Coolgardie Summerhayes designed buildings such as the Turkish Baths, the Jewish Synagogue, the Presbyterian Church, the Mechanics Institute and the Exhibition Building, but became known for his homestead and villa designs, which were built across Western Australia.
[2] He also designed Kobeelya in Katanning, and Rechabite Hall in Perth, his last significant building.