Rowland ("something of a black sheep in the family"), along with his brothers Allen and Charles, "had all three received and squandered their inheritance" and were accordingly left nothing in their father's will; at any rate, having suffered "some kind of financial catastrophe" and moved into "a small terrace villa in Hove", the senior Rowland Rees left only enough to cover a few preliminary bequests.

[4] Rees began his architectural practice immediately upon arriving in the colony of South Australia,[1] initially in partnership with architect Thomas English, from 19 February 1870 until 1873.

They practised as English & Rees, Civil Engineers, Architects and Surveyors, of Temple Chambers, Currie Street, Adelaide.

[6] He advanced liberal ideas, such as free education, the regulation (rather than banning) of gambling, and equal divorce rights for women.

[1] They had two surviving children: Mrs. Rees lived for some time with her son Sydney in Perth, and died in Subiaco, Western Australia.