17 Facts About Francis Greenway

Francis Greenway was an English-Australian convict and colonial architect.

Francis Greenway's work reflected a blend of neoclassical design principle and practicality as the colony grew, symbolising both the struggles and aspirations of the early colonial period.

Francis Greenway became an architect "of some eminence" in Bristol and Bath.

Francis Greenway's only remaining building in the United Kingdom is the Clifton Club in Bristol, originally the Clifton Hotel and Assembly Rooms.

Whilst awaiting deportation to Sydney, Francis Greenway spent time in Newgate Prison, Bristol, where he completed paintings depicting scenes within the prison.

Francis Greenway arrived in Sydney, New South Wales on the transport General Hewitt in February 1814 to serve his sentence.

Francis Greenway first met Lachlan Macquarie in July 1814 to whom he had come recommended by Admiral Arthur Phillip.

Between 1816 and 1818, while still a convict, Francis Greenway was responsible for the design and construction of the Macquarie Lighthouse on the South Head 2km from the entrance to Port Jackson.

Francis Greenway's works include Hyde Park Barracks, extensions to First Government House, the stables for a projected new Government House, and St James' Church, Sydney, which was chosen as one of Australia's only two man-made 'treasures' by Dan Cruickshank in the BBC series Around the World in 80 Treasures.

Francis Greenway submitted designs for the first Catholic church in Sydney, St Mary's but they did not match the ambitious scale envisaged by the priest Fr Therry, and were not proceeded with.

Francis Greenway fell into disrepute when Macquarie accused him of charging high fees whilst on a government retainer, and he was dismissed by the next governor, Thomas Brisbane, in 1822.

Francis Greenway continued to follow his profession with little success.

Francis Greenway died of typhoid near Newcastle, New South Wales in 1837, aged 59.

Francis Greenway is believed to have been buried in the Glebe burial ground at East Maitland on 25 September 1837, but his grave is unmarked.

Ironically, despite conviction for the forgery of a financial document, Francis Greenway's face was shown on the first Australian decimal-currency $10 note, making him probably the only convicted forger in the world to be honoured on a banknote.

Francis Greenway is the eponym of a NSW Federal electorate, a suburb of Canberra, and a high school in Woodberry, a suburb of Maitland.

Francis Greenway Drive in the suburb of Cherrybrook is named in honour of Francis Greenway.