Daniel Dering Matthew

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MATHEW, Daniel Dering. Came free per "Clarkson", 1812; settler at Clanville, Lane Cove; engineer, architect and geologist

1813 Oct 28

Re proposed opening of coal mine at Middle Harbour (Reel 6002; 4/3491 pp.576-7)

1814 Apr 14

Re plans of proposed new Court of Justice building in Sydney (Reel 6044; 4/1729 pp.370-1)

1814 Apr 30

Paid from Police Fund for drawing plans of intended Court House at Sydney (Reel 6038; SZ758 p.489)

1814 Jun 11,13

On lists of settlers to receive Government cattle on credit (Reel 6038, SZ758 p.498; Reel 6044, 4/1730 p.154a)

1814 Jul 2

On return of horned cattle issued from the Government Herds between 8 May 1814 & 9 Jan 1819 (Reel 6048; 4/1742 p.53)

1815 Nov 20

Evidence at inquest on Michael Glinnen (Reel 6021; 4/1819 p.227)

1817 Oct 5

Asking for services of a blacksmith (Reel 6047; 4/1739 p.257)

1817 Dec 2

Recommending Cornelius McCarthy for a ticket of leave (Fiche 3173; 4/1849 p.63)

1818 Dec 2

Re goods brought into Port Jackson per "Tottenham" contrary to orders (Reel 6047; Reel 6047; 4/1741 pp.163-5)

1818 Dec 16

Re goods brought into Port Jackson per "Elizabeth" contrary to orders (Reel 6047; 4/1741 pp.166-8)

1818 Dec 16

Petition that "Tottenham" be brought before Court for violation of several Acts of Parliament for prevention of smuggling & protection of revenue (Reel 6047; Reel 6047; 4/1741 pp.169-76)

1818 Dec 18

Re breach of revenue laws by "Tottenham" (Reel 6047; 4/1741 pp.149-60)

1818 Dec 18

Notified to appear to support information given by him against "Elizabeth" & "Tottenham" (Reel 6047; 4/1741 pp.161-2)

1818 Dec 19

Laid information against "Tottenham" & "Elizabeth" in the Vice Admiralty Court (Reel 6040; 9/2735 pp.43-5)

1819 Mar 4

Requesting that the seal of Vice-Admiralty Court be affixed to attested copies of proceedings of that court in matter of "Elizabeth" & "Tottenham" (Reel 6048; 4/1742 p.172)

1819 Mar 5

Re seal of the Vice-Admiralty Court having been ordered by Judge Bent & made by Thomas Austin (Reel 6048; 4/1742 pp.169-71)

1819 Apr 3

Four cows received from Mathews in return for stock issued from the Government Herd (Reel 6031; 4/7028A p.191)

1819 Apr 30

On return of persons indebted to Government for cattle issued from the Government Herds, to be paid for in kind (Reel 6048; 4/1742 p.258)

1819 Jun

On lists of fees & fines paid to the Clerk of the Peace, 1 Jan 1817 to 1 Jan 1821; in case of King v Mathews, charge of assaulting a sentry at his post (Reel 6054; 4/1758 pp.66a, 67a)

1820 Sep 18

On list of persons for whom grants of land have been handed over to the Surveyor General for delivery (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.58)

1822 Jan 8

Re agreement to barter stores of the "Nereus" for timber, & confiscation of stores (Reel 6054; 4/1759 p.81)

1822 Jan 29

Assigned convict servant returned to Government by (Reel 6054; 4/1759 p.7)

1822 Mar 31-1823 Sep 30

On lists of persons to whom convict mechanics have been assigned (Fiche 3296; X53 pp.6, 19, 32, 46, 62, 77)

1822 Apr 24

Accused of harbouring bushranger John Bishop (Reel 6054; 4/1759 pp.58-61)

1822 Apr 29

Re charge of harbouring bushranger (Reel 6009; 4/3505 p.218)

1822 Jun 7-1823 Sep 12

On list of persons receiving an assigned convict (Fiche 3290, 4/4570D pp.7, 61; Fiche 3291, 4/4570D pp.103, 112, 129, 132)

1822 Aug 30

For grant of land at Hunters Hill to erect a sawing machine (Reel 6055; 4/1761 p.140). Reply, 10 Sep (Reel 6009; 4/3506 p.241)

1822 Sep 23-Oct 21

Thomas Sims convicted by Court of Criminal Jurisdiction of stealing from Mathew (Reel 6023; X820 p.71)

1822 Nov

Testimony to character of John Warwick, per "Lord Eldon", for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3228; 4/1868 p.36)

1822 Nov 14

Agreeing to sign a contract to superintend the work of convict mechanics, subject to certain conditions (Reel 6055; 4/1762 p.73)

1822 Nov 26

Proposals for supplying Government with sawed timber, logs, shingles, etc (Reel 6055; 4/1762 pp.107-8)

1823 Jan 29

Requesting indulgences & complaining about Mr Hyndes (Reel 6058; 4/1770 pp.69-69c)

1823 Feb 24, Apr 21

Re position of his saw mill & the exact boundaries of his grant at Hunters Hill (Reel 6056; 4/1764 pp.62-62e)

1823 Sep 17,27

Re construction of geometrical staircases now existing & being built in several Public Works of the Colony. Contending that they were constructed on an incorrect principle; recommending that they be dismantled & rebuilt; giving his own principles of construction & enclosing a diagram (Reel 6056; 4/1765 pp.197-200)

1823 Oct 6-Nov 5

Seeking a position in the Colony which was commensurate with his professional skill as an architect; sending plan for bridges across the Nepean, for the new court house at Parramatta to demonstrate his claim; also sending a violin he had made (Reel 6056; 4/1765 pp.208-10)

1824 Apr 17

Offering his services for the surveying of Hunters Hill (Reel 6059; 4/1774 p.34). Reply, 24 Apr (Reel 6012; 4/3510 p.666)

1824 Apr 24-Aug 9

Memorial (Fiche 3099; 4/1838A Nos.626, 626A pp.639-58). Replies, 9 & 18 Jun (Reel 6013; 4/3511 pp.415, 471)

1824 Apr 28

On list of individuals to whom bonded mechanics have been assigned (Fiche 3293; 5/3821.1 p.7)

1824 Jun 8

Memorial of William Booker (Fiche 3078; 4/1836A No.75 p.393)

1825 Sep 30, Oct 7

Tenders for the supply of sawn timber for the Carters Barracks (Reel 6064; 4/1788 pp.12-4)

1825 Oct 6

Re tender for the supply of sawn timber to Carters Barracks (Reel 6015; 4/3515 p.390)

1825 Dec 27

Tendering to supply Carters Barracks with timber (Reel 6064; 4/1789 p.68a)

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Statement of significance The Clanville HCA has high historic significance as the David Dering Mathew grant of 400 acres called “Clanville”, whose boundaries are evident through the following streets; Archbold Road, Boundary Street Pacific Highway and Tryon Road. Successive subdivisions in the late nineteenth century were spurred by the development of the North Shore Railway Line in 1890-1893. This subdivision reflects improved transport connections due to the construction of the North Shore Railway line. Further subdivisions took place n the early twentieth century. The HCA has high aesthetic significance as a cohesive early twentieth century and Interwar development and for the high proportion of quality houses.

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Daniel Dering Mathew (d.1856) [Son of Dan. Byam Mathew, he died without issue] DMW/132 Letter from Dan. Deering Mathew, Sydney, New South Wales, to Geo. Benvenuto Mathew, MP, concerning a legacy of Abednego Mathew [son of Abednego Mathew and Jennett; d.1837] and describing New South Wales [1 paper] 18 Sep 1837 source http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/onlinelists/GB%200214%20DMW.pdf

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It seems a pity that after all this the first trained architect to reach Australia should have been only Daniel Dering Mathew. He was a free settler who came to Australia in 1813 in the hope of practising his profession. At first it must have seemed that he had arrived in Heaven, for the question of establishing law courts and a town hall was being mooted-and he the only trained architect within five thousand miles! The Governor asked him to prepare some sketch plans for a building combining the two actions. The result was a rather queer piece of architectural design showing a building 140 feet long, 44 feet wide, and 36 feet high, in two storeys. Mathew was careful to point out that he had provided "a Grecian Doric Portico at the main entrance copied from the Temple of Theseus at Athens, the only alteration is putting it on three steps instead of two". He was, of course, being consciously "Classical" in the best tradition. In adding the note about the steps he was being a pedantic fusspot. In any case, it was flattery to use the term "portico" for the mean porch he proposed for his rather mediocre building.' In each of the wings was to be a "geometrical Stair"; we shall meet many more examples of this architectural feature so beloved by Colonial builders. A geometrical stair was an ingenious invention, the building of which called for a high degree of craftsmanship. Each step was formed by one stone, one end of which was built into the wall, while the other hung out over space. Right along the bottom edge of each step was a groove which fitted over the top edge of the step immediately below, so that in some measure each step helped to support all the others in a flight. The free ends of the steps generally conformed to some pleasing geometrical curve, hence the name. A fine example of a geometrical stair can be seen at Elizabeth Bay House. Mathew estimated the whole cost of the courts at "about £6,000", but pointed out that the exchange between currency and sterling was so variable that accuracy was difficult. Macquarie tried to raise a subscription to obtain the funds for this building but met with little success. Bent built his own house with courtroom attached, as we saw earlier, but the need for adequate law courts was to be discussed for years. Lord Liverpool later temporarily shelved the matter by directing that a wing of the Rum Hospital should be used as courts, so Mathew's Temple of Theseus retired, presumably to its native Athens, and rhe bitterly disappointed architect was paid £10, 10s. "for drawing two plans of the intended New Court House at Sydney". Eight years later he was to be prosecuted for harbouring and

employing a bushranger, so that his profit on these two transactions with the Government was precisely ten shillings."

He was, however, to design and erect one building, the Colonial Secretary's

house in Bridge Street, Sydney, on the site of the present Department of Education. This building was to survive until 1915, not unattractive in appearance, showing definite Regency influence in its white stuccoed walls and rather curiously decorated entrance porch. Its chief claim to historical importance is that it was the subject of the first architect's plan, and specification, in Australia. It is reproduced herewith (9). The house cost £3,000 to build, an extraordinarily high figure for its time. General dissatisfaction was caused by its poor construction, and such a fault would naturally reflect on the architect whether he was guilty or not.

Mathew's luck was indeed running out for, besides these woes, the major architect of Colonial Australia was about to arrive as His Majesty's most unwilling guest. This circumstance pricked the bubble of Mathew's gorgeous vision of unlimited commissions from the Government, and he had to scrape along with what private commissions he could get. These were not infrequent, but payments for them were. Reading between the lines we see that payment was slow because his work was not very satisfactory. We hear an echo from the days when he was building the Colonial Secretary's house when he makes the excuse that the tradesmen of the Colony were too unskilled to allow him to do good work. It seems to be a case of a bad workman blaming bad workmen.

There is no detailed record of his activities between 1815 and 183,bu t in the latter year he thought he saw his opportunity once more when the position of Government Architect was in a curious and insecure state. He waged a campaign of attrition against the Colonial Secretary's Office with the object of convincing the authorities of their severe loss in not having him in their employ. His opening move was subtle enough. The new geometrical stair at the market shed had collapsed, so out of the goodness of his heart he wrote a letter to the Secretary pointing out that all the geometrical stairs in all the government buildings were unsafe. He gave a concise and highly technical description of the correct method of building geometrical stairs with the object not so much of being informative on the subject as to make it manifest that the one who knew all about geometrical stairs was none other than D. D. Mathew, Esquire.

Ten days later the Colonial Secretary was to receive another letter in which not only the stairs but all government buildings were described as unsafe, and which contained the passage: "I am sorry to see so many buildings attempted to be erected, particularly by Government and that at the risk of the lives of its subjects, only for want of a person duly qualified to superintend them." In case the point of the last sentence should be missed, Mathew treated the harassed Secretary to a further gratuitous lecture on the engineering principles involved in the construction of staircases, and a highly theoretical paper on roof trusses, finally telling his correspondent that he would ready see "that there is much more scientific knowledge required in erecting buildings than is generally supposed".

The hints were getting very broad indeed, but when they produced no results after ten days, Mathew tried a new approach. On 6th October 1823 he sent the Secretary a violin made by his own hands, ostensibly to convince that gentleman of his skill in all things, but, no matter how he sought to disguise it, Mathew was offering a bribe. He pointed out in the accompanying letter than any incompetent could get a job with the Government in preference to "a perfect slave to science"- himself."

Even he must have thought his manoeuvres were getting a little obvious, because the very next day, in an effort to distract attention From his dubious methods, he sent yet another letter, together with plans of two bridges with spans of 120 feet and 180 feet respectively but "of one Arch of Equalibration", a lecture on the building of bridges, and a plan for the new courthouse at Parramatta. This would seem to have evoked a reply, but, since it still produced no promise of employment, on 5th November he wrote asking for a candid answer as to whether he could be hopeful of the position of Architect, Engineer, Director of Machines, and/or anything. Had he not said previously that he could do the practical work of more than twenty trades, having made the study of chemistry and the-Arts his favourite amusement for many years? To this letter he appended the threat that unless he got a position he would quit the Colony, "As I am determined no longer to be buried in the most miserable part of the Globe, and among the outcastes of all Society, for without a sdcienitn come to keep company with the first rank, a man must descend to associate with the rabble, if with any."16 The Colonial Secretary was apparently quite unmoved by the horror of the idea of New South Wales w:thout a D. D. Mathew, and the matter lapsed.

As an anti-climax Mathew stayed on, busying himself with farming and with saw-milling-apparently at Cowan Creek. In 1821 the Commissioner of the Court of Requests found that he owed ;£8 16s. for a boat which after purchase roved to be so rotten that he said he sold it for 10s. The famous Billy Blue summonsed him for non-payment of a debt of £12 for ferrying him to and from Blue's Point. He applied for convicts and had several assigned to him from time to time, although the assignment of two was revoked in 1832 on the grounds that he did not provide them with sufficient clothing.

The last we hear of him is in 1844, when he took a family of the assisted emigrants, who were by then replacing transported convicts, to work on his farm at Lane Cove?'

And so passed from history Australia's first architect, competent enough in the technical field, if the evidence is to be believed, but lacking that quality of conviction that makes a man a success amongst his fellow men. source http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/HIST-EARLY/Hist-Early005.htm

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Noted events in his life were: • Colonial Secretary Records: 1812. Came free per "Clarkson", 1812; settler at Clanville, Lane Cove; engineer, architect and
geologist • Colonial Secretary Records: 28 Oct 1813. proposed opening of coal mine at Middle Harbour (Reel 6002; 4/3491 pp.576-7) • Colonial Secretary Records: 14 Apr 1814. Re plans of proposed new Court of Justice building in Sydney (Reel 6044; 4/1729 pp.370-1) • Event: 26 Jun 1819, The Sydney Gazette and NSW Adviser. Daniel Mathew advertised in the "Sydney Gazette" that he was taking his family to England in the "Surry" Page 4 26th June 1819. He stated that, "he was taking his wife family and a servant Bridget Oliver." Burke's Dictionary of the Landed Gentry Vol.2 M-Z shows that Daniel Mathew died without issue. Bridget by being taken to accompany Mrs.Mathew is shown to be well regarded by Mr and Mrs.Mathew. Was Charlotte part of the "family"? • Death Notice: 18 Jun 1856, The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney NSW AUS. On the 13th instant, at his residence, Rosedale, Lane Cove, Daniel Dering Mathew, Esq., in the 71st year of his age. [, previously MATTHEW] source http://colsec.records.nsw.gov.au/indexes/colsec/m/F38c_mat-mit.htm