George Raymond Johnson (7 February 1840 – 25 November 1898) was an English architect who produced several notable buildings in the Australian colonies. Johnson is principally remembered for the seven town halls of his design that still stand today in Melbourne and other Victorian towns, but he achieved contemporary renown for his theatres[1] and, particularly, his annexes to the Melbourne Exhibition Building[2].
Johnson was born in Southgate, England (then a part of Middlesex) and at age 13 began working with George Hall, Midland Railway architect. At 19 he moved to London, presumably to continue his architectural career[1]. On 24 July 1962 he married Emma Louise Wood and, nine days later, the couple embarked on a journey of emigration to Queensland[1]. In 1867, Johnson moved to Melbourne, where he produced most of his major works. In 1898, while at sea on return to Melbourne from Perth, Western Australia, Johnson contracted septicemia, and died[2].
Johnson's major works are mostly Classical in style, variously described as Renaissance Revival, Free Classical, Italianate, Second Empire or Mannerist[1][2]. Some of his residential buildings were in the Gothic Revival style[3][1].
A selection of Johnson's notable buildings are listed below. For a complete list of known works, see the database compiled by Johnson's descendent, architect Peter Johnson, included in Hannan (2006)[1].
| Building | Location | Year | Type | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince of Wales Opera House | Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria, | 1872 | theatre | demolished 1900 | |
| Eastern Arcade | Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria | 1872 | commercial | modified 1894, demolished 2008[4] | |
| North Melbourne Town Hall | North Melbourne, Victoria | 1876 | town hall | ||
| Theatre Royal | Hindley Street, Adelaide, South Australia | 1878 | theatre | demolished 1962 | |
| Metropolitan Meat Market | North Melbourne, Victoria | 1879 | commercial | ||
| Austin Hospital for Incurables | Heidelberg, Victoria | 1882 | other | demolished c1970 | |
| Daylesford Town Hall | Daylesford, Victoria | 1882 | town hall | ||
| Collingwood Town Hall | Collingwood, Victoria | 1885 | town hall | ||
| Criterion Theatre | Cnr Pitt and Park Street, Sydney | 1886 | theatre | demolished 1935 | |
| Annexes to Exhibition Building | Carlton, Victoria | 1887 | other | demolished 1889 | |
| Northcote Town Hall | Northcote, Victoria | 1887 | town hall | ||
| Fitzroy Town Hall additions | Fitzroy, Victoria | 1887 | town hall | ||
| Maryborough Town Hall | Maryborough, Victoria | 1887 | town hall | ||
| Bijou Theatre | Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria | 1889 | theatre | demolished 1934 | |
| Kilmore Town Hall | Kilmore, Victoria | 1894 | town hall |