Alfred Luttrell may not be as well known in Launceston architecture as Alexander North or Harold Masters, but he has left his mark on the city and its history.
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Edgar Alfred Luttrell, born in Hobart in 1865, came to Launceston about 1882 to train in architecture with Harry Conway and in 1886, established his own practice. Later, with younger brother Sidney, he had premises in Cameron Street and the brothers later expanded their business to Queenstown and Devonport.
Alfred was a member of the General Committee, and the official architect for the Tasmanian Exhibition of 1891-92. He designed the temporary saw-tooth annexes which extended over City Park for the five months of the exhibition, and the ticket office which was later transferred to the Kings Bridge entrance to the Cataract Gorge.
Although he did not design the Albert Hall (which was built for the exhibition), he was responsible for the cement-modelled façade.
He also designed the mineral arch over the exhibition entrance in Tamar Street which was made entirely of Tasmanian materials, including samples of several minerals, and drew the plans and perspective drawings of the Albert Hall for general distribution.
The annexes, constructed by J & T Gunn, extended from the pavilion next to the Albert Hall across most of the park covering the Dolphin Fountain, which became the centrepiece for the Avenue of Nations.
The fountain is now in the Senses Garden.
The annexes housed displays by Launceston businesses such as Boags, Campbell's Pottery and F & W Stewart. The other Australian colonies were represented as well as New Zealand, Britain, France and Bohemia. The Albert Hall was also used for concerts and other entertainment.
After the exhibition, the annexes were dismantled, the materials sold and the park returned to the public.
Alfred Luttrell also designed the Price Memorial Hall in Tamar Street, now the Design Centre.
In its original state, it was exposed red brick with grey render but is now painted. He also designed Stuart Villas in Margaret Street, the Brisbane Hotel (now largely remodelled), the Empire Hotel in Queenstown and many others.
By 1902, Albert and Sidney had left Launceston for Christchurch, New Zealand where their firm, A & S Luttrell, was very successful.
They designed many of Christchurch's iconic buildings and the New Zealand Express Co. (later Mutual Fund) building in Bond Street, Dunedin, sometimes described as New Zealand's first skyscraper.
Alfred Luttrell died in Christchurch in 1924.
