Family background
David Thomas Morrow was born in 1871 at Kiama, NSW. He married Caroline Horn in 1896 with whom he had two sons, Reginald and Norman. He was living in Stanhope Road, Killara when he died on 16 April 1935, aged 64.
Occupation & interests
Morrow was an architect, articled to the firm Morell and Kemp Architects, of Sydney, in the 1880s. In 1890 he formed an architectural practice with William de Putron which ended in 1892, largely due to the prevailing economic conditions.
Morrow then started his own practice, D T Morrow, in George Street, Newtown in 1897, developing a respectable clientele, designing both city and suburban buildings. In 1909 de Putron joined him, the practice becoming D T Morrow and de Putron, operating in Gibbs Chambers, 7 Moore Street, Sydney. They soon had a thriving architectural practice, notable for the substantial number of large commercial clients. These included Soul Pattinson, Grace Brothers, Anthony Horden and John McGrath Motors. Notable commercial buildings designed by the firm included the Grace Building (1930), the Federal Mutual Chambers, Sydney Snow’s building and Fay’s Liverpool Street premises. Domestic commissions included Babworth House, 103 Darling Point Road, Darling Point for Samuel Horden and Hopewood House, also at Darling Point for Lebbeus Horden.
In 1921 Percy James Gordon (1892-1992) was accepted as a junior partner and the firm became Morrow, de Putron and Gordon. With the departure of de Putron in 1925 the firm became Morrow and Gordon. After Morrow resigned in 1932 Gordon became the senior partner, but the firm continued under the same name until 1992.
Community activity
One of Morrow’s special interests was the Far West Children’s Home at Manly, for which he and Percy Gordon were the honorary architects.
Local government service
David Morrow was elected as an alderman on Redfern Council, representing Golden Grove Ward, in March 1906 to fill an extraordinary vacancy caused by the resignation of Alderman Fanning. He served until 1908 when he was presented with a framed illuminated letter of thanks for his services to the municipality.
References
‘Mr D.T. Morrow’, Sydney Morning Herald, 18 April 1935, p. 14, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17168551
Borough of Redfern’, Government Gazette of the State of NSW, 28 March 1906 [Issue No. 133], p. 2101, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226475395
‘Social Items’, Evening News, 26 September 1908, p. 14, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/114755985
‘Mr D.T. Morrow’, Sydney Morning Herald, 18 April 1935, p. 14, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17168551
‘Mr Tom Morrow’, Cootamundra Herald, 26 April 1935, p. 5, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144052128
‘Our Tribute’, Building, 13 May 1935, Vol 56, No. 333, p. 25, http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-314189565
Architectural drawings, 1896-1982 / Morrow & Gordon, State Library of NSW, PXD 529, https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/9AL4B0aY
‘Architects Morrow and De Putron’, Federation Home, https://federationhome.com/2018/03/27/architects-morrow-and-de-putron-2/
‘Federation Architects of NSW’, Federation-House, https://www.federation-house.com/federation-architects-of-nsw
NSW State Archives: NRS-13660-15-2142-Series 4_205102: David Thomas Morrow – Date of Death 16/04/1935, Granted on 08/07/1935