Harry Norris
Architect
Died when: 78 years 186 days (942 months)Star Sign: Gemini
Harry Norris (12 June 1888 – 15 December 1966) was an Australian architect, one of the more prolific and successful in Melbourne in the interwar period, best known for his 1930s Art Deco commercial work in the Melbourne CBD.
His designs were informed by his regular overseas trips, especially to the United States, which he visited at least every 18 months from perhaps the late 1920s; and he was one of the first architects to introduce the Art Deco style to major commercial projects.
He had a strong and long relationship with the wealthy Nicholas family, designing not only the Nicholas Building, but the Aspro factory in South Melbourne, the spectacular mansion 'Burnham Beeches' in the Dandenongs for Alfred Nicholas, and various additions and alterations to Wesley College following a bequest from the family.
He also had a long relationship with G.J.Coles, designing branches of their eponymous Coles Stores from the late 1920s, numerous matching Art Deco branches in the 1930s, and some of their earliest supermarkets in the 1950s, as well as a country house for E.
B.Coles in 1938.He refused membership of the RVIA for many years until finally joining on the 21 February 1946.Harry Norris retired on his 78th birthday in June 1966 and died six months later.
