Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Gargett, Thomas Brenan Femester, 1898-1975
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Description area
Dates of existence
1898-1975
History
Thomas Brenan 'Bren' Femister Gargett, was born on 2 May 1898 in Brisbane. He began his career as an apprentice with H.W. Atkinson & Chas. McLay in 1914 and later became a partner in the reformed practice of A.H. Conrad & T.B.F. Gargett. Bren earned one of the first diplomas of architecture from Brisbane Central Technical College (now the Queensland University of Technology) in 1923 and went on to design several significant religious, civic, and educational buildings. Among his most valued works were the memorial library and studio at Somerville House Girls' School. During World War Two, he managed a civilian drafting office for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which helped forge postwar connections and boost the firm's profile. A traditionalist in both design and method, Bren was known for his meticulous approach and insistence on reliable architecture principles. Under his leadership, Conrad Gargett became one of Brisbane's largest architectural firms, responsible for major commissions including banks, hospitals, and heritage conservation projects. He held several leadership roles within the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, including national president, and was made a Life Fellow in 1970. Bren died on 10 September 1975 in Brisbane. He had been married to Lorna Gertrude Robertson (1900-1969) since 1926.
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Status
Revised
Level of detail
Full
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Revised, Kymberley Doyle, 07-Apr-2025.
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Sources
Riddel, R. J. (1996). 'Gargett, Thomas Brenan Femister (1898–1975)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed online 07-Apr-2025.
Maintenance notes
Revised with history and source, Kymberley Doyle, 07-Apr-2025.