Marjorie Constance Simpson

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Marjorie Constance White (17/6/1924-27/1/2003) was the daughter of architect Charles Arthur Mortimer White. She enrolled in the architecture course at Sydney Technical College in 1941, graduating in 1948. While a student she worked in the architectural office of Eric Nicholls and was involved in a variety of projects, including a small cosmetics factory, a coffee shop, a baby health clinic and numerous houses. She became a registered architect in NSW in 1949 and in the same year married fellow architect Peter Simpson (1924-1992), changing her surname to Simpson. Marjorie worked for the Commonwealth Department of Works in Sydney from 1950 where her projects included migrant holding facilities near Wagga and near Singleton that incorporated childcare and maternity facilities. Peter Simpson (9/6/1924-11/12/1992) completed his schooling in Sydney. In 1942 he was accepted into the Sydney Technical College's six-year architectural course and was articled to Peddle Thorpe and Walker. He graduated in 1949 with credits, becoming an Associate of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA). In 1949 he married fellow student Marjorie White who had also completed the architectural course. After graduating he joined Kenwood Hoile Architects, and then in 1951 moved to the Commonwealth Department of Works where Marjorie worked. Marjorie and Peter moved to Adelaide in 1951 to work on the design and documentation of the Woomera Rocket Range for the Commonwealth Department of Works, at the same time designing their home in Adelaide. In 1954 they spent nearly five months travelling through Europe and England and were then employed by Sir Thomas Bennett & Son's office in London from 1955 to 1956. Returning to Adelaide they worked for the S.A. Brewing Company. In 1957 Marjorie Simpson became Director of the Small Homes Service of South Australia. In the same year Peter Simpson and Kenneth W. Shepherd formed Shepherd and Simpson. When Shepherd retired in 1969, Marjorie became a partner and the practice became Simpson and Simpson. It undertook a variety of work, from domestic to banks and retail, with the largest commission being the Royal Society for the Blind Institute at Gilles Plains. The partnership helped to introduce brick veneer construction and concrete slab floors to South Australia and provided a modern aesthetic to domestic construction. Marjorie retired from practice in 1989 although she continued to undertake small projects. Marjorie Simpson was the first female to be made a Life Fellow of the RAIA in South Australia. She was also convenor of the Housing Committee of the National Council of Women. She lectured on matters such as zoning, ceiling heights, drafting standards and uniform regulations to the Association of Local Government Building Surveyors. She was a regular guest on ABC radio and appeared on the first television program for women. She had a passionate interest in designing homes for the women who had to live and work in them. She published articles in newspapers and magazines and wrote the Home Builders Handbook that provided information to homebuilders on subjects ranging from design to finance. The partnership helped to introduce brick veneer construction and concrete slab floors to South Australia and provided a modern aesthetic to domestic construction. Peter was also awarded a Life Fellowship of the RAIA.