Marion Mahony Griffin

Marion Mahony Griffin was only the second woman to graduate in architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1894. Marion subsequently worked in the office of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright with Walter Burley Griffin. Marion later married Walter on 23 June 1911.

In 1898 Marion Mahony Griffin became the first woman in the world to be licensed to practise as an architect.

An exceptionally talented draftswoman, Marion was responsible for the perspective drawings which accompanied Walter Burley Griffin's entry for
the 1912 design competition for the new Australian capital.

Marion had so capably outlined Walter's design entry that her plan and perspective renderings had a most persuasive impact on the panel of assessors.

In particular, the view from the summit of Mt Ainslie is an extraordinary drawing given that neither Marion nor Walter had been to Australia, had never seen the site and were producing their work from Chicago, in the United States.

After Griffin was appointed Federal Capital Director of Design and Construction in 1913, Marion moved with him to Australia on 12 May 1914. They were accompanied by the architect Ray Lippincott and his wife Genevieve, who was also Walter's sister.

The Griffins set up house in Melbourne. It was there that Marion managed a private architectural practice, where Lippincott also worked, while Walter focused on the planning of the new National Capital.

Although the Griffins designed buildings for Canberra, none were ever built. Designs were prepared for a series of elegant but modest workers cottages which were never realised.

Whilst in Melbourne the Griffins' practice produced designs for some remarkable houses, as well as Newman College at Melbourne University, and the Capitol Theatre.

In 1924, Marion and Walter moved to Sydney to supervise the development of the suburb of Castlecrag. The Griffin's vision was to create an ideal suburb through holistic design for a community to live in harmony with nature. Walter designed more than 50 houses for Castlecrag, of which 16 were built.

In late 1935, Walter moved to India. Shortly thereafter, Marion followed him to India and they lived there together until Walter's death in 1937. Marion then returned to Chicago where she died at the age of 91 in August 1961.