Walter Butler

Walter Richmond Butler (24 March 1864 – 31 May 1949), was an Australian architect trained in the Arts and Crafts style, born in Somerset, England. Personal life In 1864 Walter Richmond Butler was born on his family's farm in Pensford in Somerset, England. He was the sixth of eight children. At 15 Butler became the apprentice of developing Arts and Crafts architect Alexander Lauder (1836–1921), who allegedly described Butler as "a truly gifted person". Butler frequently travelled throughout England and Europe and it was not until 1888 that Butler decided to follow in the footsteps of five of his siblings and emigrate to Australia in search of prosperity and exciting new possibilities. He departed from Plymouth on the SS Oroya on 21 July arriving in Sydney in October, and by the end of the year had moved to Melbourne.