John Little

• Born                      1856, Manchester
• Died                       1917, Melbourne, Australia

Son of Thomas Little, builder Manchester

OBITUARY. - We regret to record the death of the late Mr John Little, the late hon. secretary of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects. He was the son of Thomas Little, builder, of Manchester, England, was born in 1856 in Manchester, and educated at the Grammar School in that city. He arrived in Melbourne September, 1882, and entered the office of Grainger and D'Ebro. He later commenced practice alone, and afterwards took into partnership Hillson Beasley, now practising in Perth, W.A, At a later date his firm became Grainger, Kennedy and Little, and after a further period - in which he again practised alone - Grainger and Little, and at the time of his death the style of his firm was Grainger, Little and Barlow. For some years, while continuing his private practice, he was instructor in architecture at the Working Men's College. He became an Associate of the Institute in 1892, Fellow in 1900, honorary assistant secretary in 1896, and honorary secretary in 1900. During his twenty years' institute work, he only missed three meetings, except in the period of his absence abroad, and five meetings from which illness prevented his attendance. In partnership, he was associated with a number of important city buildings designed by his firm, including the Melbourne Savings Bank, Elizabeth Street; the last Town Hall additions, Swanston Street; Elizabeth House, Elizabeth Street ; the Swinburne Technical College (in conjunction with Campbell and Kernot); Cliveden Mansions alterations, and a large number of residences and other buildings. His loss will be severely felt both in his work as honorary secretary and also as editor of the RVIA Journal.

Reference           Building News 25 April 1917 page 371