History | Russell Stuart Ellis was one of the early architects in South Australia to design in the Modern style. Born at Glanville, South Australia on 20 August 1912 Ellis studied architecture at the South Australian School of Mines and Industries and graduated in 1934. He was influenced by the American Beaux Arts system of architectural education and this is evident in Ellis finely drafted and water coloured design projects. While he was a student he worked for architects Lionel G. Bruer, Norman Fisher and Philip Claridge. Once Ellis graduated he continued to work with Philip Claridge in the practice of P. R. Claridge and Associates. This practice became Claridge, Hassell and McConnell in 1939. Ellis began designing in the International style soon after he began practicing in the late 1930s. He designed his own modern residence at Brookside Avenue, Springfield which was built c.1942. From 1941 until the end of the war Ellis worked for the Department of the Interior, moving to Darwin in 1943 returning in April 1944. In 1945 Ellis took a job working with the Allied Works Council, Department of Public Works, Adelaide during which time he worked on the CSIRO Biochemistry laboratory building at the University of Adelaide, Adelaide campus. In the period following the war, from 1945 to 1946, Ellis wrote a series of articles for South Australian Homes and Gardens. It was between 1947 and 1953 that he privately designed a residence for Charles Wright, in Meadowvale Road, Springfield in the Modern style. In 1947 when he joined the practice of F.K. Milne, Dawkins and Boehm as a junior partner, he contributed to the design of factories, showrooms and theatres throughout South Australia. Following his move into sole practice in 1958 Ellis completed many religious buildings. He moved to Whyalla on a contract with Broken Hill Proprietary and worked there between 1966 and 1970. He retired in 1971 and passed away on 2 February 1988. |