Sir Joseph John Talbot Hobbs was born in London in 1864.
He worked as architectural draftsman to a builder, John Hurst, with whom he migrated to Perth in 1887 where he began work as a carpenter but soon set up practice as an architect.
Talbot Hobbs became a leader in the small band of Perth architects. His success in the competition for the design of the Weld Club in 1891 (on the other side of the road on the corner of Barrack Street and The Esplanade) began a series of commissions for important buildings, both public and private, in Perth and Fremantle.
He was also devoted to soldiering which became his second career. On the outbreak of war in 1914 Hobbs was given command of the artillery of the 1st Division, Australian Imperial Force and served with distinction in France.
Returning to WA Hobbs was chosen to design the Western Australian War Memorial which was dedicated in 1929.
In April 1938 Hobbs left for France with his wife and daughter to attend the unveiling of the Australian war memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. He suffered a heart attack at sea and died on 21 April. His body was brought back to Perth for burial with state and military honours after a service at St George's Cathedral (just up the hill on St Georges Terrace).
This memorial to Hobbs was unveiled in 1940 just south west of here and relocated in 2015 as part of the Elizabeth Quay development.
Solve the puzzle below to find the final coordinates for the cache! You'll find the information you need on the monument. S 31° 57. (476 + Talbot Hobbs’s age when he died – 10) E 115° 51.(534 + Talbot Hobbs’s age when he died + 22)
www.anu.edu.au/biography/hobbs-sir-joseph-john-talbot-6690
This cache has been placed with the permission of the City of Perth
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