Edward Mallandaine

Edward's travelling days began early when, at age 5, he left India and returned to England with his father and sisters. Three years later, the family was on the move again when they relocated to France.

In 1844, at the age of 17, Edward returned to England with his father to obtain work. He found a position as a clerk with a mercantile firm and lived with his grandparents in Mile End.

In 1846, Edward was bound apprentice to Mr. Stow, a family friend and the District Surveyor of St Giles Camberwell. He completed his apprenticeship and worked in a variety of positions as an architect's assistant.

While working in Finsbury, Edward met his first wife, Mary Ann Boyles. Before marrying, Edward left England for the gold fields of Australia in 1852. Like so many others, Edward's dreams of riches were doomed to failure. Less than a year later he returned to England where he continued to work as an architect's assistant.

Edward finally married Mary Ann at St Giles, Camberwell on 5 May 1855. On 21 January 1856, their first child was born. Sadly, Mary Ann died 8 days later. Unable to care for his daughter, he entrusted her care to a number of wet nurses. On 1 November 1856, Edward's daughter, Mary Ann Martha Leigh, died and was buried with her mother at Nunhead Cemetery.

In 1858, he decided to emigrate to the colony of Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada. He sold his home and possessions and borrowed £70 from his sister, Charlotte. Edward took the train to Liverpool where he boarded a steamer for the first leg of his journey. He stopped in New York, Panama, and San Francisco before arriving in Victoria on 12 October 1858.

Edward began working as a teacher and later purchased the school, opening the city's first night school for adults. In 1860, he published Victoria's first directory containing a list of residents and business advertisements.In 1863, he opened his first office and began working as an architect. He produced numerous plans including a design proposal for the new parliament buildings. He practised architecture in Victoria, New Westminster, Portland and San Francisco.

 

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