1983352
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Rate, Bertram Thomas
Description
Unique IDPE-004735SurnameRateGiven namesBertram ThomasBirth dateBetween 1st August 1885 and 31st August 1885Birth date qualifiermonth & year onlyPlace of birthSydney, NSWDeath date22nd October 1952Death date qualifierexactPlace of deathNeutral Bay, Sydney, NSWBiographical abstractDates of employment: circa 1917- 1939Biographical noteBiographical details:
NSW BDMs Registry Indexes
Birth: RATE BERTRAM T 11475/1885 THOMAS & MARY registered at WATERLOO August
Marriage: 4653/1909 RATE BERTRAM T & CLANCY LILIAN G registered at GLEBE
Death: RATE BERTRAM THOMAS 27584/1952 THOMAS & MARY registered at NORTH SYDNEY
Births of Children:
RATE MARCIA D 3827/1911 BERTRAM T & LILIAN G registered at GLEBE [died 1949]
RATE DOROTHY G 29793/1915 BERTRAM T & LILIAN G registered at GLEBE
RATE LAURENCE E 41261/1916 BERTRAM T & LILIAN G registered at DRUMMOYNE [died 1916]
RATE BETTY 30709/1924 BERTRAM T & LILIAN A registered at HURSTVILLE
Marriage Notices
Marriage: RATE- CLANCY.- May 25, 1909, at St James' Church, Glebe Point, by Rev. Father Coonan, Bertram Thomas, eldest son of Thomas Rate, of Sydney, to Lilian (Grace), youngest daughter of the late Denis. [ref: SMH 25 September 1909 p12]
Marriage: RATE—CLANCY.— May 26, at St. James' Church, Glebe Point, by Rev. Father Coonan, Bertram Thomas Rate to Lilian Clancy. [ref: The Sydney Mail 29 September 1909 p61]
Death Notices
Death: RATE Bertram Thomas - October 22 1952 at his daughter’s residence Ben Boyd Road Neutral Bay of 98 Woniora Road Hurstville, husband of the late Lillian Grace, dearly loved father of Marcia (deceased), Dorothy (Mrs Kin) and Betty (Mrs Wynn); dear father in law of Hugh Kin and Reginald Wynn and fond grandfather of Margaret and Jennifer Wynn. Requiescat In pace. [ref: SMH 23 October 1952 p16]
Death: RATE, Bertram Thomas. -October 22, at Neutral Bay, beloved brother of Ivy (Mrs. H. Preston), Olive (Mrs. LeGros), and George. Interred Randwick, 24th. [ref: SMH 25 October 1952]
Death of Infant son Laurence
RATE.— December 15, 1916, at Renfrew, Wharf-road, Gladesville, Laurence Edward, beloved infant son of Bertram and Grace Rate, aged 12 weeks. [ref: SMH 16 December 1916 p12]
Death of mother, Mary Rate
NSW Death: RATE MARY 8506/1928 WILLIAM & ANNE registered at KOGARAH
“one of Australia's most prominent feminine industrial figures” [ref: obituary - The Propeller (Hurstville} 8 June 1928 - p 1]
Death of his wife Lilian Grace
RATE.-June 21, 1945, at Cowra, Lilian Grace, beloved wife of Bertram Thomas Rate, of 98 Woronora Road, Hurstville, and loving mother of Marcia, Dorothy, and Betty (Mrs. R. Wynn), aged 56 years. Requiescat in pace. [ref: SMH 23 June 1945]
Professional Life:
Architecture Examination Results 1905-1907
1906 Sydney Technical College:
Architectural History: First year, first grade
Building Construction; First year, Honours [SMH 12 January 1906 p7]
Architectural Drawing: First year, first Grade, [ref: SMH 20 January 1906]
1907 Sydney Technical College: – Architecture:
Architectural Drawing: Second year, second grade
Building Construction: Second year, first grade
Styles of Architecture: Second year, first grade [ref: SMH 18 January 1907 p3]
1908 Sydney Technical College: Architecture:
Architectural drawing: Third year, honours
Building construction: Third year, First grade
Styles of Architecture: third year, First grade [ref: SMH 18 January 1908 p16]
In 1916, Council conducted a competition for the design of workmen’s dwellings at Chippendale. Fifty entries were received and Bertram T Rate, Wharf Road, Gladesville, received a prize of £50 for the third premium design [ref: SMH 1 August 1916 p8]. Official Notice of results and exhibition of plans [ref: The Daily Telegraph 9 August 1916 p1]
At his marriage in 1909 and for the birth of his first children, Rate lived at Glebe. He moved to Gladesville in about 1916 and then to the southern suburbs of Sydney by 1918 when Mrs Rate of Henry Street, West Kogarah advertised for a “mother’s help”. [ref: The St George Call (Kogarah) 13 April 1918 p4]. Weekly advertisements appeared between 1923 and 1925 in the local paper, The Propeller (published in Hurstville) for Bertram T Rate, Architect, 88 Woniora Road, Hurstville. He lived in Woniora Road until his death in 1952.
His initials (BTR) appear on some City of Sydney plans in 1917. He was very much involved in drawing plans for the Pyrmont Power House and various electricity substations throughout the years 1924-1930. In June 1929 the position of Chief Draftsman to be in charge of the Architectural sub-department was created and he was appointed to it. The position was abolished in January 1931. In 1939 he appeared as a witness in a court case and was described as “superintendent of building maintenance for City Council”. His position was probably that of Supervisor of Building and Maintenance. [ref: trial of Herbert Stanley Cocks - The Sun 26 April 1939 p2]
Details from contemporary sources:
1916 Competition for workmen’s dwellings [ref: A-00103182 and A-00103404]
1917 Sydney Electric Light Generating Station Pyrmont. Block Plan of site and surroundings. 1/40 inch [ref: A-00533729]
1924 Pyrmont Power House 11000 volt switch house. Detail of steelwork for roof [ref: A-00533831]
1925 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 164, Kent and Clarence Streets Sydney [ref: A-00544081]
1925 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 164, Kent and Clarence Streets Sydney, [ref: A-00544098]
1926 No date: Plan - Garages to Dowling Street Dwellings [ref: A-00544040]
1927 Plan - Steel staircase for new Transformer House, Pyrmont Power House, Pyrmont, [ref: A-00544078]
1927 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 188, corner of George Street and Allen Street Zetland [ref: A-00544140]
1927 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 187, corner of Albany Street and Oxley Street Crows Nest [ref: A-00544161]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 164, Kent and Clarence Streets Sydney [ref: A-00544114]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 82, Castlereagh Street Haymarket [ref: A-00544116]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 188, corner of George Street and Allen Street Zetland [ref: A-00544132]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 188, corner of George Street and Allen Street Zetland [ref: A-00544134]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 188, corner of George Street and Allen Street Zetland [ref: A-00544135]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 188, corner of George Street and Allen Street Zetland [ref: A-00544138]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 180, Vista Street Mosman [ref: A-00544155]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 187, corner of Albany Street and Oxley Street Crows Nest [ref: A-00544159]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 187, corner of Albany Street and Oxley Street Crows Nest [ref: A-00544160]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 187, corner of Albany Street and Oxley Street Crows Nest [ref: A-00544162]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 187, corner of Albany Street and Oxley Street Crows Nest [ref: A-00544164]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 195, Pacific Highway Pymble [ref: A-00544179]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 195, Pacific Highway Pymble [ref: A-00544181]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 195, Pacific Highway Pymble [ref: A-00544182]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 195, Pacific Highway Pymble [ref: A-00544183]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 195, Pacific Highway Pymble [ref: A-00544185]
1929 19 June – Position of Chief Draftsman, City Engineer’s Department, created and Rate appointed to be in charge of the Architectural sub-department [ref: Proceedings of the Council 1929]
1931 January – position of Chief Draftsman abolished [ref: Proceedings of the Council 1931]GenderMale
NSW BDMs Registry Indexes
Birth: RATE BERTRAM T 11475/1885 THOMAS & MARY registered at WATERLOO August
Marriage: 4653/1909 RATE BERTRAM T & CLANCY LILIAN G registered at GLEBE
Death: RATE BERTRAM THOMAS 27584/1952 THOMAS & MARY registered at NORTH SYDNEY
Births of Children:
RATE MARCIA D 3827/1911 BERTRAM T & LILIAN G registered at GLEBE [died 1949]
RATE DOROTHY G 29793/1915 BERTRAM T & LILIAN G registered at GLEBE
RATE LAURENCE E 41261/1916 BERTRAM T & LILIAN G registered at DRUMMOYNE [died 1916]
RATE BETTY 30709/1924 BERTRAM T & LILIAN A registered at HURSTVILLE
Marriage Notices
Marriage: RATE- CLANCY.- May 25, 1909, at St James' Church, Glebe Point, by Rev. Father Coonan, Bertram Thomas, eldest son of Thomas Rate, of Sydney, to Lilian (Grace), youngest daughter of the late Denis. [ref: SMH 25 September 1909 p12]
Marriage: RATE—CLANCY.— May 26, at St. James' Church, Glebe Point, by Rev. Father Coonan, Bertram Thomas Rate to Lilian Clancy. [ref: The Sydney Mail 29 September 1909 p61]
Death Notices
Death: RATE Bertram Thomas - October 22 1952 at his daughter’s residence Ben Boyd Road Neutral Bay of 98 Woniora Road Hurstville, husband of the late Lillian Grace, dearly loved father of Marcia (deceased), Dorothy (Mrs Kin) and Betty (Mrs Wynn); dear father in law of Hugh Kin and Reginald Wynn and fond grandfather of Margaret and Jennifer Wynn. Requiescat In pace. [ref: SMH 23 October 1952 p16]
Death: RATE, Bertram Thomas. -October 22, at Neutral Bay, beloved brother of Ivy (Mrs. H. Preston), Olive (Mrs. LeGros), and George. Interred Randwick, 24th. [ref: SMH 25 October 1952]
Death of Infant son Laurence
RATE.— December 15, 1916, at Renfrew, Wharf-road, Gladesville, Laurence Edward, beloved infant son of Bertram and Grace Rate, aged 12 weeks. [ref: SMH 16 December 1916 p12]
Death of mother, Mary Rate
NSW Death: RATE MARY 8506/1928 WILLIAM & ANNE registered at KOGARAH
“one of Australia's most prominent feminine industrial figures” [ref: obituary - The Propeller (Hurstville} 8 June 1928 - p 1]
Death of his wife Lilian Grace
RATE.-June 21, 1945, at Cowra, Lilian Grace, beloved wife of Bertram Thomas Rate, of 98 Woronora Road, Hurstville, and loving mother of Marcia, Dorothy, and Betty (Mrs. R. Wynn), aged 56 years. Requiescat in pace. [ref: SMH 23 June 1945]
Professional Life:
Architecture Examination Results 1905-1907
1906 Sydney Technical College:
Architectural History: First year, first grade
Building Construction; First year, Honours [SMH 12 January 1906 p7]
Architectural Drawing: First year, first Grade, [ref: SMH 20 January 1906]
1907 Sydney Technical College: – Architecture:
Architectural Drawing: Second year, second grade
Building Construction: Second year, first grade
Styles of Architecture: Second year, first grade [ref: SMH 18 January 1907 p3]
1908 Sydney Technical College: Architecture:
Architectural drawing: Third year, honours
Building construction: Third year, First grade
Styles of Architecture: third year, First grade [ref: SMH 18 January 1908 p16]
In 1916, Council conducted a competition for the design of workmen’s dwellings at Chippendale. Fifty entries were received and Bertram T Rate, Wharf Road, Gladesville, received a prize of £50 for the third premium design [ref: SMH 1 August 1916 p8]. Official Notice of results and exhibition of plans [ref: The Daily Telegraph 9 August 1916 p1]
At his marriage in 1909 and for the birth of his first children, Rate lived at Glebe. He moved to Gladesville in about 1916 and then to the southern suburbs of Sydney by 1918 when Mrs Rate of Henry Street, West Kogarah advertised for a “mother’s help”. [ref: The St George Call (Kogarah) 13 April 1918 p4]. Weekly advertisements appeared between 1923 and 1925 in the local paper, The Propeller (published in Hurstville) for Bertram T Rate, Architect, 88 Woniora Road, Hurstville. He lived in Woniora Road until his death in 1952.
His initials (BTR) appear on some City of Sydney plans in 1917. He was very much involved in drawing plans for the Pyrmont Power House and various electricity substations throughout the years 1924-1930. In June 1929 the position of Chief Draftsman to be in charge of the Architectural sub-department was created and he was appointed to it. The position was abolished in January 1931. In 1939 he appeared as a witness in a court case and was described as “superintendent of building maintenance for City Council”. His position was probably that of Supervisor of Building and Maintenance. [ref: trial of Herbert Stanley Cocks - The Sun 26 April 1939 p2]
Details from contemporary sources:
1916 Competition for workmen’s dwellings [ref: A-00103182 and A-00103404]
1917 Sydney Electric Light Generating Station Pyrmont. Block Plan of site and surroundings. 1/40 inch [ref: A-00533729]
1924 Pyrmont Power House 11000 volt switch house. Detail of steelwork for roof [ref: A-00533831]
1925 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 164, Kent and Clarence Streets Sydney [ref: A-00544081]
1925 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 164, Kent and Clarence Streets Sydney, [ref: A-00544098]
1926 No date: Plan - Garages to Dowling Street Dwellings [ref: A-00544040]
1927 Plan - Steel staircase for new Transformer House, Pyrmont Power House, Pyrmont, [ref: A-00544078]
1927 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 188, corner of George Street and Allen Street Zetland [ref: A-00544140]
1927 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 187, corner of Albany Street and Oxley Street Crows Nest [ref: A-00544161]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 164, Kent and Clarence Streets Sydney [ref: A-00544114]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 82, Castlereagh Street Haymarket [ref: A-00544116]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 188, corner of George Street and Allen Street Zetland [ref: A-00544132]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 188, corner of George Street and Allen Street Zetland [ref: A-00544134]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 188, corner of George Street and Allen Street Zetland [ref: A-00544135]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 188, corner of George Street and Allen Street Zetland [ref: A-00544138]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 180, Vista Street Mosman [ref: A-00544155]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 187, corner of Albany Street and Oxley Street Crows Nest [ref: A-00544159]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 187, corner of Albany Street and Oxley Street Crows Nest [ref: A-00544160]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 187, corner of Albany Street and Oxley Street Crows Nest [ref: A-00544162]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 187, corner of Albany Street and Oxley Street Crows Nest [ref: A-00544164]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 195, Pacific Highway Pymble [ref: A-00544179]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 195, Pacific Highway Pymble [ref: A-00544181]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 195, Pacific Highway Pymble [ref: A-00544182]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 195, Pacific Highway Pymble [ref: A-00544183]
1928 Plan - Sydney Municipal Council Electricity Substation Number 195, Pacific Highway Pymble [ref: A-00544185]
1929 19 June – Position of Chief Draftsman, City Engineer’s Department, created and Rate appointed to be in charge of the Architectural sub-department [ref: Proceedings of the Council 1929]
1931 January – position of Chief Draftsman abolished [ref: Proceedings of the Council 1931]GenderMale
Relationships
CollectionPeople and PositionsOrganisationSydney City CouncilPositionDraftsman [multiple departments]Chief Draftsman [multiple departments]
Registration
Detailed recordNo
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Rate, Bertram Thomas [PE-004735]. City of Sydney Archives, accessed 14 Nov 2025, https://archives.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1983352