Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Clarke, R.E., G.C.M.G.

Andrew Clarke (1824–1902) was born in Hampshire, England, but spent his early childhood in India. He arrived in Hobart in 1847, accompanying Sir William Denison, Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land and later Governor-General of the Australian Colonies.

In 1853 Clarke was appointed Surveyor-General to Victoria, taking over this office from Robert Hoddle. Embracing the position with enthusiasm, Clarke supervised the subdivision and sale of land, and plotted rail lines and roadways. In 1856 Clarke stood for the seat of South Melbourne in the Legislative Assembly, which he held until he left Victoria for England in 1858.

Clarke proposed many initiatives in the formative years of the colony. He oversaw the installation of Australia's first electric telegraph, from Melbourne to Williamstown, and from there to the borders of South Australia and New South Wales. The allocation of public land for St Paul's Anglican Cathedral and the Royal Botanic Gardens were also instigated during his term as Surveyor-General.

Impressed by the art treasures he saw in Italy on his way to England in 1858, Clarke lobbied the Victorian government to establish an art gallery. Later, in the company of Hugh Childers (1826–1897), a Trustee of the Public Library, Museums and National Gallery of Victoria, Clarke selected its first acquisitions.