 According to Laybourne Smith , he became interested in machinery while in the goldfields . His parents decided to direct him towards architecture , as it " was the nearest thing to white @-@ collar engineering work that they could think of " . He was articled to A. A. E. <unk> for a period before returning to Adelaide in 1898 . Laybourne Smith 's parents had intended for him to study architecture at the University of Adelaide , but there were no courses available at the time . As a result , Laybourne Smith undertook to complete a mechanical engineering course part @-@ time at the School of Mines , and ( in order to pursue his interest in architecture ) he was articled to Edward Davies from 1901 . 
