Born in Thorne, Yorkshire, Edward Casson Rowntree (or Rountree) was transported to Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land, as a convict in the Manlius on 12 August 1830. His crime was stealing money from his employer. Described as a rough carpenter or joiner and farm labourer, Rowntree spent the rest of his life in Van Diemen's Land, during which time he worked as a carpenter, builder and architect. His notable architectural works are the Hobart Town Savings Bank (now the Murray Street branch of the Savings Bank of Tasmania) and the Congregational Church at Richmond. He died at Sandy Bay on 8 November 1893.