Rupert Claude Austin was born in Victoria, Australia on 14 January 1875. He subsequently moved to the UK and was articled to William Milner Fawcett (1832-1908) from 1892 to 1895. He qualified as an architect in 1896 and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) the following year. He subsequently practised as an architect in London,
His address was given as 96 Grosvenor Road, Pimlico, London in 1911 and 1923; 37 Queen Street, Westminster in 1914; Shortlands, West Cheltington, Pulborough, Sussex in 1926; 56 Blythe Road, London in 1930 and 1935; and 26 Portobello Road, London in 1939. He had by then retired as an architect. He died in London on 18 January 1953
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001