George Hastings Burgess was born in Hastings, Sussex, England on 2 August 1870. In 1890 he moved to Ipswich in Suffolk where he worked as an assistant to the architect Brightwen Binyon (1846-1905). Following Binyon's retirement in 1897, Burgess, together with Francis [Frank] Brown (1859-1929) purchased his practice and established the partnership Brown & Burgess. They were joined by Arthur Welburn Field (1883-1964) in 1919.
In addition to his work as an architect, Burgess was also a watercolour painter and from 1923 to 1944 was a member of the Ipswich Art Club with whom he exhibited.
His address was given as High Street, Crawley, Sussex in 1881; 28 Museum Street, Ipswich, Suffolk in 1891; 85 London Road, Ipswich in 1901; Brantover, Tomline Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk in 1911; 9 Arcade Street, Ipswich in 1932; and 52 Tuddenham Road, Ipswich in 1937 and 1944. He died in Ipswich, Suffolk on 30 July 1944
Work by Brown & Burgess included Restoration of the Church of St. Peter, near Ipswich, Suffok (1901, 1909); and additions to Brantover, Leopold Road/Wolsey Terrace, Felixtowe, Suffolk (1905-06)
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
'Obituary'. The Builder vol. 167, 18 August 1944 p. 139