Charles Tilleard Natusch

Lewis Tilleard Natusch (always known as Charles) completed his architectural studies in England in 1882, after which he travelled in the United States and Canada. Natusch returned to England in 1883 to become involved in the town planning and development of Southend-on-Sea. He immigrated to New Zealand in 1886 and, after a short collaboration with Atkins & Clere, established a practice in Wellington as an architect and quantity surveyor. During the 1880s depression the Natusch family moved to Masterton, Pahiatua and finally to Napier, where Charles bought the architectural practice of Robert Lamb. Although he returned to Wellington in 1906 Natusch and his sons retained the office in Napier and opened branch offices in Gisborne (1900) and Palmerston North (1908). This alliance was known as CT Natusch & Sons from c.1911.

The firm received many domestic commissions from the farming community. Well known houses include Bushy Park (Kai Iwi), Gwavas (Tikokino), Matapiro (Napier), Erewhon in Taihape (1898), Maungaraupi (Marton) and Wharerata (Massey University). Following several changes of name and three generations of Natusch architects, the family practice was continued by grandson Guy Natusch until his retirement in 1997.

Image: Natusch, Guy Kingdon, 1921-. Natusch, Guy Kingdon, 1921- :Portrait of Charles Tilleard Natusch. Ref: PAColl-7720. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22841737

Sources:
Historic Places Trust, ‘Natusch, C.T. & Sons’, Professional Biographies, accessed 7 August 2013, http://www.historic.org.nz/corporate/registersearch/ProfessionalBio/Professional.aspx?CPName=Natusch,+C.T.+_amp_+Sons
Guy K. Natusch. 'Natusch, Charles Tilleard', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 4-Dec-2013
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/3n2/natusch-charles-tilleard
Mew, Geoff & Adrian Humphris. “Raupo to Deco: Wellington Styles and Architects 1840 – 1940” (Wellington: Steel Roberts Aotearoa, 2014)