Edmund Anscombe & Associates

Edmund Anscombe (1874 – 1948) was a prominent architect in inter-war New Zealand. His embrace of new styles was remarkable in a man approaching retirement and his greatest work, of which his own apartment building is an example, took place later in his life.

Anscombe was born in Sussex and came to New Zealand as a child. He began work as a builder’s apprentice in Dunedin and in 1901 went to America to study architecture. He returned to Dunedin in 1907 and designed the School of Mines building for the University of Otago. The success of this design gained him the position of architect to the University. Five of the main University buildings were designed by Anscombe, as was Otago Girls’ High School and several of Dunedin’s finest commercial buildings including the Lindo Ferguson Building (1927) and the Haynes building.

He came to Wellington about 1928, and he is best known here for his work as the designer of the Centennial Exhibition (1939-1940). Anscombe had travelled extensively and visited major exhibitions in Australia, Germany and America. The practice of Edmund Anscombe and Associates, Architects, had offices in Dunedin, Wellington and Hawkes Bay. Buildings designed by the firm include the Vocational Centre for Disabled Servicemen, Wellington (1943); Sargeant Art Gallery, Wanganui; and several blocks of flats including Anscombe Flats, 212 Oriental Parade (1937) and Franconia, 136 The Terrace (1938) in Wellington.

As well as being interested in the housing problem Anscombe held strong views concerning the industrial advancement of New Zealand.

Image: "Edmund Anscome photographed in Dunedin with his entry in the design competition for Parliament Buildings, about 1911", image from a private collection. (Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand reference: Greg Bowron. 'Anscombe, Edmund', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 4-Jun-2013 URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/4a17/anscombe-edmund )

Sources:

NZHPT Glossary

WCC Heritage Building Inventory 2001