Edmund Platt

Edmund Platt arrived from England in 1876. He established a successful plastering firm and his sons all became tradesmen. The family turned to building speculation around 1905, when the production of large fibrous plaster sheets and mass production of ornamentation began to affect the viability of smaller firms such as the Platt’s. The Platt’s concentrated their efforts on the new subdivisions in Northland. Each male member of the Platt family went on to build houses in the suburb. Surviving houses include those built by Henry Platt at 5 Farm Road in 1902; Walter and Edmund Platt at 10 Farm Road in 1901-1902; Edmund Platt for son Frederick at 11 Farm Road in 1907; and Edmund Platt at 13 Farm Road in c.1910, and 92 Northland Road in 1905.

Image: Platt family sit alongside statues, on the steps of Edmund Platt's house at 73 Cresswick Terrace, Northland, Wellington, circa 1908. Top row: Emily and Walter Platt. 2nd row (from left to right?): Alice Platt, Florrie Smith (nee Platt), and May Platt. Bottom left: Harry Platt. Bottom right: Edmund Platt. Photograph possibly taken by Walter Platt. (National Library reference: Platt family, 73 Creswick Terrace, Northland. Hodgson, N :Photographs relating to the Platt family. Ref: 1/2-147715-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22741407 )

Sources:
Fill B. 1985, “From an Age of Adornment”, in Historic Places, September 1985