Farr & Bennie

The short-lived partnership of Everard Cecil Farr (1859 – 1937) and James Bennie (1873-1945) was responsible for the design of at least 26 buildings. 

James Bennie was a prolific Wellington architect who was born in Ayrshire, Scotland as the son of a mining engineer. The family moved to New Zealand in 1879 and settled in Brunnertown near Greymouth. In the early 1890’s Bennie attended the Working Men’s College in Melbourne, Australia, where he studied under artist and architect Thomas Searell. On completion of his studies he returned to Greymouth and set up in practice as an architect. In 1903 Bennie moved to Wellington and went into practice with Everard Farr.

Everard Farr was the son of self-taught Christchurch architect, Samuel Farr. Everard was trained by and worked for his father before joining the North Canterbury Education Board. He travelled to Melbourne in c.1888, and arrived in Wellington by 1892. He worked for Clere & Richmond and for the Public Works Department from 1894 – 1898, before the establishment of his own architectural practice with Ernest Coleridge (as Farr and Coleridge).

Farr & Bennie was formed in mid-1902 and produced at least 16 houses, a sawmill, a factory and a row of shop-dwellings.  When the partnership dissolved in late-1904 James Bennie continued in practice and designed over 200 buildings. Everard Farr practiced independently before re-joining the Public Works Department in Greymouth and then Christchurch.

 

Sources:

Fill, Barbara. “James Bennie, Architect, 1874-1945,” NZHPT, 1984
Mew, Geoff & Adrian Humphris. “Raupo to Deco: Wellington Styles and Architects 1840 – 1940” (Wellington: Steel Roberts Aotearoa, 2014) 
NZHPT Glossary
WCC Heritage Inventory 2001