Hoggard, Prouse & Gummer

Hoggard and Prouse (later Hoggard, Prouse and Gummer) were an influential Wellington architectural practice of the early 20th century. The junior partner, William Gummer, went on to form one of New Zealand’s pre-eminent architectural practices of the mid-20th century, the Auckland-based Gummer & Ford. 

Hoggard and Prouse was founded by John (Jack) Hoggard and William Prouse in 1907. Jack Hoggard (1878 – 1936) was born in Wellington and his architectural education was provided by his uncle, William Chatfield, a prominent Wellington architect. He later worked for Joshua Charlesworth and may have contributed to the architect’s competition winning entry for the Wellington Town Hall. Hoggard also won a competition in his own name, for the design of “Kia Ora”, a Workers’ Dwelling Act (1905) house built in Patrick Street, Petone. Following the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, Hoggard moved to California to gain experience in earthquake strengthening techniques. He returned to Wellington in 1907 to set up Hoggard and Prouse with William Prouse.

William John Prouse (1879 – 1956) was born in Patea. His family were timber merchants and were involved in the building industry. William Prouse is said to have had no formal architectural training before he joined in partnership with Jack Hoggard.

Prouse and Hoggard were joined by William Henry Gummer in 1913, when Gummer established an Auckland office for the practice. The three partners were admitted to the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 1914; Prouse as an Associate, Hoggard and Gummer as Fellows. The firm was responsible for many buildings throughout New Zealand including Brittains Building (1909) and the State Fire Insurance Building (1919), now both demolished. In Wellington their best known remaining buildings are the former Cadbury Brothers Building on Ghuznee Street, the former Dr Ewart’s residence and surgery (now the Papua New Guinea High Commission) on Willis Street, and the John Chambers building on Cable Street.

William Henry Gummer (1884-1966) was articled to Auckland architect, W. A. Holman, and he qualified as an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1910. From 1908 to 1913 he travelled in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, working during this time for Sir Edwin Lutyens in England and for Daniel Burnham in Chicago.

The three-way partnership was dissolved by 1921, although Gummer and Prouse collaborated on work until c.1923. Jack Hoggard continued in his own practice and much of his later work was in the Hutt Valley, including the design of the Riddiford Park Swimming Baths, Lower Hutt Plunket Rooms and the Fire and Ambulance Station. William Prouse designed another 20 Wellington buildings in the 1920s including the Hotel St George on Willis Street and the Westpac Bank on Courtenay Place (as Prouse & Wilson with Norman Wilson). William Gummer returned from army service in Suez c.1922, and went on to form the influential Auckland practice of Gummer & Ford. In Wellington Gummer & Ford designed the Massey Memorial (1928) and the State Insurance Building (1940).

Sources:

Mew, Geoff & Adrian Humphris. “Raupo to Deco: Wellington Styles and Architects 1840 – 1940” (Wellington: Steel Roberts Aotearoa, 2014) 

NZHPT Glossary

WCC Heritage Inventory 2001