Nicholas Marchant

Nicholas Marchant (c.1837 – 1907) was born in Devonshire, England and trained as a civil engineer. He moved to New Zealand in c.1864 under contract to John Brogden & Sons, a large English railway construction company and contractor. Marchant worked as an architect in Wellington from 1865 and from 1867 was also employed by the Wellington Board of Works as City Engineer. After the formation of the Wellington City Corporation in 1870 (later Wellington City Council), Marchant became City Surveyor and Waterworks Engineer, and from 1875 to 1878 was the City Engineer. 

When Marchant returned to private practice he advertised his services as a specialist in “hydraulics and waterways”. From 1867 to 1884 his architecture practice flourished and he designed at least 26 buildings including houses, shops, a school, a hotel, a foundry, a kiln, and two sets of municipal waterworks.

 

Sources:
Mew, Geoff & Adrian Humphris. “Raupo to Deco: Wellington Styles and Architects 1840 – 1940” (Wellington: Steel Roberts Aotearoa, 2014) 
PERSONAL. Marlborough Express, 30 September 1907
TOWN BOARD. Wellington Independent, 9 November 1867
WATER FOR THE CITY Evening Post, 21 May 1925
FOR THE CITY Evening Post, 21 May 1925