Don Donnithorne

Donald Ewart Donnithorne (31 July 1926 – 5 August 2016) was a New Zealand architect based in Christchurch.

Born on 31 July 1926, Following World War II he studied architecture by correspondence in the "Christchurch Atelier"', instead of travelling to the only architecture school in New Zealand at that time in Auckland.

One of Donnithorne's earliest designs was for the Evangelistic Temple, at the corner of Colombo Street and Moorhouse Avenue in Christchurch.

In the 1987 Queen's Birthday Honours, Donnithorne was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to architecture. He was also a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.

In the 1989 local elections, Donnithorne stood in the Hagley ward of Christchurch City Council as part of the Christchurch Action ticket formed by Margaret Murray. He came fifth of six candidates in the ward that returned two councillors.

In 2012, Donnithorne published a book, entitled Don Donnithorne: an architectural journey, of his watercolours of places that he had visited. His widow, Gloria Dawn Janet Donnithorne, to whom he was married in 1949, died on 26 May 2019.