John Campbell

John Campbell (4 July 1857 – 4 August 1942) was a New Zealand architect, responsible for many government buildings in New Zealand, among them the Dunedin Law Courts, the Public Trust Building in Wellington, and Parliament House. From 1909 until his retirement in 1922 he held the position of government architect.

Early life and education Campbell was born on 4 July 1857 in Glasgow, Scotland to Janet (née McKechnie) and Donald Campbell, a ship's chandler. He was educated first at the Haldane Academy and then the Glasgow School of Art.

Career After leaving school Campbell undertook an apprenticeship between 1872 and 1876 with architect John Gordon.

Enters New Zealand government service After arriving in New Zealand, he worked for the firm of Mason and Wales for a short time before in 1883 taking up a temporary position as an architectural draughtsman in the Dunedin office of the Public Works Department. Campbell's appointment effectively gave him responsibility for a staff of up to 10 who between them undertook the design of all government buildings in New Zealand. Notable among them were William Crighton (1861–1928), Llewelyn Richards (1865–1945) and Claude Paton (1881–1953). The crowning achievement of Campbell's career was winning the commission in 1911 (following a nation-wide architectural competition) to design Parliament House in Wellington. At the time of its construction it was the most ambitious architectural project attempted in New Zealand.

Personal life Campbell was married by the Rev. David M. Stuart, to Mary Jane Marchbanks, the second daughter of David Marchbanks on 18 April 1889 at Queen Street north in Dunedin. It appears that the couple had no children.

Works Among the buildings which Campbell personally designed, collaborated on or supervised the design of are:

Building Image Completed Location Notes Campbell House 1892 21 Salamanca Road, Kelburn, Wellington The building was designed by Campbell as his family home. Kaikōura Post Office 100px 1893 1 Torquay Street, Kaikōura Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 2006. Porirua Lunatic Asylum Featherston Courthouse Marton Courthouse Dunedin Prison 100px 1898 2 Castle Street, Dunedin The design was completed in 1892 but construction didn't start until 1895 and after a number of delays it was completed in 1898. It was later used as a police station. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 1 status in 1984. Waitekauri Post Office Tākaka Post Office Collingwood Courthouse Hamilton Post Office 1901 114–120 Victoria Street, Hamilton Completed 1901. It was then extended in 1916. Naseby Post Office Parliamentary Library Opunake Courthouse Waihi Courthouse Dunedin Law Courts Onehunga Post Office Temuka Post Office Wanganui Post Office Newton Police Station Animal Research Laboratory Collingwood Courthouse Dominion Observatory 1907 Wellington Government Building, Napier 1907 Napier Constructed 1902–7. Destroyed by the 1931 earthquake. Cambridge Post Office Eltham Courthouse Waitomo Caves Hotel Cambridge Courthouse Government Building, Greymouth Matakohe Post Office Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 1 status in 1981. St Bathans Post Office Bannockburn Post Office Mornington Post Office Government Building, Stratford Shannon Post Office 100px 1911 2 Stout Street, Shannon Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 1982. General Headquarters Building 1912 213–215 Taranaki Street and Buckle Street, Mt Cook, Wellington Originally known as the Defence Stores Office. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 2003. Greymouth Courthouse Government Buildings, Hokitika 100px 1913 14 Sewell Street, Hokitika The first half of the building, including the central entrance bay, was completed in 1909. The south end was extended between 1912 and 1913, and it was occupied from 1914 onwards. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 1 status in 1990. Magistrates District Court Dargaville Post Office 1914 Dargaville Designed by Campbell in association with Claude Paton. 100px 1914 282 North Road and Calder Avenue, Dunedin Remuera Post Office Taranaki Street Police Station Oamaru Police Station 100px 1919 14–16 Severn Street, Oamaru Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 1982. Wellesley St Telephone Exchange Parliament House 100px 1922 1 Molesworth Street, Wellington* Constructed 1912–21. Designed by Campbell in association with Claude Paton. Only one wing was completed. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 1 status in 1989. Khandallah Automatic Telephone Exchange 1922 86–88 Khandallah Road, Khandallah, Wellington Constructed 1918–22. Pearce Block, Southland Boys' High School 1922 Herbert St, Invercargill Campbell completed the design of the building prior to his retirement and it was constructed under the supervision of his successor John Mair.