Robert Stokes

Robert Stokes (1810 – 20 January 1880) was an English and New Zealand architect and New Zealand politician and newspaper proprietor. Stokes Valley is named after him.

Early life Stokes was born in England 1810. Little is known about Stokes' life in England but he is known to have trained as a surveyor and worked as an architect in Cheltenham and London. Stokes is also known to have had his artwork exhibited at the Royal Academy. England career

From 1832 to March 1835 Stokes worked for Joseph Pitt, designing buildings for Pittville. A notable design of Stokes during this time was Ravenhurst, a grade II listed building.

In 1837 Stokes designed St Bartholomew's Church in Oakridge, Stroud, Gloucestershire.

New Zealand career

Stokes applied for a position with the New Zealand Company 10 April 1839 and was appointed as a survey assistant to William Mein Smith. Stokes arrived in Port Nicholson on 3 January 1840. In his role as survey assistant for the New Zealand Company, Stokes assisted with surveying Wellington, the Hutt Valley, and Whanganui. Stokes surveyed the first bridle track through the Rimutaka Ranges (Stokes Track), later serving as the route for Rimutaka Hill Road. After scaling the Rimutakas Stokes noted the agricultural potential of the Wairarapa plains and spread word of such in Wellington, leading to European settlement of the Wairarapa. In 1842 Stokes resigned from his position to start his own architectural and surveying business. In 1895 Sir Robert Donald Douglas McLean came to own the property.The property was demolished in 1941 for social housing flats

After returning from South America in 1843 Stokes founded the New Zealand Spectator & Cook's Strait Guardian with Henry Petre and Charles Clifford. Stokes was the initial editor and later became owner of the paper.

In 1857 Stokes was elected to the Wellington Provincial Council for Wellington City. The following year Stokes carried a bill that granted municipal government for Wellington City. Stokes continued to represent Wellington City until 1865 when he lost the election. Stokes was elected that same year for Wairarapa East. Stokes used his time in government to propose a railway through the Rimutakas, although this was unsuccessful until Julius Vogel's public work schemes. Stokes was a Reformist opposed to superintendent Isaac Featherston.

Stokes was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council on 12 July 1862. Stokes remained a member until 24 September 1879, when he was relieved of his membership due to his absence.

Between 1858 and 1861 Stokes and his brother John Milbourne acquired extensive holdings in the Hawke's Bay, including the Manganuka and Milbourne stations and several town sections in Clive. Personal life and retirement Stokes returned to England in 1878 and settled in Bayswater, Westminster. Stokes died 20 January 1880 without any descendants.

Stokes was a proponent of agriculture and served as treasurer for the Wellington Horticultural and Botanical Society.