# William Chatfield

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For the American government executive and lobbyist, see [William A. Chatfield](/source/William_A._Chatfield).

**William Charles Chatfield** (1851 – 30 May 1930) was a [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) architect. He was born in [Sussex](/source/Sussex) and educated in Brixton, [Surrey](/source/Surrey).[1] He moved to New Zealand at the age of 16. In 1886 he designed the [Wellington Opera House](/source/Wellington_Opera_House), which burnt down 2 years later.[2][3] Two of his remaining buildings are the [Star Boating Club](/source/Star_Boating_Club) and the [Stewart Dawson's Building](/source/Stewart_Dawson's_Building).[4]

Chatfield died on 30 May 1930 aged 79.[5]

## Early life

William Charles Chatfield was born at [Greatham Manor](/source/Greatham_Manor) in [Parham Park](/source/Parham_Park), Sussex in 1851. Chatfield's father as a magistrate and his mother was a prominent artist. Chatfield received his education in [Brixton](/source/Brixton), where he likely received his architectural education,[a] and immigrated to New Zealand in 1867.[b][6]

## Architectural career

Chatfield's obituary stated he worked in the [Public Works Department](/source/Ministry_of_Works_and_Development) as a [draughtsman](/source/Draughtsman_(architecture)) from 1872 to 1876 but Chatfield was instead employed by the [Wellington Provincial Government](/source/Wellington_Province) during this time.[c] Chatfield was made redundant in 1876 and went into private practice.[6] Prior to his employment with the provincial government Chatfield had a private practice according to his obituary, although no tenders in his name exist prior to 1872.[7]

In private practice Chatfield mostly designed commercial buildings around [Wellington's central business district](/source/Wellington_CBD) although Chatfield did design some residential buildings in Wellington. Approximately 260 designs have been attributed to Chatfield from 1875 to 1927. Chatfield employed [High Victorian](/source/High_Victorian) plaster designs into his buildings with a notable example being the [Stewart Dawson's Building](/source/Stewart_Dawson's_Building). Chatfield used recycled railway irons to strengthen his designs.[6] Most of Chatfield's work was demolished in the 1970s and 1980s.[8]

In 1892 Chatfield and [Frank Jacobsen](/source/Frank_Jacobsen) were selected to make alterations to parliament's ventilation system. The *Hawkes Bay Herald* accused the government of selecting the two men over government architects due to their political leanings. The controversy did not impact Chatfield's career.[6]

In 1894 Chatfield became president of the [Wellington Association of Architects](/source/Wellington_Association_of_Architects). Chatfield later became founding president of the [New Zealand Institute of Architects](/source/New_Zealand_Institute_of_Architects) and was a made a life member in 1928.[6]

## Personal life

Chatfield married Mary Hoggard in 1874. After her death he married Mary Tuckey in 1897.[6] The marriage took place at [St Paul's Cathedral, Wellington](/source/Old_St_Paul's,_Wellington) and was well attended by Wellington's elite, with newspapers devoting significant page-length to the event.[9] Tuckey left Chatfield in 1913.[6]

From 1887 Chatfield lived in a villa at [Island Bay](/source/Island_Bay) that he designed and named *[Hurston](/source/Hurston_(building))*. Chatfield was also a carpenter and designed his own furniture.[6]

## List of works

Name Date Image Note Ref Bishop's Court 1879 Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand [10] Star Boating Club Building 1886 Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand [11] Wellington Opera House 1886 Burnt down in 1888 [12][13] Hurston 1887 Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand [6][12] Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Building 1897 [12] Stewart Dawson's Building 1900 Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand [14] Kings Chambers 1902 Demolished circa 1968 [12][15] Kodak Building 1908 Demolished 1978 [8] GHB Wilkinson Building 1908 Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand [16]

## Further reading

- Mew, G. & Humphris, Adrian (2020). *Architects at the Apex*. ISBN 978-0-9941349-4-3.

## Notes

1. Chatfield is said to have set up practice in 1867 suggesting he had studied architecture in England.[6]

1. A 'Chatfield' with no forename is recorded as arriving aboard the *Wild Duck* on 20 December 1867.[6]

1. This is confirmed by the *Appendices to the Journal of the House of Representatives* which lists Chatfield's redundancy in 1877.[6]

## References

1. ["Architects, Civil Engineers, Etc. — Including—Architects, Civil and Mining Engineers, Draughtsmen, Surveyors, Etc | NZETC"](http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc01Cycl-t1-body-d4-d33.html). *nzetc.victoria.ac.nz*. Retrieved 21 June 2017.

1. ["The Pioneer Prince | NZETC"](http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WarEarl-t1-body-d16-d5-d4.html). *nzetc.victoria.ac.nz*. Retrieved 23 June 2017.

1. ["Just Manners … – Architectural Centre – Wellington, New Zealand, architecture, design"](http://architecture.org.nz/2010/08/16/just-manners/). Retrieved 23 June 2017.

1. ["Search the List | Star Boating Club Building | Heritage New Zealand"](http://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/1431) (in en-nz). *www.heritage.org.nz*. Retrieved 22 June 2017.

1. ["Obituary"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19300531.2.89?query=Chatfield). *[Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times)*. No. 21040. 31 May 1930. p. 13. Retrieved 26 August 2017.

1. Mew, G. & Humphris, Adrian (October 2014). *Raupo to Deco*. p. 69–71. ISBN 978-1-927242-56-8.

1. Humphris, Adrian & Mew, Geoff (2010-10-30). "A Rose between Two Thorns; Tringham, Chatfield and Toxward, 1865 to 1870". *Architectural History Aotearoa*. **7**: 20–21. [doi:10.26686/aha.v7i.6787](https://doi.org/10.26686/aha.v7i.6787). [ISSN 2703-6626](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/2703-6626)

1. Humphris, Adrian & Mew, Geoff (2022-08-17). "Fearsome Horses: the nightmares that wrecked Lambton Quay". *Architectural History Aotearoa*. **13**: 39–45. [doi:10.26686/aha.v13i.7784](https://doi.org/10.26686/aha.v13i.7784). [ISSN 2703-6626](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/2703-6626)

1. Humphris, Adrian & Mew, Geoff (2007-10-31). "Carpenter, Artisan, Architect; Status In Late Nineteenth Century Wellington". *Architectural History Aotearoa*. **4**: 28–33. [doi:10.26686/aha.v4i0.6737](https://doi.org/10.26686/aha.v4i0.6737). [ISSN 2703-6626](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/2703-6626)

1. Sarich, Jonathan; Wallace, Paulette; Bargas, Imelda; Dangerfield, Alison (22 June 2007). [*Bishop's Court*](https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/1361/Bishop%27s%20Court). Heritage New Zealand.

1. Searle, Chloe & Dangerfield, Alison (21 April 2009). [*Star Boating Club Building*](https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/1431/1431). Heritage New Zealand.

1. Williamson, Miranda (15 February 2021). [*Hurston*](https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/9954/Listing). Heritage New Zealand.

1. ["The Opera House"](https://wellingtoncityheritage.org.nz/buildings/151-300/200-the-opera-house). *Wellington City Heritage*

1. O'Brien, Rebecca (11 December 2003). [*Stewart Dawson's Building*](https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/1871/Stewart%20Dawson%27s%20Building). Heritage New Zealand.

1. ["The Kings Chambers"](https://wellington.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/5369). *Wellington City Library*

1. ["Commercial Building"](https://wellingtoncityheritage.org.nz/buildings/1-150/91-1-commercial-building-241-243-cuba-street). *Wellington City Heritage*

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [William Chatfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Chatfield) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Chatfield?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.