Artist George O'Brien created this watercolour painting in the 1860s showing a selection of Lawson's designs
This list of works by Robert Lawson categorises and provides brief details of the structures designed by Scottish-born architect Robert A. Lawson (1833–1902) who is said did more than any other designer to shape the face of the Victorian era architecture of the city of Dunedin.[1]
Lawson designed an estimated 46 church buildings, 21 banks, 134 houses, 16 school buildings, 13 hotels, 15 civic and institutional buildings, and 120 commercial and industrial buildings. Of these 94 survive, including 46 in Dunedin, 43 in the rest of New Zealand and five in Melbourne.[2]
Among the buildings which Lawson personally designed, collaborated on or supervised the design of are:[3][4]
Corner of 76 Silverton Street and Spottiswoode Street, Andersons Bay, Dunedin
Opened in February 1864. Even after a new brick church was constructed in 1913, this wooden church remained in use for many years as a hall. Still exists as of August 2012. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 2017.[6]
Alterations to printing offices for Mills, Dick & Co.
It was originally built in a gully and thus being prone to flooding. In 1904 it was pulled up by two steam traction engines, to a more commanding position on the hill above. The last service in the Church took place on 11 October 1998. The building is now privately owned. [8]
Still exists as of september 2023. Designed only the west wing, which featured his first use of Oamaru Stone. The remainder of the building was designed by William Mason when it was extended in 1870. It now houses a pipe organ museum.[9]
This highly decorated timber building was later occupied by the National Bank of New Zealand. It is now a private residence. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 2005.[15]
Bank of Otago, Port Chalmers
Bank
1870
George Street, Port Chalmers
Later National Bank of New Zealand. Still exists as of August 2012.
Gothic, lighter quoins, spire, substantial buttresses. [16] Still exists as of August 2012. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 2004.[17][18]
Later Word of Life Church, then Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church). [20] Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 1982.[23]
Palladian.[24] Later National Bank of New Zealand and since 2012 a branch of the ANZ Bank. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 1 status in 1982.[25]
Lawson designed this substantial two-storey brick residence which incorporated an earlier dwelling which had been built in 1863. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 2017.[28]
This three-storey building was partly constructed of Oamaru stone, on a base of Port Chalmers bluestone, with a brick superstructure with a cement finish.[29] Demolished in the late 1960s, its site is now occupied by part of Dunedin Civic Centre. [30]
Erection of 90 ft high chimney for A. L. Smith & Co. patent brick works
Commercial/Industrial
1874
Hillside, Dunedin
Extensions to business premises for G. M. Aldrich
Commercial/Industrial
1874
Dowling Street, Dunedin
Extensions to Union Permanent and Investment Society building
Commercial/Industrial
1874
Dowling, Dunedin
Goods sheds for New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company
Commercial/Industrial
1874
Beach Street, Port Chalmers
The building was later occupied by Shaw Savill and Albion.
House
Residential
1874
Royal Street, Dunedin
House "Alyth" for Keith Ramsay
Residential
1874
34 Royal Street, Dunedin
Still existing. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 1986.[31]
House for J. McHerron
Residential
1874
Shringley Bank
Port Chalmers Holy Trinity Anglican Church
Ecclesiastical
1874
Corner of 1 Scotia and Grey Streets, Port Chalmers
Exist operates as a church. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 1 status in 1982.[32]
Shop and dwelling for W. Bremner, tinsmith
Commercial/Industrial
1874
Northeast corner of Frederick and George Streets, Dunedin
Palladian, similar to the National Bank in Oamaru.[20] Later ANZ Bank. As of 2013 it was a nightclub. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 2005.[33]
Warehouse and residence for R. Blackadder, merchant
Albert Street (now 325 Upper Stuart Street), Dunedin
This substantial Palladian style tow-storey brick villa was the second house that Lawson designed for Borrows. It Still exists as of August 2012 and has been restored.
House for George Young
Residential
1875
Heriot Row, Dunedin
House for J. Eva
Residential
1875
385 Leith Street, Dunedin
House for Walter Hislop
Residential
1875
859 George Street, Dunedin
Still exists as of August 2012.
Mission Schoolhouse, Brown Street
Education
1875
Brown Street, Dunedin
Crown Hotel
Hotel
1875
Balclutha
Lawrence Town Hall
Civic/Institutional
1875
Lawrence
Only the ground floor still exists as of August 2012.
It was the first place of worship to be built of concrete in New Zealand. Still exists as of August 2012. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 2011.[35]
Construction commenced in 1873. In 1874 the family moved in, but the lower apartments were not finished in 1875 and the main shell was completed in 1876. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 1 status in 1988.[38]
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Ecclesiastical
1876
Timaru
Warehouse
Commercial/Industrial
1876
High Street, Dunedin
Four-storey stone and brick.
Warehouse for Charles Moore
Commercial/Industrial
1876
High Street, Dunedin
Bank of New Zealand, Dunedin
Bank
1877
Corner of George, London and Pitt Streets, Dunedin
Timber construction. Now demolished.
Beissel's Saloon
Commercial/Industrial
1877
Princes Street, on the ewts side between Dowling and Rattray, Dunedin
Two- storey. It was later the location of The Asian Restaurant. Still exists as of August 2012.
House
Residential
1878
Forth (now Warrender Street), Dunedin
Five-roomed.
Stables
Residential
1878
Royal Terrace, Dunedin
Temporary Lunatic Asylum Building
Civic/Institutional
1878
Seacliff
Despite difficulties with the land stability the building served to accommodate patients throughout the life of the main hospital and still existed as late as 1988.
Is in the process of being converted into an arts centre. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 2013.[41]
Mornington Presbyterian Church
Ecclesiastical
1881
33 Brunel Street, Mornington, Dunedin
The last service was held in 2008 and it was subsequently converted to a private residence. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 2017.[42]
Gothic. Construction commenced in 1878. Although Lawson's building has long since been demolished the site was granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 1 status in 2012.[44]
Malloch's Store
1885
Cumberland Street, Dunedin
Still exists as of August 2012 and is occupied by the Good earth Café.
Congregational Church
Ecclesiastical
1885
178 Forbury Road, Dunedin
Now the Reformed Church of Dunedin.
Otago Boys' High School
1885
2 Arthur Street, Dunedin
Construction started in 1982. Now known as the "Tower Block" and still in use. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 1 status in 1984.[45]
Business premises for G. and T. Young
Commercial/Industrial
1886
Princes Street, Dunedin
Garrison Hall
Civic/Institutional
1886
Corner of Grey and High Streets, Timaru
It featured laminated timber trusses which covered a large span with a fixing system that allowed for movement of the whole roof structure. Still exists as of August 2012.
Lawrence Presbyterian Church
Ecclesiastical
1886
7 Colonsay Street, Lawrence
It is now a private residence. Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 2004.[46]
Looseboxes at Forbury Park Racecourse
Commercial/Industrial
1886
Dunedin
Offices for the James McDonald cement factory
Commercial/Industrial
1886
Corner of Cumberland, Water and Vogel Streets, Dunedin
Still exists and as of August 2012 it was called Vogel House.
This 19.2m high cairn which honoured Sir John Mackenzie was constructed of unhewn stone. This is Lawson's last completed work. It fell into despair, collapsed in 1913 and was replaced by another on top of Puketapu, near Palmerston.
Unless they are significant, alterations to existing houses are not listed.
References
^Mane-Wheoki, Jonathan (1993). "Lawson, Robert Arthur". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
^Ledgerwood, Norman (2013). R. A. Lawson: Victorian Architect of Dunedin (Paperback). Dunedin: Historic Cemeteries Conservation trust of New Zealand. pp. 226, 237–241. ISBN978-0-473-24403-3.
^Ledgerwood, Norman (2013). R. A. Lawson: Victorian Architect of Dunedin (Paperback). Dunedin: Historic Cemeteries Conservation trust of New Zealand. pp. 226, 237–241. ISBN978-0-473-24403-3.
^Entwisle, Peter (2013). "R.A. Lawson's Architectural Works"(PDF). Historic Cemeteries Conservation Trust of New Zealand. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
^"Bank of Otago". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
^ abcKnight, Cyril Roy. "Lawson, Robert Arthur". The Encyclopedia of New Zealand 1966. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
^Photo at "Subdivision and Consolidation of Land". Archived from the original on 17 December 2004. Retrieved 16 July 2005.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Heritage Council Victoria. Retrieved on 8 February 2008 from 2004-12-17 internet archive.
