William Alfred Holman

William Alfred Holman (18 September 1864 – 1949) was a New Zealand architect and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects who designed prominent commercial and residential buildings in Auckland as well as Whangarei, Hamilton, Gisborne and Christchurch.

Early life
Smeeton's Buildings (now Encom House), designed by Holman in 1910.

Holman was born in Whangarei, the youngest of eight children born to Elizabeth Ann (née Morris, a cousin of the artist William Morris)[1] and Henry Charles Holman. His father moved to New Zealand via Australia from the UK in 1840, married Elizabeth on 16 April 1841, and served as colonial architect and superintendent of public works in the administration of Governor William Hobson. According to his obituary in The Northern Advocate newspaper[2] Henry Holman helped defend the city of Whangarei during the uprising involving Maori leader Hone Heke. Elizabeth Holman wrote a journal of pioneer life in New Zealand, which has subsequently been published,[3] along with extracts from her letters to Holman.[4]

In 1889 Holman married Rose Gilberd in Sydney.[5]

Career
The former Rendells department store, designed by Holman in 1907–11.

Holman trained as an architect under his father,[6] before starting his career in Melbourne. He returned to New Zealand and opened his own practice in Auckland in 1893,[7] later forming the partnership Holman, Moses and Watkin. From 1900 to 1907 his practice articled and trained William Henry Gummer,[8] who would later work under Edwin Lutyens and become one of New Zealand's most influential architects in the 20th century, designing New Zealand's National War Memorial, National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum building.

In 1912 Holman was elected president of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.[9] He retired in 1914 from active practice due to ill health, and remained an invalid until his death in 1949, aged 85. The architectural partnership Holman, Moses and Watkin retained his name, and was later responsible for designing the signature Vulcan Buildings on the corner of Queen Street and Vulcan Lane in central Auckland,[10] completed in 1928.

Buildings
A detail from the facade of the former Rendells department store.

Holman's notable works in Auckland include the former Rendells department store on Karangahape Road, designed in 19th century Edwardian Renaissance style and constructed in two stages, each consisting of a three-storey building, the first in 1907 and the second in 1911.[11] In Auckland's central business district Holman was the architect of the former Smeeton's Buildings[12] at 75 Queen Street, now known as Encom House, built in an Edwardian Baroque style of cement and brick, and completed in 1910. The Smeeton's Buildings was registered as a Historic Place Category II by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust Pouhere Taonga in 1987.[13]

In 1901, Holman also designed a surviving classical Edwardian structure, known as the Commercial Building, at 55 Customs Street, a two-story brick building with an attractive façade topped by an arcaded parapet. Auckland City Council's heritage register notes that "the flamboyance of the building’s façade makes it a significant feature in the streetscape".[14]

Other examples of his successful practice[15] still standing include the former W Lambourne Ltd furniture shop[16] on Auckland's Ponsonby Road.

References
  1. "The Death of Mrs E. Holman". Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 280, 23 November 1917, Page 7. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  2. "The Late Mr HC Holman". Northern Advocate. 9 December 1893. p. 5. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  3. Madge Malcolm (1994). Tales of Yesteryear. Russell, NZ: Kororareka Press. ISBN 0958333300. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  4. Florence Keene (1972). "With Flags Flying". Whangarei, NZ: Centre Print. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  5. "Births, Death and Marriages, New South Wales". Nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  6. "'History' Schedule of Buildings, Objects and Places of Heritage Significance" (PDF). Aucklandcity.govt.nz. p. 3. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  7. "Obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 24 November 1949. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  8. Ian J Lochhead. "Gummer, William Henry". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  9. "Advertisements". New Zealand Observer, Volume XXXII, Issue 15, 23 December 1911, page 9. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  10. "Vulcan Buildings, 118-124 Queen Street, Auckland". Historic.org.nz. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  11. "Rendells Building, Auckland Heritage Collections". Auckland City Council. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  12. "Encom House, Auckland Heritage Collections". Auckland City Council. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  13. "Smeeton's Buildings (Former)". Historic.org.nz. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  14. "Commercial Building, Auckland Heritage Collections". Auckland City Council. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  15. "Tenders closed". Progress. IV (8). 1 June 1909. p. 286. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  16. "Front elevation, scale 1/4 (Lambourne's Building)". University of Auckland Library, The Architecture Archive. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
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