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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Grandison, Archibald

Grandison, Archibald, Builder and Contractor, Parliament Street and Beach Road, Auckland. Mr. Grandison was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1852, and was educated at the Free Church of Scotland schools at Scone, Perthshire. He was afterwards apprenticed with the well-known contractors, Messrs Murray and Sons, of Perth. He then removed to Glasgow, and was for a number of years in the employment of Messrs Watt and Wilson, contractors for the Glasgow Central Railway Station and Glasgow Board schools, and was for four or five years one of the foremen overseers of the firm. During the last two years of his residence in Glasgow he was engaged in business on his own account, in partnership with Mr. McAlpine, and the firm found plenty of work in the city. In 1882 Mr. Grandison came to New Zealand on the maiden trip of the s.s. “Ionic,” and in 1884 he established himself in business in his present quarters, and has been kept incessantly busy since his arrival. It was he who carried out the large additions to the City Market and Agricultural Hall, to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's offices, and the Auckland Museum. He also erected the Wesleyan parsonage at North Shore, a large residence at Mount Eden for Mr. Nicholson, and a residence at the North Shore for Mr. Mason. Wingate's buildings (afterwards burned, by which Mr. Grandison lost considerably) were also erected by him. The Egmont Hotel at Hawera, well-known to commercial men for its comforts and conveniences, was built by Mr. Grandison, who also had the contract for the buildings connected with the Rotorua railway, and carried out the work under the supervision of Mr. James Stewart, late provincial engineer. This work gave the Government great satisfaction, and at the banquet given on the successful opening of the line, Mr. Grandison was praised by the Premier and other Ministers, for the manner in which his contract had been carried out; the Premier expressing a hope that “it would not be the last job Mr. Grandison would do for them.” The contract for the Auckland Harbour Board's largest sheds on the Queen Street wharf was carried out by Mr. Grandison. He has for many years been an elder and Sunday school superintendent of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. When a young man in the Old Country, Mr. Grandison was an enthusiastic player of cricket, bowls and golf; but since his arrival in the Colony he has had no time to attend to these matters. Mr. Grandison was married in 1886 to a daughter of the late Mr. James Kay, of Portland, and has three daughters and two sons.

Hanna, photo. Mr. A. Grandison.

Hanna, photo. Mr. A. Grandison.