Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1905, Christchurch

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Ritchie, Thomas , Architect, Land and Estate Agent, Green Island, near Dunedin. Mr. Ritchie was born at Fernie Castle, Fifeshire, Scotland, and educated partly there, and partly at the Free Abbey Academy. He studied architecture under Mr. R. Hay, a leading architect and land surveyor in Dunfermline, page 594 and succeeded to the management of the business on the expiration of his apprenticeship. In 1867 be became manager for Mr. J. J. Rockhead, of Glasgow, who was then completing the Wallace monument at Ailsa Craig, near Stirling, and the Bank of Scotland buildings, in Vincent Square, Glasgow. Two years afterwards Mr. Ritchie was compelled to give up his profession for a time, owing to a breakdown in health, and arrived in Auckland in 1875. He was appointed assistant teacher at the East City school, and subsequently became headmaster at Riverhead. Mr. Ritchie left Auckland for Otago in 1861, and was engaged by Messrs Herbert and Co., the pioneers of the Portland Cement Industry in New Zealand. On the dissolution of that Company he received an appointment in connection with the newly formed Burnside Freezing Works; but owing to the severe strain on his constitution by his attention to the freezing department, he retired, after twenty years' service, and resumed his profession as architect. During his long residence at Green Island, Mr. Ritchie has taken a considerable interest in public affairs, and was for some years a member of the local school committee. He drew the plans and superintended the erection of the Green Island Drill Shed, besides several handsome residences in the neighbourhood. Mr. Ritchie is a Freemason of over thirty-five years' standing, and pioneer of Lodge Hiram, of which he was for three years secretary. He was also for seventeen years connected with the Loyal Excelsior Lodge. No. 41, Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia. Mr. Ritchie is married, and has a family of two sons and two daughters.