• Source: John Farrell (architect)

John Farrell (1868–1938) was a New Zealand architect, businessman, and politician who served as mayor of Grey Lynn from 1904–1907 and as the Auckland Education Board architect from 1907–1924.
Farrell partnered with his son, Raymond Leslie Farrell, before partnering with William Henry Glover as J. Farrell, Son & Glover.
Several of Farrell's buildings have heritage registrations.




Early life



John Farrell was born in Auckland in 1868. He and his family moved to Thames where he lived until later returning to Auckland for university.
Farrell married his wife in 1892.
Farrell worked as a builder and contractor before working as an architect.




Political career


John Farrell became a member of the Grey Lynn Borough Council in 1899 before serving as mayor of Grey Lynn from 1904–1907. He resigned from the mayoralty to serve as the Auckland Education Board architect.
Farrell unsuccessfully ran for parliament on two occasions. First as a Conservative in the Grey Lynn electorate in 1905, and in 1922, as a Reform Party candidate for the Auckland West electorate.




Auckland Education Board architect



Farrell wrote in his application for the Auckland Education Board's architect role that he had trained under Robert McKay Fripp, George Selwyn Goldsbro', and Robert Martin Watt.
Farrell served as the Auckland Education Board architect from 1907–1924. Most his work in this role has not been identified with many of his buildings likely having been demolished for larger and more modern classrooms. Farrell made designs for buildings in Northland, Auckland, the Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty during his tenure.
Farrell's preferred style changed over his tenure; Farrell started with a 'floral Edwardian style' but by the inter war period his works were of a 'restrained stripped classical modernism' style. Farrell started designing more simpler and less detailed buildings in 1914 in line with contemporary architectural beliefs.
In 1919 Farrell designed three manual training schools at Onehunga, Vermont Street, and Avondale.
One of the last buildings Farrell designed as Auckland Education Board architect was the Ponsonby School at Curran Street. This building was innovative for the time with reinforced concrete posts and beam frames used to create large openings. This later became the standard for non-residential buildings.
Farrell resigned from his role in 1924 to travel the world with his wife and son before returning to Auckland in 1925.




Later career


John Farrell partnered with his son Raymond Leslie Farrell and later they partnered with William Henry Glover in 1925 to become J. Farrell, Son & Glover.
In 1925 Farrell became the Auckland Hospital Board architect.
Farrell later served as a director of multiple companies and firms.
Farrell died at his home in Devonport on 19 October, 1938 at the age of 70.




Personal life


Farrell played rugby for the Auckland University College and was a member of the Auckland Boxing Association. He served as a president of the Auckland Orphans' Club and was a life member of the Old Thames Boys' Association.




Legacy


Many of Farrell's buildings have been demolished. One of Farrell's buildings is registered with Heritage New Zealand and several have registration with Auckland Council and the Waikato District Council as historic buildings.
The Press Association of New Zealand described Farrell's designs as 'some of the finest school buildings in New Zealand'.




List of buildings






References






Notes

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