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Heathcote Helmore

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Heathcote Helmore
Born
Heathcote George Helmore

(1894-05-01)1 May 1894
Rangiora, New Zealand
Died21 May 1965(1965-05-21) (aged 71)
Christchurch, New Zealand
OccupationArchitect
Parent(s)George Helmore
Janet Maud Gray
PracticeHelmore and Cotterill
BuildingsVogel House
Fernside Homestead
Isaac House designed by Helmore and Cotterill in 1926

Heathcote George Helmore MBE (1 May 1894 – 21 May 1965) was a notable New Zealand architect.

Early life

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Helmore was born in Rangiora, New Zealand, in 1894, the eldest child of Christchurch-born solicitor and former national rugby representative George Helmore and his wife Janet Maud Gray.[1] His grandfather, Joseph Helmore, owned Millbrook in Christchurch and Helmores Lane went through the middle of that property, with the name commemorating his grandfather.[2][3] Like his father, he attended Christ's College. At 17 he was articled to architect Cecil Wood but before his time was complete war broke out and he served four years as wartime aide-de-camp to New Zealand's governor, later governor-general, Lord Liverpool. He was admitted to the New Zealand Institute of Architects in June 1920.[1] In the 1919 King's Birthday Honours, Helmore was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services as aide-de-camp to the governor-general.[4]

Architectural career

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In mid 1920 he went with Guy Cotterill to London to expand their architectural knowledge and experience by working in the offices of well-known firms including in Helmore's case some time as an assistant to Edwin Lutyens. He returned to Christchurch and set up his personal practice in February 1923 winning some substantial commissions.[1]

Helmore and Cotterill

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In 1924 Helmore went into partnership with Guy Cotterill. Their partnership lasted until Helmore's death in 1965.[1] They designed Isaac House, which was built in 1926 and is registered by Heritage New Zealand as a Category II structure.[5] Helmore designed Victoria Mansions in 1931; the apartment building's construction did not start until 1935, though.[6] He designed the Canterbury Pioneer Women's Memorial at the top of the Bridle Path that goes from Lyttelton to the Heathcote Valley.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Esau, Jonathan Robert (1 January 1988). Helmore and Cotterill : the formative years (MA). University of Canterbury. doi:10.26021/5074.
  2. ^ Harper, Margaret. "Christchurch Street Names H" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. pp. 76f. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  3. ^ Macdonald, George. "Joseph Cornish Helmore". Macdonald Dictionary. Canterbury Museum. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  4. ^ "No. 31422". The London Gazette. 27 June 1919. p. 8089.
  5. ^ "Isaac House". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Victoria Mansions". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  7. ^ "A drawing by Mr Heathcote Helmore". The Press. Vol. LXXV, no. 22667. 23 March 1939. p. 2. Retrieved 11 March 2017.

Further reading

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  • Mew, Geoff; Humphris, Adrian (2020). Architects at the Apex: The Top 50 in New Zealand 1840–1940 (Softcover). Martinborough: Ngaio Press. ISBN 978-0-9941349-4-3.