PROMINENT ARCHITECT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22399, 21 April 1936, Page 11

PROMINENT ARCHITECT

DEATH OF MR. J. S. SWAN MANY WELL-KNOWN BUILDINGS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] WELLINGTON, Monday The death occurred in Wellington on Saturday, after a short illness, of Mr. John Sidney Swan, prominent architect and sportsman, at the age of 62 years. For well over 40 years he was associated with architecture in Wellington, and lie designed many of the most prominent buildings in the city.

Mr. Swan, who was the son of Mr. John Swan, of York, was born in Wellington, and was the senior partner in the firm of Swan, Lawrence and Swan, registered architects, of Wellington, a firm established in 1920. He was a director of several companies, including the Southern Cross Assurance Company. Limited. Educated at the Marist Brothers School, Wellington, Mr. Swan was articled in 1888 to Mr. F. de J. Clere. architect, of Wellington. In 1901 he purchased the practice and carried on as John S. Swan until 1915, when he became senior partner in Swan and Swan. In 1920 Swan and Swan amalgamated with Penty and Lawrence, and the firm became Swan, Lawrence and Swan.

Mr Swan was architect for, among others, the following buildings:—High Street Chambers, Cliristchurch; Church of St. Gerard, Wellington; Convent and Chapel, Wanganui; Sacred Heart Convent and Chapel, Island Bay. As Swan and Swan: O'Connor Memorial Home, Westport; St. Bede's College, Christchurch. As joint architect with W. Gray Young: New Technical College, Mount Cook, Wellington As Swan, Lawrence and Swan: Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, Limited, Auckland; Victoria University, Wellington; Wellington Boys' College; Wellington Girls College; St. Matthew's Collegiato School, Masterton; Union Bank of Australia, Limited, throughout New Zealand; Kilbirnie Theatre; New Cambridge Hotel, Wellington. In 1899 he married Gertrude Marj. daughter of Mr. Robert Crofton Hoicroft, of Birmingham, England, there being three sons and one daughter of the marriage.

Mr. Swan took a keen interest in rowing, yachting anil launching. Ho collected and owned one of the finest collections of sea pictures and ship photographs in the world