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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Carmichael and Son

Carmichael and Son (Robert Carmichael and Thomas Carmichael), Builders and Contractors. Shop and Yards, Hawkestone Crescent, Wellington. Telephone 892. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residences: Mr. R. Carmichael, 47 Ingestre Street; Mr. T. Carmichael, Happy Valley. Both partners were born in Belfast. Mr. Carmichael was apprenticed to Mr. John Pearce, of the same town, and came out to New Zealand, accompanied by his son, in 1864, per ship “Zambesi,” which arrived in Lyttelton on the 15th of September. Mr. T. Carmichael was educated at the City of the Plains, and learned his business partly with the late Mr. D. Reese, and partly with Messrs. Allen and Sons, Papanui Road, Christchurch. The business was established in 1889, since which time the firm have been prominent in the Colony as builders of many of the finest public and private buildings. Among the structures erected by Messrs. Carmichael and Son in Christchurch, the following may be named:—The first Exhibition building in 1882, the Metropolitan Family Hotel in Cashel Street, the bonded warehouse for Messrs. Robert Wilkin and Co. in Hereford Street, the large grain store at Addington Railway Station for Wool Bros., the Opera House in Tuam Street, the Empire, Southern Cross, and Rotherfield Hotels, the warehouses of Messrs. Chrystall and Co., and Mason, Struthers and Co., and many others for public and private purposes. At the time when the contract for building the Government Printing Office was let, Messrs. Carmichael and Son, the successful tenderers, removed to Wellington. About the same time the firm secured the contract for building the Napier Cathedral, which was completed under the direction of Mr. Robert Carmichael. In Wellington the firm has built a large number of the most important public buildings, the last of which was also the largest, being the stately pile erected to the order of the New Zealand Government Life Insurance Department. This building, which is by far the most modern in Wellington, is fitted with an hydraulic passenger lift, iron doors, and hot water apparatus, the materials for which, together with all grates, mantels, glass, sash fasteners, locks, etc., were imported by Messrs. Carmichael and Son. Among the other buildings that have been erected by this firm may be named the General Post-office, which was rebuilt after the fire which destroyed it a few years ago; the offices of the Union Steam Ship Company, the premises of the D.I.C., the Harbour Board offices now in use and the new departmental buildings opposite the Government Insurance buildings, the Free Public Library, the Gear Company's works at Petone, the last addition to the Wellington Meat Export Company's works at Waterloo Quay, the Electrical page 602 Syndicate's premises on the reclaimed land, and the new Harbour Board Offices and Wool Store. Messrs. Carmichael and Son have a most complete plant for carrying out their large contracts. Their machinery comprises two donkey engines for piledriving and one for hoisting bricks, timber, etc., planing, moulding, and dovetailing and other appliances, circular and band saws, etc. The whole of the joinery work required even in the largest contracts is made by the firm's employees, who frequently number one hundred, and sometimes considerably more. In the supply of bricks the firm has been very fortunate; their contracts with first-rate makers having been most extensive, and thus they have been enabled to push on with their contracts generally. It may be mentioned that Mr. B. Hallenstein, chairman of directors of the Drapery and General Importing Company, was so pleased with the expeditions manner in which that company's premises were completed, fitted, and finished, that he presented the firm with a premium of £100.