Edward Bartley

Early life

Edward Bartley was born on the 23rd of February 1839 to Robert and Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Bartley (née Benest) in Saint Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands. He had one elder brother, Robert Bartley.

Career

Trained as a carpenter and joiner, he worked as a builder for contractor Mr. E.I. Matthews, a retired officer of the Royal Engineers Department, this employment involved construction of a number of Government buildings when he arrived in the colony. During the 1870's Bartley established himself as a skillful builder - it was not uncommon at the time for a builder to do architectural design, and he shifted from a career as a builder to a fruitful career as an architect, designing over 20 churches by 1901. Bartley's designs can be located all throughout the North Island of New Zealand and his influence extended to the next generation of New Zealand architects, notably Keith Draffin and Gerard Jones.

Bartley was also active in the Eight Hour Movement, a member of the Royal Rifle Company of Volunteers, Auckland Choral Society, the Microscopic Society, the Photographic Society, The Museum Institute, the Auckland Institute of Architects, and a founding member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects (1906).

He worked mainly in Auckland. Notable buildings include

All these buildings have Category One New Zealand Historic Places Trust designation

He trained his sons Alfred, Arthur and Frederick in his office. The firm of Bartley & Son continued under Alfred Bartley following the retirement of Edward Bartley in 1914.

Death

Bartley died at his home in Devonport on 28 May 1919, at the age of 80 and was buried at O'Neill's Point Cemetery. His wife Elizabeth would die two years later on the 27th of December 1921.