Grey Lynn Library turned 90 on 13 December 2014. This milestone was celebrated with a lively programme of entertainment and activities the whole family.
Naturally there was disagreement among councillors as to where it should be sited. The Public Services Committee and the Library Committee recommended a property near the old Chinese market gardens, but some contended that it was too far from the centre of population. The Mayor stepped into the fray opining that the site was very desirable plus a member of the Library Committee claimed Mr T W Leys had endorsed the proposed site. Perhaps the clincher was the site’s proximity to the end of the 2D tram section. Whatever, the suburb now had a reading room, a lending department, a lecture hall and a committee room. Community library manager, Aola Robertson says the opening was held on a Saturday afternoon so the hard-working "industrial public" of Grey Lynn could attend. The neo-Georgian building was opened in 1924 by the then mayor, Sir James Gunson. It continues as a public library and community hall to this day. The exterior is is painted in heritage colours and inside is home to a series of murals painted by
Murray Grimsdale.
Architect William Henry Gummer was born in Auckland 7 December 1884. After attending Mt Eden School he was articled to Auckland architect, W A Holman. Eight years later, he travelled to England and studied at the Royal Academy of Arts where Beaux-Arts classicism was the predominant subject, then in 1910 he became an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architecture. Working for Edwin Lutyens in 1911, whom he assisted with the design of Castle Drogo, the last of Lutyen’s romantic country houses had a profound influence on the young architect. During his travels back to New Zealand via the United States he worked briefly for D H Burnham and Company in Chicago then once back home entered a partnership with Hoggard and Prouse and became
a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 1914. He was recognised as the partnership’s principal designer till he decided to move on in 1921.
Two years later, Gummer went into partnership with Charles Reginald Ford. Between the two World Wars they they dominated the Auckland scene and were regarded as the best architectural firm of the the first half of the 20th Century. Their 40 years of practice spanned New Zealand’s transition from colonial dependence to full nationhood. Gummer’s time in Chicago was invaluable as it exposed him to the latest structural ideas for commercial developments. The 1935 Dingwall Building was a test case, leading to the development of multi-storey construction in this country. As a Beaux Arts architect, Gummer was capable of working in a number of styles which led to local what local historian, Bruce Petry has described as "moderate modernism".
Eighteen of the company’s buildings have been registered as significant historic places by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. In 2006 an exhibition of their work was held at the University of Auckland’s Gus Fisher Gallery and in 2007 the firm was described as ‘the best architectural practice of all time in New Zealand’. They had complementary skills and personalities which was the secret of their success. Ford concentrated primarily on managing the practice and dealing with clients while Gummer was responsible for all of the firm’s iconic buildings and Ford was influential in, the establishment of earthquake safety standards in New Zealand after the 1931 Hawkes Bay earthquake.
(DEIRDRE ROELANTS)