Harry Crump

Harry Crump was a prolific speculative builder who is known to have been active in Wellington in the years between 1892 and 1908. He was born in Yorkshire, and spent part of his childhood in the USA before returning to England to serve his apprenticeship - presumably as a builder. He sailed to New Zealand on the ‘Maraval’ in 1880 and went on to build over 156 houses in Kelburn, Thorndon, Te Aro, Mount Cook, and Newtown. He also owned large areas of land in Newtown and Thorndon, and is associated with the development of Lauriston Street (now Patterson Street) in Mount Victoria, Myrtle Crescent in Mt Cook, and Kensington Street in Te Aro. He is likely to have worked as an architect-builder, as most of his building consent applications do not list separate architects.

Images: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District] The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington.

Sources:

Schrader, Ben. 'Housing - Construction and materials', Te Ara - the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, updated 8-Jul-13 URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/38654/building-on-spec

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District] 1897

Pollock, Kerryn, Ian Bowman and Rebecca O’Brien. “Wright Street Houses Historic Area, Wright Street, Wellington,” Historic Area Registration Report for the NZHPT (2004)  

Irvine-Smith, F L. “The Streets Of My City”, (Wellington, 1948)