Dorothy Wills

Dorothy Wills
Born
Dorothy Mary Wills

(1911-03-27)27 March 1911
Died11 July 2007(2007-07-11) (aged 96)
OccupationArchitect
Years active1933–1969
Known forSecond woman registered architect in New Zealand

Dorothy Mary Wills (27 March 1911 – 11 July 2007), also known as Dorothy Mary Coulthard, was a New Zealand architect, and the second woman to become a registered architect in New Zealand.[1]

Early life

Wills was born on 27 March 1911,[1][2] the only child of George Herbert Alexander Wills and Mary Estelle Wills of Tauranga.[3][4] Her father was actively involved in amateur theatre.[5]

Wills was educated at Tauranga District High School, where she won a Junior National Scholarship in 1923.[6] She went on to study for two years at Epsom Girls' Grammar School, and passed the matriculation examination in 1926.[7] She also won a Senior National Scholarship.[4]

During her early years in Tauranga, Wills was active in amateur dance and theatre performances.[8][9][10]

Career

Wills began her studies in architecture at the University of Auckland in 1929. By 1933 she had completed her examinations for Associate Membership of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.[4] Two of her fifth-year university drawings were featured in the university's prospectus in 1935.[11] In 1934, she was the second woman in New Zealand to graduate with a B.Arch, and in 1936 she became the second woman in New Zealand to become a Registered Architect (after Lucy Greenish who was registered 20 years earlier in 1914).[12][1][13]

Wills began her career as an architect in Tauranga, and was employed by architect H. L. D. West between 1933 and 1936.[14][1] During that time, West was the borough architect for the Tauranga Borough.[15] In 1935, Wills gave an address about architecture during an educational course for girls, run by the Women's Institute.[5] In 1936, Wills left Tauranga for London.[16]

During World War II, Wills utilised her architecture training in work for the British Intelligence Service, where she evaluated the use of stately homes in the English countryside to accommodate scientists and other personnel who were key to the war effort, in locations away from London. This included providing advice on the fitness for purpose of houses and reporting any alterations required. She is believed to have also carried out assessments for the Ministry of Works of bomb-damaged buildings.[17] After the war ended, she remained in Britain, working on housing projects.[1]

Wills returned to New Zealand in 1949, and was employed by the Housing Division of the Ministry of Works in Wellington. Her work included a range of hospital projects. In particular, she worked with Lady Freyberg, the governor general's wife, in the preparation of King George VI's visit to Government House. In total, there were thirty-eight tapestries that were commissioned as dining chairs, displaying coats of arms of cities and towns. These tapestries can still be found in Government House to this day, despite the cancellation of the King's trip.[17] She was promoted to senior architect in 1957, and continued her employment with the Ministry of Works until around 1969.[1]

After retirement, Wills undertook a renovation of a family home, and took part in restoring the St Mary's Church in Blenheim with architect Michael Fowler.[1]

Personal life

In the period 1929 to 1935, Wills continued to participate in amateur dance and theatre performances,[18][19][20] and also had an active social life.[21][22][23]

In 1935, Wills was an office-holder in the Tauranga branch of the League of Nations Union.[24]

Between 1933 and 1936, Wills was involved in the Tauranga Beautifying Society.[1]

In 1936, Wills left Tauranga for London.[16] In 1937, she was presented at Buckingham Palace along with several other New Zealand women.[25][26]

In 1949, Wills returned to New Zealand to take care of her father, and settled in Wellington.[17]

In 1957, Wills married James Coulthard, but she continued her employment with the Ministry of Works.[1] Although a senior architect, Wills was recorded in the census at the time as either 'spinster', 'housewife' or 'married'.[17] The couple moved to Marlborough during the 1970s; her husband died in 1977.[27] The couple did not have any children.[17]

Wills lived in Blenheim from 1973 until her death on 11 July 2007, aged 96.[28][29] Her memorial is located at Ōmaka Cemetery, Blenheim, New Zealand.[29] In her will, she left a bequest for public art projects in Marlborough.[30] The Dorothy Coulthard Arts Trust made a grant for a kinetic wind sculpture by New Zealand sculptor Grant Williams that was installed outside the ASB Theatre in Blenheim in 2014.[31][32]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Elizabeth Cox, ed. (2022), Making Space: A History of New Zealand Women in Architecture, Auckland, p. 104, OCLC 1347021085, OL 29051879W, Wikidata Q117788223{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ "Death search: registration number 2007/18015". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Cemeteries Search - George Wills". Tauranga City Council. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Distinctive Success". Bay of Plenty Times. 9 January 1933 – via Papers Past.
  5. ^ a b "Women's Division: Girls Educational Course". Bay of Plenty Times. 10 May 1935. Retrieved 4 May 2023 – via Papers Past.
  6. ^ "Tauranga District High School – Public examination results". Bay of Plenty Times. 17 February 1923 – via Papers Past.
  7. ^ "Local and General". Bay of Plenty Times – via Papers Past.
  8. ^ "Misses Hall's Dance Recital". Bay of Plenty Times. 23 August 1922 – via Papers Past.
  9. ^ "Plunket Fair". Bay of Plenty Times. 19 July 1924 – via Papers Past.
  10. ^ "Garden fete and concert". Bay of Plenty Times. 19 November 1924 – via Papers Past.
  11. ^ Cox, Elizabeth, ed. (2022). Making space: a history of New Zealand women in architecture. Auckland: Massey University Press. p. 50. ISBN 978-1-991016-34-8.
  12. ^ "Personal". Bay of Plenty Times. 13 October 1934 – via Papers Past.
  13. ^ Dennett, Kelly (16 October 2022). "How early female architects, often overlooked, helped shape Kiwi buildings". Stuff.
  14. ^ "Personal". Bay of Plenty Times. 27 October 1933 – via Papers Past.
  15. ^ "Tauranga Council". Auckland Star. 12 December 1935. Retrieved 5 May 2023 – via Papers Past.
  16. ^ a b "Personal". Bay of Plenty Times. 1 May 1936 – via Papers Past.
  17. ^ a b c d e Chan, Wing; Selvadurai, Anjuli (18 September 2025). "The Women Who Paved the Way". Architecture + Women NZ. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Lilies of the field". Bay of Plenty Times. 3 January 1929 – via Papers Past.
  19. ^ "He walked in her sleep". Bay of Plenty Times. 30 November 1933 – via Papers Past.
  20. ^ "Town Queen". Bay of Plenty Times. 29 August 1935 – via Papers Past.
  21. ^ "Tauranga Annual Military Ball". New Zealand Herald. 29 June 1934 – via Papers Past.
  22. ^ "Tauranga Notes". Auckland Star. 26 March 1935 – via Papers Past.
  23. ^ "Tauranga Activities". New Zealand Herald. 12 September 1935 – via Papers Past.
  24. ^ "Tauranga News". Auckland Star. 21 February 1935 – via Papers Past.
  25. ^ "To Be Presented : New Zealanders at Court". Evening Post. 6 May 1937 – via Papers Past.
  26. ^ "The Second Court: New Zealanders Presented". Evening Post. 2 June 1937 – via Papers Past.
  27. ^ "Cemetery Records Search – James Coulthard". Marlborough District Council. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  28. ^ "Sculpture trust to oversee public art projects". Marlborough Express. 29 November 2012. ProQuest 1220659615.
  29. ^ a b "Cemetery Records Search – Dorothy Coulthard". Marlborough District Council. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  30. ^ "Kinetic Sculpture Gifted To Marlborough". Marlborough District Council. 7 September 2011 – via Infonews.
  31. ^ Simpson, Heather (11 November 2014). "Massive moving artwork to front new theatre". Stuff. Marlborough Express. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  32. ^ Powell, Selina (18 November 2014). "Warm reaction to new artwork". Stuff. Marlborough Express. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
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