Thomas Herbert Bates

Thomas Herbert Bates (22 December 1873 – 13 March 1954) was a New Zealand architect, based in New Plymouth. He is noted mainly for several buildings he designed in the centre of New Plymouth, some of them now having heritage status.

Thomas H. Bates was born in Adelaide, Australia on 22 December 1873. He grew up and was educated there, at the School of Mines and Industries. Bates stayed in the city as a draughtsman and married Emma Watson, with whom he had six children. One of his daughters, Maud Walker, was a talented draughtswoman who later assisted her father on many of his architectural plans.^[1]

Around 1900, Thomas Bates travelled to Britain to widen his experience, then went to San Francisco and worked for a number of firms there as an architect, helping with the reconstruction of the city after the 1906 earthquake.^[2]

In 1908, Bates came to New Zealand and got a contract at Auckland Grammar School. Then, in 1916, during the First World War, he moved to New Plymouth through an offer to supervise the building of the auditorium of the “Everybody's Theatre” (later known as the Mayfair) on behalf of Auckland architects Grierson and Aimer. After completing this job, he got a similar contract from Frederick de Jersey Clere for AMP Building on the corner of Devon and Egmont Streets (now “Peggy Gordon's Celtic Bar”).^[1]

After that, Bates set up his own business in King Building on Devon Street. His first project was the design and construction of McEwan's Building on King Street, which was demolished in 1996. He designed many public and domestic buildings in different styles in and around New Plymouth: Bank of New Zealand branches, several dairy factories, the New Zealand Insurance Building, the neoclassical State Fire Insurance Building (1924), the four-storey Colliers Building (1926), the Hookers Building (1927), the Public Trust offices in New Plymouth and Stratford, the Christian Science Church, the Taranaki Daily News (Roebuck House), the Art Deco YWCA (1929/1934), the Taranaki Producers’ Freezing Works Company cool stores, the Empire (now Victoria) Building, and the memorial gates at New Plymouth Boys' High School.^[2][3]

Bates is also recognised for his domestic designs, particularly those in the California bungalow style, including his own two-storey home (“Bates House” in Pendarves Street, listed as a heritage place). His work is characterised by elegance and high-quality craftsmanship.^[4]

Bates’ greatest legacy is New Plymouth Opera House (now TSB Showplace), completed in 1924–1925 and acclaimed for its acoustics and elegant design.^[5][6]

His last work was the refurbishment of the Criterion Hotel on Devon Street West, New Plymouth (now demolished) for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in January 1954.^[1]

Outside of architecture, Bates was deeply involved in cricket administration, serving as chairman of the Taranaki Provincial Committee and the New Zealand Cricket Association. He was also a fellow of the British Royal Society of Arts, a member of the Taranaki Jockey Club and a freemason.^[7][2]

Thomas Bates died on 13 March 1954 in a BOAC airliner crash at Singapore Airport while on the way to London.^[8]

• New Plymouth Opera House
• Public Trust Office (Former), New Plymouth
• Roebuck House (former Taranaki Daily News)
• Memorial Gates at New Plymouth Boys' High School
• Bates House,
  New Plymouth
• State Fire Insurance Building
• Colliers Building
• YWCA Hall
• Victoria Building
• Hookers Building