John Mitchell and Robert Martin Watt were a pair of New Zealand architects who designed numerous buildings, primarily educational buildings, several of which have been heritage listed.

Mitchell and Watt entered into a partnership in 1892 as architects for the Auckland Education Board until at least 1905.

John Mitchell John Mitchell (1859–1947) was born in Ramelton, Ireland, he trained as an architect in Ireland before heading to New Zealand in 1888. He was an early adopter of reinforced concrete and developed a baked earthenware block. In 1912 he went to England before returning to New Zealand a decade later. Mitchell spent the later years of his life in Rotorua, where he would die in 1947.

Robert Martin Watt

Robert Martin Watt (1860–1907) was born in Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Watt studied architecture in Glasgow under H & D Barclay before immigrating to New Zealand 1878. Watt was a member of St Stephen's, Ponsonby, for which he designed an extension.

In 1906 Watt was elected as president of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects Watt lived in a home he named Glencairn in Bayfield, Ponsonby. He died in April, 1907. Before his death he was appointed to judge designs of the Auckland Town Hall.

Mitchell and Watt The two architects formed a partnership in 1892, previously they worked independently in Auckland. Later that year they were appointed to the Auckland Education Board. Mitchell and Watt designed multiple school buildings in the Auckland Province area. The pair also designed numerous residential, commercial, and religious buildings. Their partnership ended either 1905 or 1907.

Mitchell was responsible for new works whilst Watt was responsible for existing works and extensions. The pair designed numerous school buildings across the Auckland Province area

In December, 1902, the pair received notice from the Board of Education that their employment was to be terminated in three months. The pair were given a hearing to justify the dismissal, where the board charged them with incurring excessive costs and delays, but public support for the architects resulted in the board members being voted out at the election with those who supported Mitchell and Watt being elected with a strong majority. The Auckland Star described the charges as 'utterly insignificant'.

The pair were likely inspired by Edward Robert Robson in their design of school buildings. Robson favoured the Queen Anne style as he believed Gothic architecture's association with religion was inappropriate for secular educational buildings. Education in New Zealand was secular and many of Mitchell and Watt's designs are influenced by the Queen Anne style, notable examples include Bayfield School and Onehunga Primary School.

Schools designed by Mitchell and Watt are 'held to represent an important phase in the architectural development of school buildings in New Zealand'.

Mitchell and Watt had innovative design techniques relating to ventilation, lighting, and heating. Examples include ventilation holes in the eaves, a patented stove, and large windows.

List of buildings Name Date Image Note RefWinstone Stables1883Only designed by Watt. Registered as a Category 1 building with Heritage New ZealandNewton Council Chambers and Fire Station1887–1889Only designed by Mitchell. Registered as a Category 2 building with Heritage New ZealandKuaotunu School House1892Registered as a Category 2 building with Heritage New ZealandHukanui School1893Designed by either Mitchell alone or both Mitchell and Watt Registered as a Category 2 building with Heritage New ZealandGreenhithe school building1893Registered as a Category B building with Auckland CouncilTe Awamutu School1894Designed an extension for the school. Registered as a Category 2 building with Heritage New ZealandWinstone shops on Symonds Street1895Bayfield School1896 and 1904Registered as a Category I building with Heritage New ZealandSt James Church, Pukekohe1898Possibly designed by Watt alone but may also have been work of both men. Building was relocated, current status is unknown presumed demolishedChurch of Christ, Newton1898Demolished for the Auckland motorwayEpsom property1898St Paul's Church, Buckland1898–1900Registered as a Category B building with Auckland CouncilSt Peter's Presbyterian Church, Grey Lynn1899Only extensions and redesign of existing Church. Demolished 1950Methodist Church in Te Aroha1900Later became a Baptist Church and later became a private residence.Mt Eden Congregational Church1900Registered as a Category B building with Auckland CouncilCambridge Primary School1900Designed an extension blockRiverhead school1900Onehunga Primary School1901Registered as a Category 1 building with Heritage New ZealandRichmond Road Manual Training School1903Scheduled as a Category B building with Auckland CouncilNewton East Manual Training School1903Demolished in 1959. Designed identically to Newmarket and Richmond Road Manual Training SchoolsNewmarket Manual Training School1903Registered as a Category B building with Auckland CouncilAustralis House/Entrican Building1903–1904Registered as a Category I building with Heritage New ZealandSt Andrew's, Howick1903–1904Registered as a Category 2 building with Heritage New ZealandTaniwha School1904–1905Registered as a Category 2 building with Heritage New ZealandDargaville school1905Designed an addition for the schoolTe Mata school 1905 Registered as a Category B building with Waikato District CouncilMaungatautari school1905Registered as a Category B building with the Waipa District Council. Closed in 2011Leys Institute 1905–1906 Only Watt was involved with the Leys Institute. Registered as a Category I building with Heritage New ZealandSt Stephen's, Ponsonby1906–1907 Only Watt was involved. This was just an extension to an existing Church building. Registered as a Category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand.Karangahake School1907Addition designed by Mitchell. Registered as a Category I building with Heritage New ZealandSeddon Memorial Technical College1909Only designed by Mitchell. Registered as a Category 2 building with Heritage New ZealandPapakura School1913An extension which is now the main building was built in 1913 to a design from Mitchell and Watt. Registered as a category B building with Auckland CouncilHelensville Manual Training School1912Likely the work of Mitchell and Watt but not confirmedCambridge Manual Training School1903Likely the work of Mitchell and Watt but not confirmed. Demolished.Ponsonby Fire Station1902Attributed to Watt by John Stacpoole but other authors attribute it to someone else. Registered as a Category B building with Auckland Council

References

Notes