James O'Dea (architect)

James O'Dea (c.1853–1930) was a New Zealand architect. O'Dea migrated to New Zealand in 1875 and initially worked as a carpenter before transitioning into architecture. O'Dea's architectural career was across the North Island but most of his work was in Wellington. Little of O'Dea's work has survived but several buildings are heritage listed with Heritage New Zealand and the Wellington City Council.

Early life

James O'Dea was born c.1853 in County Clare, Ireland, United Kingdom. O'Dea was trained in carpentry and left for New Zealand aboard the Hannibal via London in 1875. O'Dea arrived in Nelson 6 August 1875 and moved to Westland.[1]

Career

In 1877 O'Dea was working as a carpenter in Reefton. O'Dea had possibly moved to Whanganui by 1880 but this is uncertain.[a] In November 1880 O'Dea was in Durban, Colony of Natal. Poor working conditions and high living costs prompted O'Dea to return to New Zealand in 1881. O'Dea likely moved to Hawera or Pātea upon his return and by 1884 he had moved to Hamilton. O'Dea did work for the Hamilton Borough Council but the relation soured and he filed an unsuccessful lawsuit against the mayor over a payment dispute in 1886 and later moved to Hawera and Auckland.[b] By 1888 O'Dea was in Wellington.[c] In Wellington O'Dea designed roughly 150 buildings, notably Our Lady's Home of Compassion in Island Bay. By the 20th century O'Dea's business had become successful and he was looking to hire a draughtsmans and two years later his son joined his business. In 1906 O'Dea designed the Our Lady's Home of Compassion building in Island Bay but there was controversy over structural deficits in the building, with some blaming the architect. John Swan was hired instead of O'Dea for the repair works. In 1907 he broke his leg and stopped his practice.[1]

Our Lady's Home of Compassion in 1938

In 1910 O'Dea was selling designs at an 80% discount but no building permits were issued with his name, suggesting that no one had bought these designs.[1] In 1911 O'Dea was promoting ferroconcrete, stating that it would make other materials obsolete and that 'its age is as unlimited as that of the aqueducts and bridges built by Rome when she was mistress of the world' but there is no record of him after that and he faded into obscurity and died in 1930 without undertaking any further architectural work.[1][2]

Personal life

O'Dea was a Roman Catholic and married his wife in 1879. O'Dea was elected as president for the Liberal Association in 1893.[1]

List of works

NameDateImageNoteRef
St Mary's Monastery1884Demolished 1938[3]
T.G. Macarthy Trust Building1897Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand[4]
Royal Oak Hotel1899Demolished 1979[5][6]
Tramway Hotel1899Scheduled with the Wellington City Council[7]
89 Austin Street, Mount Victoria1900Scheduled with the Wellington City Council[8]
People's Palace1904Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand[9]
Alexandra Building1905Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand[10]
Kennedy Buildings1905Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand[11]
Our Lady's Home of Compassion1906Demolished[1]

Notes

  1. ↑ A 'JJ O'Dea' was listed as a paperhanger in 1880[1]
  2. ↑ It is unknown whether O'Dea meant Auckland City or the Auckland Province when referring to having been in Auckland[1]
  3. ↑ O'Dea had placed tender for a Ngauranga abattoir in 1887 but a newspaper reported O'Dea departing Hawera in 1888[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Mew, G.; Humphris, Adrian (October 2014). Raupo to Deco. Steele Roberts Aotearoa Limited. pp. 86–88. ISBN 978-1-927242-56-8.
  2. ↑ Innovative Building Technologies in the Service of Progress: Reinforced Concrete in the Auckland Town Hall, the Chief Post Office, and the Ferry Building in Auckland (PDF). p. 333.
  3. ↑ Simmons, Alexy (2017). Final Report for St Mary's Convent Chapel, Hamilton East (Report).
  4. ↑ O'Keefe, Mary (1 August 1991). T.G. Macarthy Trust Building (Report). Heritage New Zealand.
  5. ↑ "James O'Dea". Wellington Heritage. Wellington City Council.
  6. ↑ "Royal Oak Hotel, corner of Manners and Cuba Streets". Wellington City Recollect.
  7. ↑ "Tramway Hotel (Former)". Wellington Heritage.
  8. ↑ Newman, Joanna (7 July 2024). "New heritage listings in Mt Victoria". The Local, Mt Victoria.
  9. ↑ O'Keefe, Mary (1 August 1991). People's Palace (Report). Heritage New Zealand.
  10. ↑ "Alexandra Building". Wellington Heritage.
  11. ↑ O'Keefe, Mary (1 August 1991). Kennedy Buildings (Report). Heritage New Zealand.
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