George Selwyn Goldsbro'
George Selwyn Goldsbro (born 1870) was a New Zealand architect based in Auckland. He trained under R. Mackay Fripp and later worked in Sydney and Melbourne before returning to New Zealand. Goldsbro served as honorary architect to the Anglican Diocese and designed ecclesiastical buildings and domestic architecture in the Auckland region.
Also recorded as George Selwyn Goldsbro
George Selwyn Goldsbro'
- Born
- 1870
- Nationality
- New Zealand
- Occupation
- architect
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George Selwyn Goldsbro (born 1870) was a New Zealand architect based in Auckland. He trained under R. Mackay Fripp and later worked in Sydney and Melbourne before returning to New Zealand. Goldsbro served as honorary architect to the Anglican Diocese and designed ecclesiastical buildings and domestic architecture in the Auckland region.
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George Selwyn Goldsbro' was an architect; nationality: New Zealand. George Selwyn Goldsbro' was born in 1870.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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wikidata · Q5544415 · wikipedia · George Selwyn Goldsbro'
In this article
Early life and background
Early life and background
His practice has been associated with early Arts and Crafts influence in Auckland architecture and trained several later architects.
Goldsbro was the son of Dr Charles Field Goldsbro, who emigrated to New Zealand in 1860 and served as a surgeon during the New Zealand Wars. Charles Goldsbro completed a medical degree at University of Sydney in 1868 and returned to Auckland, where George Selwyn Goldsbro was born in 1870.
Training and early career
Training and early career
Goldsbro studied under R. Mackay Fripp from 1884 to 1888. Fripp arrived in Auckland in 1881, opened an architectural office, and later became secretary of the Auckland Society of Arts, where he introduced architecture classes and competitions. In 1888 Fripp left for Canada and Goldsbro left for Australia. In Australia, Goldsbro worked in Sydney and Melbourne, including employment with Sulman & Power, Howard Joseland, and Theo Kemnis.
Ecclesiastical and institutional
Ecclesiastical and institutional
Goldsbro served as honorary architect to the Anglican Diocese and designed: • Chapel of St Saviour's, Papatoetoe • Presbyterian church, Uxbridge Road, Howick • St Luke's, Russell Road, Manurewa • St George's Parish Hall, Papatoetoe • Orphans' Home, Papatoetoe • Paterson wing at St John's College
Domestic
Domestic
Goldsbro designed a number of houses, including: • 66 Gillies Avenue (1905), his own house • Bloomfield house, Gladstone Road (demolished 1999) • Goldie house, St Georges Bay Road (demolished) • Friend house, 33 Owens Road • Coates house, Pencarrow Avenue • Kidd house, 74 Gillies Avenue (1903) • 11 Kimberley Road • 23 Seaview Road • 20 Ōrākei Road
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1870
George Selwyn Goldsbro' was born on 1 January 1870.
Auckland practice
In 1896 Fripp joined Goldsbro in partnership in Auckland; the partnership ended in 1898 when Fripp returned to Canada. From 1902 to 1909 Goldsbro was in partnership with Henry Wade. In 1909 the firm designed the main building of Auckland Girls Grammar School. During the First World War Goldsbro entered into partnership with E Holm Biss. In the 1920s the firm became Goldsbro and Carter.
Influence and legacy
The firm has been described as the first architectural practice in Auckland with a strong Arts and Crafts influence to initiate the shingle and tile movement. The practice also trained several Auckland architects, including Gerald Jones and Frederick Browne.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q5544415: George Selwyn Goldsbro'
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “George Selwyn Goldsbro'”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority record
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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