Alexander Lean (21 May 1824 – 20 November 1893) was a New Zealand runholder, architect, military volunteer and musician. He was born in London, England on 21 May 1824.[1] His most valuable contribution as an architect were the Christchurch Supreme Court buildings,[1] which were progressively demolished between 1974 and 1985.[2]

Christchurch Supreme Court

In 1853, Lean was the original purchaser of land at the bottom of Rāpaki Track next to the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River, which he called Riverlaw. He sold this land in 1859 to Michael le Fleming and with an additional intermittent owner, the property was purchased by Hugh Murray-Aynsley in 1862.[3]

Lean acted as the returning officer for the Christchurch electorate in the 1893 election when he suddenly died on 20 November 1893 in Christchurch.[4][5] He is buried at St Peter's in Upper Riccarton.

References

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  1. ^ a b Pritchard, Brian W. "Alexander Lean". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Christchurch 1880: Canterbury Provincial Council & Supreme Court Buildings". Canterbury Heritage. Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  3. ^ Ogilvie, Gordon (2009). The Port Hills of Christchurch (2nd ed.). Christchurch: Phillips & King Publishers. pp. 166–168. ISBN 978-0-9583315-6-2.
  4. ^ "City of Christchurch Electoral District". The Press. Vol. L, no. 8644. 20 November 1893. p. 8. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Colonel A. Lean". The Press. Vol. L, no. 8645. 21 November 1893. p. 2. Retrieved 25 August 2014.