Alexander Lean

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

1. 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.