Arch was born in Roscommon Ireland in 1840. In 1861 he went to the Australian goldfields and then followed the South Island gold strikes in New Zealand in 1863. He joined the Militia in Auckland as Private 1675 and was with the Commissariat Transport Corp in Cambridge with a store and canteen at the wharf.
His military grant of 1 acre in town was in Duke Street and with his timber grant he built the Duke of Cambridge tavern which he sold to Robert Kirkwood 6 months later. In April 1866 he was erecting the Masonic Hotel which was upgraded with shops on the ground floor in 1880.

He returned to Ireland and married Frances Sarah Rose but hurried back to New Zealand when the Thames gold strike was announced. He acquired property in Thames and established a business.

Returning to Cambridge he bought land just outside the town boundary. He stayed in Cambridge in the hotel trade for 28 years, leaving for Auckland in 1899.

Archie was on the first Cambridge Road Board, first chairman of the Town Board, on the first Cambridge Borough Council and Mayor 1888 to 1889.

 

Researched and written by Eris Parker
Ref: Cambridge Museum Archives

 

 

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