James Fletcher I
Date established
29 Mar 1886
Date closed
12 Aug 1974
History
James Fletcher was born in Kirkintilloch, Scotland on the 29th of March 1886, the sixth of thirteen children.
James Fletcher left his first job in a chemist shop and served his apprenticeship in the building trade.
He immigrated to Dunedin, New Zealand in 1908 where he began work as a tradesman and foreman for a building firm.
In 1909 he and a partner, AJ Morris started a business as builders and contractors in Dunedin, trading under the name of Fletcher and Morris. The first contract for the new partnership was for a house at Broad Bay for the local shopkeeper, Herbert Green (the house is now a heritage listed building and has been restored to its original condition by the Fletcher Challenge Trust). Soon James's brother William arrived from Scotland and joined the firm which was now named Fletcher Brothers and Morris T three years later (1913) the partnership was dissolved and in 1913 with his brother, William, James Fletcher formed the company Fletcher Bros Ltd, later opening a branch in Invercargill (brother John started in 1916 and brother Andrew joined the firm in 1916).
In 1911 James Fletcher married Charlotte Cameron and their first home was in Grove Street, Musselborough and two years later shifted to Albert Street, St Clair in Dunedin.
1917 the firm was a limited liability company in which shares were held by many of the foremen. 1917 Auckland City Markets was the first Auckland job. The first Wellington contracts included McKenzies in Cuba Street, the Salvation Army barracks at the rear of the Peoples Palace in Cuba Street and the Silverstream Brickworks (plus four houses).
In 1919 the name of the company changed to the Fletcher Construction Company Ltd and James Fletcher was managing director until 1940 when the public holding company of Fletcher Holdings Limited was formed. James Fletcher became chairman of directors of the new company (his son JC Fletcher became Managing Director)
In 1937 The Labour Government launched the State Housing scheme with James Fletcher's company playing a dominating role.
1942 James Fletcher was appointed Commissioner of Defence Construction and Controller of Ship Building (an unpaid position). The task was to organise the supply of materials and plant and labour where it was most needed and to ensure that the work was done on time. Camps as big as towns, hospitals and stores had to be built quickly as to be ready for the arrival of thousands of American military personnel who were to be based in New Zealand for the Pacific campaign.
James Fletcher was also appointed the first Commissioner of Works responsible for organising the Ministry of Works into a department prepared for the post war reconstruction and new development that peace would bring.
James Fletcher was knighted in 1946 for his services to New Zealand in War World II
Post war years saw the expansion of Fletcher Holdings Ltd into Australia and the Pacific, links with overseas companies, and the development of new companies, of which a major one was the Tasman Pulp & Paper Company Ltd.
Sir James Fletcher was Chairman of the Board of Fletcher Holdings Ltd until 1967 and Founder President until his death in 1974.
James Fletcher left his first job in a chemist shop and served his apprenticeship in the building trade.
He immigrated to Dunedin, New Zealand in 1908 where he began work as a tradesman and foreman for a building firm.
In 1909 he and a partner, AJ Morris started a business as builders and contractors in Dunedin, trading under the name of Fletcher and Morris. The first contract for the new partnership was for a house at Broad Bay for the local shopkeeper, Herbert Green (the house is now a heritage listed building and has been restored to its original condition by the Fletcher Challenge Trust). Soon James's brother William arrived from Scotland and joined the firm which was now named Fletcher Brothers and Morris T three years later (1913) the partnership was dissolved and in 1913 with his brother, William, James Fletcher formed the company Fletcher Bros Ltd, later opening a branch in Invercargill (brother John started in 1916 and brother Andrew joined the firm in 1916).
In 1911 James Fletcher married Charlotte Cameron and their first home was in Grove Street, Musselborough and two years later shifted to Albert Street, St Clair in Dunedin.
1917 the firm was a limited liability company in which shares were held by many of the foremen. 1917 Auckland City Markets was the first Auckland job. The first Wellington contracts included McKenzies in Cuba Street, the Salvation Army barracks at the rear of the Peoples Palace in Cuba Street and the Silverstream Brickworks (plus four houses).
In 1919 the name of the company changed to the Fletcher Construction Company Ltd and James Fletcher was managing director until 1940 when the public holding company of Fletcher Holdings Limited was formed. James Fletcher became chairman of directors of the new company (his son JC Fletcher became Managing Director)
In 1937 The Labour Government launched the State Housing scheme with James Fletcher's company playing a dominating role.
1942 James Fletcher was appointed Commissioner of Defence Construction and Controller of Ship Building (an unpaid position). The task was to organise the supply of materials and plant and labour where it was most needed and to ensure that the work was done on time. Camps as big as towns, hospitals and stores had to be built quickly as to be ready for the arrival of thousands of American military personnel who were to be based in New Zealand for the Pacific campaign.
James Fletcher was also appointed the first Commissioner of Works responsible for organising the Ministry of Works into a department prepared for the post war reconstruction and new development that peace would bring.
James Fletcher was knighted in 1946 for his services to New Zealand in War World II
Post war years saw the expansion of Fletcher Holdings Ltd into Australia and the Pacific, links with overseas companies, and the development of new companies, of which a major one was the Tasman Pulp & Paper Company Ltd.
Sir James Fletcher was Chairman of the Board of Fletcher Holdings Ltd until 1967 and Founder President until his death in 1974.
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