Marchant Place

Marchant Place in New Plymouth, named in 1977, honours the memory of Frederick William Marchant.

Marchant was an energetic engineer who usually worked in the Timaru area. He built the first ferro-concrete bridge in New Zealand, across the Ōpihi River. He left a legacy of bridges and other public works. In Taranaki, he assisted in the development of New Plymouth by involving himself in the construction of the breakwater and improvements to the wharf.

He was the consulting engineer to the New Plymouth Harbour Board, a position he still held when he died.

During his time in New Plymouth, Marchant married a daughter of Thomas King, who was at the time the chairman of the harbour board. He was therefore Newton King's brother-in-law.

His engineering works were also of great benefit to Gisborne, where he laid out the water supply and drainage systems.

Marchant was born in Devonshire, England and died in 1917, leaving a widow and three children. Another son, a captain in the Mounted Rifles, had been killed in Egypt.

Marchant attempted retirement, and spent two years in England and Europe before returning to New Zealand in 1914. He intended to continue working in Timaru, and was visiting England again when he died. His obituary included the sentiment that "of him it may be truly said that he was a very useful man".

It is fitting that someone responsible for so much vital infrastructure is remembered with a street name.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.