FORRESTER, THOMAS (1838-1907) was born in Glasgow, his father being a modelling and decorative plasterer. He studied at the School of Art and, having married, sailed in the Pladda in 1860 for Otago. He engaged in his trade in Dunedin and was for a while with Mason and Wales, architects, and later with R. A. Lawson superintending the erection of public buildings. He was supervisor of the Dunedin Exhibition building (1865) and was afterwards employed by the provincial government making borings for the Waitaki bridge. He established himself in business in Oamaru with John Lemon and they built St Paul's and Columba Churches and the post office. In 1871 Forrester was appointed secretary and inspector of works to the harbour board and he supervised the construction of the breakwater mole. He started dredging the harbour and designed the Holmes wharf. He drew one of the earliest geological maps in New Zealand. With Dr H. A. de Lautour he did much research into the diatomaceous deposits of the Oamaru district. Forrester died on 25 Mar 1907.

Oamaru Mail, 26 Mar 1907; Otago Daily Times, 1 Apr 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 151

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