Background
Born and educated in, in his mid-twenties he took over the seed-grain and produce business his father founded in 1881. In October 1916, now mayor of, James sold his father"s business to Wright Stephenson.
Businessman Mayor of Auckland City
Born and educated in, in his mid-twenties he took over the seed-grain and produce business his father founded in 1881. In October 1916, now mayor of, James sold his father"s business to Wright Stephenson.
He was knighted in 1924. William Gunson died in 1902. James Gunson stood for Parliament several times without success.
(Mountain Roskill in 1919, Eden in 1926 and then Suburbs in 1928).
Mayor from 1915 to 1925 he undertook the building of the war memorials Museum and Cenotaph, the Wintergardens in Domain and the construction of Tamaki Drive. In later public life, he was responsible for the monument on One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie) and the treeplanting of Cornwall Park fulfilling Sir John Logan Campbell"s vision.
Several parts of the city bear his name or were his gift. His farming property to the South of in Manukau, called Totara Park, was later given to the city of His main town residence, in Street Andrew"s Road, Epsom, became the Tongan royal residence, which it remains.
A further property (named Rydal Mount after the residence of the English poet William Wordsworth) was by the same architect, Draffin, that Gunson had chosen to design Museum.
Gunson Street, in South, is named after him. In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Meda They had three children.
William, Geoffrey and Margaret.
During World War Two Gunson worked for the Ministry of Supply in London publishing studies of women war workers" health.
Gunson was Chairman of the Harbour Board 1911-1915, and was a member of the Government Railways Board 1931-1935.