Robert Allan

Robert Allan (1847 – 8 December 1927) was a prominent businessman and manufacturer of Christchurch, New Zealand. Early life Allan's parents arrived in New Zealand aboard the Thomas Harrison in 1842. Born in Nelson in 1847, Allan and his family moved to Wellington for several years and to Port Levy in 1851. The Allan family later settled in Lyttelton. Robert's father (also Robert) and uncle Magnus Allan were in business with John Grubb and notably were commissioned to construct the Canterbury Association wharf at Lyttelton for Captain Joseph Thomas. Early career Allan was educated at the Church of England School under later at the Scots School. Joining the firm of J. T. Peacock & Co. at 15, Allan began a prosperous mercantile career. In the early 1870s he founded together with Mr Lightband, the boot and shoe manufacturers and general importers Lightband, Allan & Co. This firm later became the national concern of Skelton, Frostick and Co. Ltd which was famous for manufacturing Zealandia brand boots. In 1895 the firm erected a substantial four story brick building in Hereford Street, Christchurch which was the largest boot factory in the Colony. After Allan's retirement and subsequent death, Skelton Frostick fell victim to the difficult conditions of the Great Depression and was liquidated in the 1930s. Involvement with Christchurch civic life In 1900, Allan was president of both the Industrial Association and of the Jubilee Exhibition committee for Canterbury. He was appointed a Royal Reception Commissioner for the visit of the 1901 visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen Mary) along with Sir Henry Wigram and Mr. Stead. Allan was also active in the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and one of the earliest members and the first treasurer of Christchurch's Union Rowing Club. He was a longtime director of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company, as well as electric lighting and tramway enterprises.