James Wright was an architect, civil engineer and politician who left his imprint on the Western Australian Turf Club through his design of Ascot Racecourse's grandstand, administration offices and wagering pavilion, the latter two of which are still in use more than 100 years after they were built.
James Wright was an architect, civil engineer and politician who left his imprint on the Western Australian Turf Club through his design of Ascot Racecourse's grandstand, administration offices and wagering pavilion, the latter two of which are still in use more than 100 years after they were built.
Born in the United Kingdom in 1854, Wright attended King's College London before migrating to South Australia in 1876 to work as a engineer. Wright moved to Western Australia in 1881 after he won a tender to work on the railway line from Guildford to Chidlow. In 1884, Wright opened an office in Perth - the practice he founded is known now as Cameron Chisholm Nicol - and notable non-WATC buildings he designed include York Town Hall and Fremantle's Union Bank. Wright, who served one term in WA's Legislative Council, died in 1917 aged 62.