Archie Christie (married to Claire) owned CHRISTIES. The original business was started by Mr Christie in Gisborne in 1939 with a staff of four. The retail premises were at or near 64 Peel Street. Barwicks was at 66 Peel Street. When Barwicks relocated, CHRISTIES took over both locations. CHRISTIES furniture manufacturing plant was on Kahutia street, somewhere within the vicinity of where Bunnings now stands (on the corner of Peel St and Kahutia Street). An article in the Gisborne Photo News, August 14 1974 announced that the Christies were going to live in Tauranga, from where Mr Christie believed it would be easier to travel to the other branches of Arch Christie Ltd. The firm also had branches in Tauranga, Wairoa, Napier, Rotorua and Hamilton, which extended from the Gisborne store (retrieved 19/10/2016 from: http://photonews.org.nz/gisborne/issue/GPN242_19740814/t1-body-d15.html). The business closed circa 1984.
Archie and Claire’s daughter’s name is Sue Hine, she lives in the Wellington region.
Archie Christie was an accomplished artist. In 1974 the Gisborne Photo News described him as ‘[…] a serious and prolific artist, in both oils and water colours, Perhaps his best known painting is the scene of Young Nick's Head which hangs in the DB Gisborne Hotel.’ (retrieved 19/10/2016 from: http://photonews.org.nz/gisborne/issue/GPN242_19740814/t1-body-d15.html).