Swan Railley architectural drawings collection.

Swan & Railley was formed in 1971 when David G. Swan and Robert Railley formed the architectural practice. David Swan went into sole practice in 1959 after leaving Walker, Hillary & Swan. During the 1950s, he specialized in designing family homes in Auckland’s expanding affluent suburbs. (1)

Robert R. Railley was born in Whangarei and completed his NZIA Progressional Qualifications at the University of Auckland School of Architecture in 1965. He completed his postgraduate study in art and architecture in Perugia, Italy in 1966 and Copenhagen, Denmark in 1967. Railley joined David Swan in 1969, becoming a partner in 1971. Swan & Railley became Swan Railley & Associates in 1977.(2)

Robert Paterson joined the practice in 1981, leading to the practice changing to Swan Railley Paterson. Swan retired in 1986 and Paterson died in 1989. From 1988 to 1995 the practice was known as Swan Railley & Associates Ltd. Linda Clapham joined the practice in the 1990s, leading to another name change: Swan Railley Clapham & Associates Ltd. in 1995. In 2001 the practice reverted back to Swan Railley & Associates. Robert Railley retired in 2011.

The practice was based on the 7th floor of the Smith & Caughey Building in central Auckland. It specialized in large-scale residential new builds and renovations, restoration of heritage buildings, and hotels and commercial developments in New Zealand and the Pacific.

1. Sheppard, F. (n.d.). David Richard Swan [clippings file] Sheppard Collections MSS & Archives Arch 2017/1/S972d. Special Collections, University of Auckland.

2. heppard, F. (n.d.). Robert Ray Railley [clippings file] Sheppard Collections MSS & Archives Arch 2017/1/R152l. Special Collections, University of Auckland.