Penny Fraser (formerly Chester) states from Garth's diaries, photos, own and mother's recollections.
Garth's mother was called Rose, an Italian migrant. His father's name unknown. Brother's name Terry. Sister's name unknown (anecdotally due to a falling out over a mandolin). The Chester family left New Zealand to try their fortune in South Africa where Garth was born, but returned to farm in Dargaville (north of Auckland on return from South Africa) (source - 1962 annotated family photo of Garth discussing farm with new owners, family history). Garth left the farm at his earliest convenience for the city. His friends included Ferris de Joux, a fellow designer of sports car bodies with whom he said he collaborated on a vehicle subsequently used for his honeymoon (source - annotated photograph).
Garth's wife's name: Nancy Olga Robb (Nan), daughter of NSW Surveyor General (Alan Chauncy Robb, mentioned in military despatches, engineer - source family photograph and military records online). Married 1961. Garth met Nan in Vanuatu (then New Hebrides) where he went to photograph the Yasur volcano. She was an Australian teacher, of the Presbyterian mission, engaged in teaching, translation into Bislama (Gud Nyus Bilong Jisus Krais - Bible Society), and a keen spear fisher. In Vanuatu Garth assisted friends with New Hebrides Airlines and also travelled to Pentecost to photograph land diving (source, annotated photographs). He returned to New Zealand, she joined him when able. They had two children - Garth Alan Craig Chester (25 June 1962-2004) and Penelope Anne Chester (born 4 June 1963). The family initially lived above the Mercury Theatre on the corner of France Street and Karangahape Road, Auckland (source: photographs, oral history). Garth was involved in set design for productions in a theatre at the top of Symonds Street near Grafton bridge (source - existing set designs), he was popular in the arts sect and held soirees in his penthouse flat (source - oral, several).
Garth experienced poor health, obtaining surgery from a long-standing undiagnosed back injury and also from emphysema. (source: his diary). The latter likely arose from lung damage from glue fumes used in the production of plywood furniture.
Garth designed a range of furniture with bent ply and bent metal rods such as dining and coffee tables, dining chairs. His ventures into metal included the popular Visor fireplace, a conical fireplace with a tall flue inside the room, seen in homes throughout New Zealand. The Visor fireplace was available in stainless steel, brass, and matt black. This venture was successful financially (source - documents from his files).
For sake of his health and family, Garth considered moving from the city moving the family to nearby Waiheke Island around 1964. He purchased the Onetangi store business, and moved it into larger premises by purchasing the former Onetangi hall, jacking it out of the sand and running a store and post-office from the site. (photographs). Garth's health declined, he was transferred at his wife's initiative to Grafton hospital several times by sea-plane, forcing ambulance transport from Mechanics Bay to Grafton Hospital.
Unable to work in the business directly, Garth's brother managed affairs. Garth came to believe his brother was advantaging himself financially, with accounts showing poor returns despite the popularity of Visor Fireplaces, and stories of factory break-ins and break-downs, and an eventual fire.
Prior to his death, Garth suggested a second marital arrangement for his wife and spoke to the bachelor concerned. After his death he left personalised photograph albums for his children, a diary containing poetry and anecdotes, and furniture designed for his home - dining table, dining chairs, coffee tables, bent form armchair.
Garth died from heart failure related to advanced emphysema. His funeral was well attended, internment took place at Purewa Cemetery, Meadowbank, Auckland. ~2026-21303-88 (talk) 03:09, 7 April 2026 (UTC)Reply
- Thank you for all this background information. We can't use it directly in the article, as we require published sources, but if any editor without a conflict of interest wants to expand the article, it will give them some ideas of where to look for such sources, for example a history of the Mercury Theatre might mention him, as might a history of Onetangi/Waiheke Island.-Gadfium (talk) 18:40, 7 April 2026 (UTC)Reply
