Author(s): Colin Averill; Quentin Wilson (Editor); Geoffrey Rice

NZ Biography & Memoir

Dr Leslie Averill (1897-1981) was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and became one of that city's most admired and respected public figures as chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (1956-74). In this role he supervised the building of the Princess Margaret Hospital and started the rebuilding of Christchurch Hospital with the Riverside ward block. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the Christchurch Clinical School of Medicine and the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation. As one of the city's first specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists he contributed to significant improvements in maternal welfare in the 1920s and 1930s. He was medical officer of the Christchurch St Helens Hospital and led the campaign to build what later became Christchurch Women's Hospital. For many years he was chairman of the Executive of St George's Private Hospital.