(Kimberley Publ Libr gives 1871-1926 as the dates), a pioneer architect of Kimberley, Greatbatch was born in Blandford, Dorset, England and came to the Cape Colony with his parents in 1880. He continued his education at St Andrew's College, Grahamstown and was articled to Sydney STENT whom he accompanied to the Diamond Fields in 1885. Greatbatch remained four years with Stent before joining RS DAY. In 1889 he worked for a short time in Johannesburg, returning to Kimberley in 1890 and assuming DAY's practice. In 1891 he won the competition for the design of the Kimberley Exhibition Building 'part shed, part Winter Palace'(Roberts 1976:285) and in 1893 adjudicated the East London town hall competition. He remained in Kimberley during the Anglo-Boer War, becoming a member of the Town Guard during the Siege of Kimberley. In about 1900 he was appointed architect to the De Beer's Company, the Hospital Board and the Kimberley Public School; he was elected to the Kimberley Town Council in 1901 and around 1904 supervised the erection of the Honoured Dead Memorial, Kimberley for BAKER & MASEY.
Greatbatch built a flourishing practice in Kimberley over the next decade, designing offices, hotels and houses for leading citizens. With the outbreak of the First World War his practice slowed down and in 1918 Greatbatch took William TIMLIN into partnership (cf GREATBATCH & TIMLIN) who had remained in Greatbatch's office after completion of his articles in Greatbatch's office. In 1921 Greatbatch left for England. His practice was continued by Timlin under the style of Greatbatch & Timlin. According to Yuill (1984) Greatbatch had a great impact on pre-1914 architecture in Kimberley. A member of the South African Association of Engineers and Architects in 1894, a member of the Society of Architects (London) South African branch in 1895 and a Fellow of the Cape Institute of Architects in 1914, Greatbatch was also a keen freemason.
(Afr Archt May 1914:339; Bawcombe 1976; Berman 1983 (see W Timlin); Martin 1984; Jack Hindon Officers' Club brochure n.d.; Men Cape 1906; Picton-Seymour 1977; Restorica 5 Aug 1978; Roberts 1976:286 port; SAWW 1908; SESA 4:187; S v d Stel bull 25 May 1972; Yuill 1984:56-57; MS Kimberley Public Library)All truncated references not fully cited in 'References' are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon.
Alexandersfontein Hotel: 1900-1902 : 1907. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect 1900:1907 
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Beit House - Boarding House for Girls' High School: 1909. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Belgrave Hotel: 1896. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Belgravia Public School: 1905. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Cathedral Church of St Cyprian the Martyr: 1907. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Church of St John the Evangelist: 1905. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect 
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De Beers Consolidated Mines Head Office: n.d. : 1888 : 1904. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Dunluce - McGregor Museum: 1897. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect 
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Exhibition Bldg for the SA & International Exhib: 1891. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Hebrew School and Hebrew Mortuary: n.d.. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Honoured Dead Memorial: 1902. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Supervising Architect 
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House: 1901. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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House Anderson: 1897. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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House Boland: n.d.. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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House C Devenish: c1900. Belgravia, Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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House Greenburg: 1912. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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House H Harris: Lindow House: 1910. Belgravia, Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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House Horwitz: 1913. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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House T Ennor: 1900. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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House W Blakemore: 1905. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Kimberley Bldg Soc: 1913. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Kimberley Boys' High School: 1913. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Kimberley Girls' High School: 1905. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Kimberley Public School: c1901. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Kimberley Sanatorium - McGregor Museum: 1897 : 1907. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect 
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Mission Station for London Missionary Society: pre-1913. Vryburg, North West - Architect
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Presbyterian School: 1896. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Princess Christian Ward for Children: 1904. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Savoy hotel: 1901 : 1921. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect 1902
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St Cyprian’s Cathedral: 1908 : 1926 : 1961. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect 
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Synagogue: 1901. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Theatre Royal: 1895. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Town hall, adds BC Jubilee wing: 1897. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Victoria Memorial, plinth: 1906. Kimberley, Northern Cape - Architect
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Picton-Seymour, Désirée. 1989. Historical Buildings in South Africa. Cape Town: Struikhof Publishers. pp 96, 98, 99
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