Arthur Ollivier

Arthur Morton Ollivier (23 March 1851 – 21 October 1897) was a successful businessman in Christchurch, New Zealand, a notable cricketer, mountaineer, and chess player.

Ollivier was born in 1851 in Hammersmith, Middlesex, England. He was the eighth son of John and Elizabeth Ollivier (née Morton). The family with 10 children came to New Zealand on the John Taylor; the ship left London on 10 July 1853 and arrived in Lyttelton on 18 October. He received his education at Christ's College from 1862 to 1865; he was pupil number 179.

Ollivier was a right-hand batsman. In February 1867, he became a representative cricketer at age 15, when he played for Canterbury against Otago at Hagley Oval; the first cricket game ever that was played on that ground. He was also playing when Canterbury first met Auckland in 1873; the year that the Auckland team was founded.

He played against England in February 1877, and against Australia in January 1878.

Injury forced Ollivier to retire from the game in 1883. He became a trainer, administrator and selector of players. In 1882, Edward Cephas John Stevens and Ollivier initiated the purchase of a parcel of land which became Lancaster Park; this was to overcome the problem of spectators not paying a fee at Hagley Oval. In 1893, he selected the New Zealand team for the match against New South Wales.

Ollivier was known for his mountaineering exploits. Mount Ollivier is named for him.

Ollivier was a noted sports person in rugby and athletics, especially sprinting. He was a successful chess player, was a founding member of the Canterbury Chess Club in 1877, and was dominion champion in 1888/89.

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