Our History
Mr Thompson was born in Queensland, and received his early clerical training in Brisbane and Sydney. The Nineties were a time of serious depression in Australia, and in 1893, having heard of opportunities in New Zealand, came to New Zealand seeking employment.
After selling insurance, for a short period, for the New Zealand Government Life Insurance, he joined John Ewing, a mining magnate in St. Bathans, as his Accountant.
In 1897, he left St. Bathans for Invercargill, to work for Cook and Gray, a firm of Public Accountants. Cook and Gray had offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill, and in 1899, Mr Thompson was transferred to the Dunedin branch.
The firm began in 1900, when T H Thompson commenced business, as a Public Accountant, from offices in the Stock Exchange Buildings in Princes Street .
The Practice in the early years was diverse. In 1903, Mr Thompson published the first book of its kind in New Zealand: "New Zealand Manual of Accountancy and Commercial Law". Mr Thompson wrote the accountancy section, and Mr P S K Macassey, the legal section. The book proved popular and was published in four editions. Later, he published a monthly magazine: “The Australasian Accountant”. The associations made during his time in St Bathans led to secretarial involvement with a number of Mining Companies.
In 1907, Mr Thompson shifted his office, to the AMP Building. Due to the demolition of the AMP Building, the practice shifted to 33 Princes Street, and again in 1983, to the NML Building.
In 1935, Mr T H Thompson took into partnership his two sons: J H Thompson and F R Thompson. The firm's name was changed to T H Thompson and Sons.
T H Thompson died in 1938. J H and F R Thompson continued the business until the Second World War where in 1939, J H Thompson left for overseas service with the First Echelon. He died in Italy in 1943.
J F Lang commenced business in Dunedin in 1938, and In 1942, both he and F R Thompson were called up for armed service. Mr Lang closed his business, and Mr Thompson retained his business with the help of Mr P A Macomish, who had just retired as accountant in the Public Trust Office in Dunedin. Mr Macomish had been trained in Scotland, with the virtues expected from such a background: meticulous in all his work, with a marvellous economy in regard to office expenses.
In 1946, J F Lang and F R Thompson returned to Dunedin, and in October of that year, they commenced in partnership as: Thompson and Lang.
In 1957, J J Lang, son of J F Lang, was taken into partnership,. and In 1965, K J Thompson, son of F R Thompson, joined the partnership. In 1979, F R Thompson retired, and later that year, I G Ellis and D C Gardner joined the firm. The firm practiced under the name of Thompson Lang Ellis & Gardner.
Mr J J Lang, retired in 1982, due to illness, and his father J F Lang, followed in 1985.
Jim Reay had worked for the firm in the seventies, and after working for Fiordland Travel, returned to be admitted as a Partner in 1984.
In 1987, the Practices of Thompson Lang Ellis & Gardner and J J Radford merged with Robert Hollebon being admitted as a Partner at the same time. Robert had extensive prior experience in both Human Resources and Project Management.
Geoff Ellis died in 1989.
Jim Reay retired from the Partnership in 2004.
Further changes were implemented effective 1st April, 2005. Both KJ Thompson and D C Gardner retired and continued as Consultants. With these retirements, the business incorporated and trades under the name of Thompson Lang & Associates Limited. DC Gardner retired as a Consultant on the 31st March, 2008.
We are proud of our history, and look to the future with enthusiasm and professionalism.