of the peace in 1858. New Zealand career Attracted by the gold rushes which had brought new prosperity to Dunedin, Clayton emigrated to New Zealand on the Omeo arriving in Dunedin on 29 April 1863. His wife and six children followed soon after. Initially he practiced on his own account before entering into a partnership in 1864 with existing well-established architect William Mason, practicing under the name of Mason and Clayton. Over the next six years Clayton designed 84 buildings. Among the most prominent buildings were the Oamaru Post Office (1864), the Colonial Museum (1864) in Wellington, All Saints' Church, Dunedin (1865) and Edinburgh House (1865) in Dunedin. Following his election as the first mayor of Dunedin in 1865 Mason reduced his involvement in the practice. Clayton's first involvement with Wellington was when Mason & Clayton received the commission to design the Colonial Museum. Subsequently, the partnership received the commission in 1865 to design Government House in Wellington. While Mason was involved in the selection of the site it was Clayton who eventually took the lead role with his design being preferred by the Premier, Frederick Weld. However, its construction was postponed when the government was unable to obtain the site that had been chosen for the building. By the late 1860s the gold boom was over in Otago and with work in Dunedin declining Mason and Clayton dissolved their partnership in 1868. While the economy was stagnant there was a large unfulfilled requirement throughout the country for public buildings. Looking around for work, Clayton proposed to the Colonial Secretary in October 1868 that he complete the design and call tenderers for Government House. His offer was accepted. Following delivery of his plans in January 1969 he was hired on 16 February of that same year to supervise construction of the building. Colonial architect In April 1869 agreement was reached for Clayton to take up the post of Colonial Architect and Superintendent of Public Works, reporting to the Colonial Secretary, E. W. Stafford. Based in Wellington, his office was to be called the Colonial Architect's Department. He was to be paid £200 a year to cover all works or contracts up to £200 and a commission of 2.5% on contracts exceeding that amount, with the right to maintain a private practice. Following his appointment, Clayton wound up his affairs in Dunedin and together with his family departed from Dunedin for