In this interview Archie gives a family history and an account of where his ancestors settled in New Zealand on arrival from Scotland. He tells of the depression and growing up during it; and gives an account of how his family brought him up, looking at being an only child and chores he had to do e.g. prepare the copper for wash days and growing a veggie garden. He goes on to tell of his times spent on his grandparents’ farm e.g. with cousins, the process of milking, and rabbit shooting. He attended Tokomairoro District High School. He recalls WW2, its affects on the family and his war employment at the Mosgiel Woollen Mills. When he finished there, he became a builder and later building inspector with the Invercargill City Council. He gives a history of some of the commercial building projects around Invercargill, the fire at Broad Smalls and the 1984 floods.