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The firm of Sinclair Macdonald & Son, architects in Caithness and Sutherland, was established by Barbarettas Sinclair Macdonald who was born in Brora, Sutherland, in 1864. He trained as an architect in Aberdeen then Inverness and in 1889 opened an office in Olrig Street, Thurso. The practice later moved to Princess Street and the firm opened offices in Wick and Kirkwall. Following Sinclair Macdonald's death in 1930 his son Hugh Macdonald became a partner in the firm.
Sinclair Macdonald's early commissions were mainly municipal and included schools and churches in the area but the firm also took on some domestic work. In the 1920s they won the Caithness county contract for the reconstruction and improvement of rural housing and their success led to their winning contracts to provide low cost and other housing for several burgh councils. The firm continued to undertake other public and private commissions including the restoration of the Castle of Mey, Caithness.
Hugh Macdonald's son Alistair was also involved in the firm. Hugh Macdonald died in 1979 but Sinclair Macdonald & Son continued in successful practice until 1995 when it amalgamated with Stockan and Sloan Surveyors, Kirkwall, to form Stockan, Sloan and Sinclair Macdonald.
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