[1][2] He was descended from early Tasmanian and New Zealand colonial settlers, and was of Irish descent on his father's side.

[4] He later studied architecture at Auckland University College where he was a contemporary of Stephen Jelicich and Anthony Treadwell.

[1][5] During World War II, Stacpoole served as an officer in the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment.

[2] In the 1975 Queen's Birthday Honours, Stacpoole was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the preservation of historic buildings.

[9] He was also a Fellow of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and in 2013 he was inducted into the Mount Albert Grammar School hall of distinction.