Goldie’s Brae

Crescent House, Banana House

4 Goldies Brae, Thorndon, Wellington
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  • Constructed

    1875 - 1876

  • Architect(s)

    Dr Alexander Johnston

  • Builder(s)

    Unknown

  • Goldies Brae has architectural value for its unique and innovative design. Designed by the original owner Dr Alexander Johnston, the segmental house features a conservatory that hugs the internal curve and can be accessed from all ten of Goldies Brae’s rooms, enabling solar heating for the entire house.

    Goldies Brae has historical significance with its association with Dr Alexander Johnston, an important figure in early Wellington medicine. The house is also historically significant as it was only the second house in Wellington to be built using concrete.

    As only the second building in Wellington to be constructed from concrete, Goldies Brae has technological value for its innovative construction method and use of materials.
    The eccentric design of Goldies Brae has meant it has enjoyed a level of public esteem for its long existence.


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  • close History
    • Built 1875-76, Goldies Brae was one of the first houses erected in Wadestown. It was designed by the original owner, Dr Alexander Johnston. It is believed to be the second house in Wellington to be constructed from concrete. Describing the house, Johnston called it as "a new style of building altogether different from what we are accustomed to, quite my own idea and people all think it quite eccentric.”

      Johnston’s innovative segmental design was intended to have a ‘cosy’ feel, but its real purpose was to capture solar energy to warm the house. Each of the ten rooms in the house has access to the conservatory that hugs the length of the concrete component of the structure, which provides solar heat to those rooms.

      Johnston described Goldie’s Brae as eccentric back in the nineteenth century, and the house has retained that reputation into the twenty-first. For this reason, the house enjoys a certain public esteem.

    • Modifications close
      • 1909
      • 4 Goldies Brae (00432:230:19040)
      • 1952
      • 4 Goldies Brae, garage (00056:423:B32376)
      • 1974 - 15
      • Historic Places: 4 Goldies Brae (00277:324:28/6/40)
      • 1992
      • Garage encroachment: 4 Goldies Brae, Flaxbourne Holdings (00001:1801:47/5558)
    • Occupation History close
      • unknown
      • (Privacy Required)
      • 1875 - 1889
      • Dr Alexander Johnston and family
      • unknown
      • Current
      • unknown
      • Allan and Brigid Pollock
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      Commonly known as the Crescent House or the Banana House, there is a charm about this building not fully explained by the graceful curve of the roof. The materials have been chosen and used with sensitivity - the slates covering the roof and the row of chimneys are well-proportioned and detailed. Even the weathering stains add to the building's dignity.

      The solid back wall is twelve inches thick (304mm). It is believed to be the second house in Wellington to be built of concrete. The solid section of the house contains twelve rooms which all open onto an enclosed glazed gallery. The two end rooms are larger with bay windows, being the drawing room and the dining room. The solar heat collected in the gallery is stored in the massive walls, which heighten the contrast between the darker enclosed rooms and the light airy conservatory gallery.

    • Materials close

      Concrete, timber, slate roof.

    • Setting close

      Goldie’s Brae is situated near the bottom Wadestown hill, sitting below the road of Grosvenor Terrace, and above the houses that front Frandi Street. Goldies Brae, the road, is beyond a couple of houses to the south-east. The house curves around the western boundary of the property. The house looks eastward out over industrial north Thorndon to the railway yards, the motorway, and the port, with Westpac Stadium to the south-east, and beyond to the harbour.

  • close Cultural Value

    Goldies Brae has architectural value for its unique and innovative design. Designed by the original owner Dr Alexander Johnston, the segmental house features a conservatory that hugs the internal curve and can be accessed from all ten of Goldies Brae’s rooms, enabling solar heating for the entire house.

    Goldies Brae has historical significance with its association with Dr Alexander Johnston, an important figure in early Wellington medicine. The house is also historically significant as it was only the second house in Wellington to be built using concrete.

    As only the second building in Wellington to be constructed from concrete, Goldies Brae has technological value for its innovative construction method and use of materials.

    The eccentric design of Goldies Brae has meant it has enjoyed a level of public esteem for its long existence.

    • Aesthetic Value close
      • Architectural

        Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

        Goldies Brae has architectural value for its unique and innovative design. Designed by the original owner Dr Alexander Johnston, the segmental house features a conservatory that hugs the internal curve and can be accessed from all ten of Goldies Brae’s rooms, enabling solar heating for the entire house.

    • Historic Value close
      • Association

        Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

        Goldies Brae has historical significance with its association with Dr Alexander Johnston, an important figure in early Wellington medicine. The house is also historically significant as it was only the second house in Wellington to be built using concrete.

    • Scientific Value close
      • Archaeological

        Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?

        Goldies Brae has archaeological value for the presence of a pre-1900 building.

      • Technological

        Does the item have technological value for its innovative or important construction methods or use of materials?

        As only the second building in Wellington to be constructed from concrete, Goldies Brae has technological value for its innovative construction method and use of materials.

    • Social Value close
      • Identity Sense Of Place Continuity

        Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

        Goldies Brae’s construction in 1875/76 gives it obvious continuity value for its lengthy existence.

      • Public Esteem

        Is the item held in high public esteem?

        The eccentric design of Goldies Brae has meant it has enjoyed a level of public esteem for its long existence.

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close
      • Local Regional National International

        Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

        Goldies Brae is important at a local level.

      • Rare

        Is the item rare, unique, unusual, seminal, influential, or outstanding?

        Goldies Brae makes a unique contribution to Wellington’s architectural heritage.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail
    • District Plan Number

      18/ 136

    • Legal Description

      Lot 1 DP 5794 – Goldies Brae

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      1/ Historic Place 216

    • Archaeological Site

      Pre-1900 building

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Outside Earthquake Prone Policy

  • close Additional Information
    • Sources close
      • New Zealand Historic Places Trust. ‘Goldie’s Brae’. NZHPT. Accessed September 2013
      • Towers, Roy James. Dr Alexander Johnston and His Hospital: An Appreciation of a Wellington Pioneer. Wellington: R.J. Towers, 1964.
      • Wellington City Council Building File 1041-06-GOL4, Vol. 1. District Plan: Heritage Building – 4 Goldies Brae, Thorndon.
    • Technical Documentation close

      Not available

    • Footnotes close

      Not available

Last updated: 10/6/2017 1:50:52 AM