Home of Compassion Crèche (Former)

• 1914
• Crèche (00053:178:9840)

• 1914
• Sisters of Compassion
• 1974
• St Patrick’s College library
• 1983
• Art Studio
• 2012
• Offices

Not assessed

The Home of Compassion Crèche is a purpose-built crèche in an inner-city context.

When looking at it today it appears unusual in that it is highly ornamented for a domestic scale building. It has to be remembered, however, that when it was built it was in the vicinity of the original St Patrick’s College which was a strong example of ecclesiastic Gothic architecture. The Home of Compassion reflects the architecture of St Patrick’s through its own ecclesiastical Gothic style which is evident in the crenulated parapet and the triple arched windows representing the Holy Trinity.

The two side elevations have heavy walls of reinforced concrete with a shallow parapet and concealed guttering behind. One end features a heavy bracket which hides the eaves of the front façade. The windows are double hung with small fan lights above. They feature heavy, flat headed arches in cement render. At both ends of the building the roof is a gabled hip, clad in corrugated iron.

The plan was simple. A central passageway had a large playroom and sleeping room on one side, and two smaller amenity rooms, as well as a pantry, bathroom, and WC, on the other. The rear main window is a three-sided bay window with an enclosed verandah on one side.

Concrete

Masonry

The former crèche is located on the northern side of Buckle Street, opposite the north-western corner of the Basin Reserve. To the west it is bordered by an empty allotment, while to the east it is bordered by a small park. Since it is the only building left on the block between Taranaki Street and Cambridge Terrace its distinctive form provides visual interest to Buckle Street in the vicinity of the Sussex Street intersection.

• 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?

  The building has architectural value for the adept use of ecclesiastical Gothic ornamentation on a domestic-scale building.

• Townscape

  Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

  The only building left on the north side of the Buckle Street block between Taranaki Street and Cambridge Terrace, the former Home of Compassion crèche’s Gothic ornamentation provides significant townscape value to the area surrounding the Sussex Street intersection.

• Association

  Is the item associated with an important historic event, theme, pattern, phase, or activity?

  The building has historical value for a number of reasons. It is the oldest remaining crèche building in New Zealand and was built at a time when attitudes towards the role of women in New Zealand society were starting to change. The building is also associated with the charity work undertaken by the Sisters of Compassion in Wellington, and stands as a reminder of the former Catholic institutions which once stood in the vicinity, including the former St Patrick’s College.

• Association

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

  The building is associated with Mother Susanne Aubert, one of the most significant figures in the history of Catholicism in New Zealand, the religious order of the Sisters of Compassion that Mother Aubert founded, and the Catholic Church. It is the last surviving building occupied by St Patrick’s College, New Zealand’s oldest Catholic secondary school, on its original site.

• Archaeological

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

  Since Mount Cook was the site of Pukeahu pa the area will contain pre-1900 human activity. The building is also located in the Central City archaeological site reference NZAA R27/270.

• 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?

  The building is a reminder of the focus of Catholic activity in this part of Te Aro, which included the institutions run by the Sisters of Compassion, St Patrick’s College and St Joseph’s Church.

• Sentiment Connection

  Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

  The crèche has sentimental value to the sisters and supporters of the Home of Compassion and those who attended it as children.

• Symbolic Commemorative Traditional Spiritual

  Does the item have symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual or other cultural value for the community who has used and continues to use it?

  The building has spiritual value as it was founded by the Sisters of Compassion on Catholic principles that were inspired by St Joseph.

• Authentic

  Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

  The building has retained a significant amount of its exterior and interior fabric, therefore it has authenticity.

• Importance

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

  The building has national importance as it was New Zealand’s first crèche dedicated to assisting working mothers.

Not assessed

• Barbara Brookes, ‘King, Frederic Truby – Biography.’ From the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Updated 1-Sep-10. Accessed 19 October 2012
• New Zealand Historic Places Trust. C & D Listed Buildings. 1993.
• New Zealand Historic Places Trust. ‘Home of Compassion Crèche (Former).’ Accessed 25 September 2012.
• New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Professional Biographies. ‘John Sydney Swan.’ Accessed 16 August 2012.
• Wellington City Council. ‘Wellington Architects.’ Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001. Appendix III.
• Newspapers: Evening Post. Volume LXXXVI, Issue 147. 18 December 1913. Page 6.
• WCC Archives: ‘22 Buckle Street, Crèche.’ 24 April 1914. 00053:178:9840.

• Inventory Report
• 1914 plans

Not available