Whitcoulls Building (Former)

• 1907
• Building consent SR 7640
• 1930
• Replace verandah £2006, SRB9396
• 1935
• Demolish parapets £60, SR B13641
• 1940
• New shop fronts £200, SRB20822, Mezzanine SRB21144, £2200
• 1956
• Access bridge & life tower between 312-316 Lambton Quay and 8-10 Gilmer Terrace £35,000 SRC446, alterations to cart dock SRB39461
• 1986
• Application value: $10,898,000. Note: Construction of a 15 storey office block accessed from Gilmer Terrace, and earthquake strengthening of the 4 storey building facing Lambton Quay. SR D2484
• 1998
• 312 Lambton Quay, internal fit-out. $472,960. SR40353
• 2006
• 312 Lambton Quay, offices to fitness centre level 3, carpark to cafe and hairdresser, level 4. $400,000. SR153314
• 2012
• Enabling works for earthquake strengthening scheme SR 272737

Not assessed

Not assessed

The original drawings for the Whitcoulls Building show the structure as masonry load-bearing walls, timber floors supported on cast iron columns and beams, and timber trussed roof in three spans across the building. Although extensively altered inside, it is a good example of Edwardian Baroque - a deliberate dressing up of a utilitarian structure to reflect a particular image. In this case, the building presents itself as a kind of commercial Athenaeum, a temple of learning.

The facade has been designed as three shallow bays, each with a strong vertical emphasis and each capped by a pediment. The central bay dominates the building, and features a giant Ionic order rising through the second and third floors, and capped by a triangular pediment. The two flanking bays at either end of the building are rusticated and are capped with segmental pediments. The three main windows of the top floor are set in rusticated arches. The base and first floor of the building are also rusticated, with dentils and a projecting cornice between first and second floors, and rusticated Tuscan pilasters framing the two end windows. Overall, this is a heavily sculptured facade where the strong verticals of the giant order and flanking pilasters are countered by projecting cornices between all floors. The result is one of the finest Edwardian facades in the central city and a lively element in the local townscape.

WCC Archives OC 7640

Verandah

Timber trusses in roof, skylights

Steel columns

An Evening Post Article of 1907 notes that the floor is constructed from… “specially strong joists of Australian jarrah, suitable for carrying heavy machinery”

SR 132206 dated 19/07/2005 notes the presence of Hollowcore Flooring in the building. Hollowcore flooring is prone to structural failure under earthquake loads.

The Whitcoulls building is set on Lambton Quay between two late 20thC high rise office buildings. Lambton Quay has developed over time to become Wellington City CBD’s “golden mile” of retail and commercial office buildings where banks, department stores and company head offices have traditionally built their highest quality buildings. This area has a high pedestrian ‘foot-count’ and is the key inner city retail shopping precinct. The street is characterised by the mix of modern office buildings and older heritage buildings, and many of the (modern) office buildings on the west side of Lambton Quay also have a street frontage or access to The Terrace commercial/office precinct. The heritage buildings make a fine contribution to a, sometimes bland, modern streetscape along Lambton Quay, and this building at 312 Lambton Quay is one of the few remaining Edwardian Classical buildings that were once commonplace on this street.

• 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 Whitcoulls building has architectural significance for its elaborate Edwardian Classical façade that is one of the finest on Lambton Quay. It is a very good example of the commercial architecture of Thomas Turnbull & Son, a prominent local architectural practice.

• 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 building is one of the few remaining Edwardian Classical buildings that were once common on Lambton Quay and its elaborate detailing and ornamentation make a pleasant contrast to the simpler repetitive forms of the predominately late 20thC streetscape of Lambton Quay.

• Association

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

  The building has a historic association with Whitcombe and Tombs (later Whitcoulls), a business that has been an integral part of publishing and bookselling across New Zealand throughout the 20thC. The ground floor retail space operated as a bookshop / stationers for over 100 years. 
  
  
  
  The building also has an association with William Turnbull, of Thomas Turnbull and Son, which was one of the most significant architectural practices in Wellington at the time.

• Archaeological

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

  Central City 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 exterior has had few intrusive modern alterations or additions in the past 100 years and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of the Lambton Quay Streetscape.

• Sentiment Connection

  Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

  The building has some sentimental value as the Wellington’s main Whitcoulls retail outlet for over 100 years, although this has diminished somewhat since the closure of the bookstore in early 2012.

• 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 Lambton Quay façade retains much of its early/original building fabric with the exception of the ground floor shop fronts and the 1984 decorative parapet / entablature.

Not assessed

• Cochran, Chris, Turnbull House Conservation Plan (Wellington: Department of Conservation, 1991)
• CT WN351/155
• Evening Post, 16 September 1907
• Historic Places Trust, “Turnbull, Thomas - Architect”, Professional Biographies, accessed September 25, 2012,
• Historic Places Trust, “Turnbull, William (1868-1914) - Architect”, Professional Biographies, accessed September 25, 2012,
• Historic Places Trust, “Turnbull, William (1868-1914) - Architect”, Professional Biographies, accessed September 25, 2012,
• Nichols, Lane. ‘Whitcoulls on Lambton Quay to close’, Dominion Post, 23/04/2012
• Roger, M. 1993, Turning the Pages, Whitcoulls, Wellington
• WCC Archives OC 7640
• WCC Heritage Inventory 2001 ref LAMB 13
• Woods , L.J. and R.C. Fenwick, D.K. Bull, ‘Seismic Performance of Hollow-core Flooring: the Significance of Negative Bending Moments.’ NZSEE conference paper 2008

• Inventory Report

Not available