Rawson House and Dental Surgery (Former)

• 1891
• The land was owned by Josephine Love who leased it to various lessees
• unknown
• A right of way was noted on the title
• 1902
• The land was subdivided and the section at the corner of Woodward Street and Wellington Terrace was sold to Herbert Pearson Rawson of Wellington, a Dentist.
• 1904 - 1906
• Rawson built a dental surgery and private residence on the site.
• 1927
• Transmission to Herbert Rawson’s executors
• 1935
• Transferred to Alice Wilmot Davison, Elaine Beatrice Holmes and Herbert Jack Rawson (Herbert Pearson Rawson’s adult children).
• 1949
• Corner tower, parapets and chimneys removed
• 1959
• Property transferred to Glastonbury Investments Ltd. (presumably owned by the Rawson family).
• 1970
• The Rawson family sold the property
• 1984
• The building was removed from the heritage list on the District Scheme
• 1986
• Roof extension designed by Athfield Architects.
• 1995
• The building was included in the 1995 WCC Heritage Inventory

Not assessed

Not assessed

This Edwardian townhouse is the only domestic-scale building left in the commercial zone on the eastern side of The Terrace. The construction is load-bearing brick masonry on reinforced-concrete foundations and piles. The ground (Woodward Street level) floor, and basement of the building were designed as a self contained dental surgery, and the first and second storeys comprised the living accommodation and was accessed from Wellington Terrace (later renamed The Terrace).

The principal feature of the building is the projecting, two-storey window arrangement on The Terrace/Woodward Street corner. In common with the other windows, all the moulding and detail has been faced in plaster, featuring bracketed square hoods on the first floor, and small balustraded balconies on the (Terrace) ground floor. The corner was originally capped by a fine turret that has since been demolished. A steel-clad attic storey has been built over the original roof garden and terrace. One interesting feature of the building is the rustication of the brickwork on the ground floor.

This feature, in combination with the heavily-sculptured windows, the light-toned plasterwork of string courses, cornices, and balconies, gives considerable textural variation to the facade which still preserves some landmark qualities despite the unsympathetic addition of the attic floor. It is a marker for the steps and narrow urban space of Woodward Street that connects The Terrace and Lambton Quay.

The building interior contains some fine original features particularly at the main entrance from The Terrace (2001), and an original stair.

Concrete foundations

Steel beams encased in concrete

Brick masonry external walls

Kauri flooring

Woodward Chambers occupies an unusual corner site between The Terrace and Woodward Street. Woodward Street was once a steep lane that ran from Lambton Quay to the Terrace, but has been re-graded over the past century and now provides pedestrian access to The Terrace via steps and a tunnel. The northern end of The Terrace is now predominated by high-rise commercial buildings, and Woodward Chambers is one of the few early twentieth century buildings, and the last domestic residence to remain in the commercial zone between Bowen Street and the motorway off-ramp.

The building is bounded to the south by a narrow six storey c.1960s office building that has strong horizontal bands of windows and an interesting pattern of fenestration. To the north of Woodward Street is a tall c.1970s or 80s multi-storey office building. The building’s exterior is arranged in bands of stylised columns that alternate with bands of windows/ glass spandrel panels to give the building a strong vertical emphasis.

The north side of Woodward Street is predominated by high rise commercial buildings, the remaining heritage buildings occupy the south side of the street, particularly the fine Druid’s Chambers(1924-25) on the corner of Lambton Quay and Woodward 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 building is a rare surviving example of a domestic scale house of the type that was once common on The Terrace. It is notable for its brick and rendered ornamentation including the rustication of the brickwork of the ground floor (at The Terrace) elevations, the rendered window surrounds, and the differentiation between the Woodward Street (dental surgery) and The Terrace (residential) entrances. The aesthetic value of the building has been reduced by the loss of the original cupola, dormers and metal railing, and by the installation of a modern mansard roof.

• 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 a local landmark at the corner of Woodward Street and The Terrace, and can be seen in strong contrast to the modern, multi-storey curtain wall buildings that otherwise dominate the street.

• Association

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

  The building is typical of the mixed use medical surgery and residence inhabited by doctors and dentists of the late 19th and early 20th century. It is a reminder of an earlier phase of in the development of The Terrace when the street was lined with houses.

• 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 has been part of the streetscape of The Terrace for over 100 years and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of the street.

Not assessed

Not assessed

• Bulleyment Fortune website accessed July 2012
• CT vol 60 folio 18
• CT vol 445 folio 276
• DNZB entry for McKay from
• Evening Post 28/12/1974
• NZHPT Professional Biographies accessed May 2012
• OBITUARY Evening Post, 23 September 1926
• PERSONAL MATTERS Evening Post, 24 September 1926, Page 9
• RESIDENCE OF MR. H. P. RAWSON, WELLINGTON. Progress, 2 July 1906, Page 232;
• Progress, 2 July 1906
• The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District] 1897
• WCC Archives ref 00053_112_6180-plans
• WCC Heritage Building Inventory 2001 ref Terr 5

• Inventory Report
• 1904 drawings

Not available