Perth Chambers (Former)

British Cars Building, 15 Tory Street, 17 Tory Street

15-19 Tory Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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  • Constructed

    1925

  • Builder(s)

    Jones and Cameron

  • Built in 1925, the building is an example of the Chicago architectural style which was popular during the inter war period. The use of brick, as opposed to reinforced concrete, distinguishes it from other tall Chicago style buildings. 

    The building has historical value as it is associated with the Jones Estate which was the legacy of Thomas Jones (1845-1918), a partner in the building firm Palliser and Jones and former director of the Silverstream Brick Company.

    The building’s use as a tyre depot is also associated with the historical growth of Wellington’s car manufacturing industry.

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

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  • close History
    • Perth Chambers was originally built in 1925 by the architectural firm Crichton and McKay for the Jones Estate.

      The Jones Estate was the legacy of Thomas Jones (1845-1918) a Welshman who arrived in New Zealand in 1863 and went on to become a partner in the successful building firm of Palliser and Jones. This firm was responsible for building the breakwaters at Oamaru, Timaru and Napier. The firm was also involved in the construction of residential housing in Wellington. He was also the director of the Silverstream Brick Company.

      The vicinity of Courtenay Place has long been associated with Wellington’s automotive industry. This connection with vehicle manufacturing dates back to 1859 when Empire Coach and Carriage Company first built a factory between Taranaki Street and Courtenay Place. In 1911 the Colonial Motor Company had taken over this property to build a car assembly plant and by the 1920s both sides of Courtenay Street were lined with various car show rooms and service facilities.

      The lower end of Tory Street was also home to businesses relating to the automotive industry with E. Reynolds and Co operating a showroom for cars at number 12-14-16. It seems that Perth Chambers was also involved in this industry as an advertisement from 1928 shows that it was the location of ‘Stronghold vulcanising and tyre depot.’ In 1932 a fire broke out on the roof of the building where oil was being manufactured. The chambers were also used as a venue for the ‘Men of Kent and Kentish Men Association’ and the building name ‘Perth Chambers’ appears in newspaper advertisements from 1928 to at least 1941.

      In 1946 the chambers became the site of the printers Hutcheson, Bowman and Stewart Limited. In 1954 the building was purchased by Steel and Tube Company. In 1976 it was purchased by EM J Electronics. In the late 1990s it became the home of the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council.

    • Modifications close
      • 1925
      • Warehouse (00056:3:B235)
      • 1946
      • Alterations, Level 3 (00056:324:B25342)
      • 1949
      • Penthouse addition (00056:369:B28353)
      • 1954
      • Alter offices (00056:474:B35826)
      • 1976
      • Partitions (00058:1054:C45856)
      • 1986
      • Refurbishing warehouse – office building (00059:16:D3638)
      • 1986
      • Business additions and alterations - offices (00059:25:D3948)
      • 1987
      • Office alteration (00059:100:D6478)
      • 1995
      • Office alterations level 2 (00061:85:12646)
      • 1995
      • Club fitout, ground floor (00061:150:14837)
      • 1995
      • Ground floor, levels 1-4 (00061:175:15578)
      • 1998
      • Alterations (00078:1268:44107)
      • 1999
      • Internal alterations level 3 (00078:220:52300)
      • 1999
      • Construction of fire lobby, ground floor (00078:220:52338)
      • 2003
      • New office partition level 3 (00078:1108:106656)
      • 2003
      • Building alterations level 1 (00078:1138:108313)
      • 2005
      • Alterations to office fit out, level 3 (00078:1581:133705)
      • 2006
      • Office building alterations, level 1 (00078:2106:140232)
    • Occupation History close
      • 1925
      • Jones Estate
      • 1946
      • Hutcheson, Bowman and Stewart Limited
      • 1954
      • Steel and Tube Company
      • 1998
      • New Zealand Mountain Safety Council
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      The design of Perth Chambers is an elegant interpretation of the rising Chicago style, with simple detailing and a unique combination of materials to achieve a straightforward but dignified street facade. The style was popular during the Inter-War period, making this building an early and rare example. The design has similarities with Newport Chambers at 48 - 50 Courtenay Place. The architects were the same firm of Crichton, McKay and Haughton, and it was built for the same client.

      This is a substantial four storey brick and concrete building notable for fine brickwork and elegant proportions. It has a simple construction with a central section of five window bays capped with a heavy cornice and simple pediment, subdivided into a central bay of three windows and two single flanking bays, flanked on either side with additional single bays, slightly recessed, which terminate at ground level in large square openings.

    • Materials close

      Brick and concrete.

    • Setting close

      The former Perth Chambers building is located on lower Tory Street (north end) on the block between Wakefield Street and Courtenay Place. Situated on the eastern side of the street, it acts as the southern ‘bookend’ to a collection of buildings. The northern bookend is the similarly styled red brick building at 5 Tory Street (also built by Crichton and MacKay).To the south the building is adjoined by a single storey substation that was built in 1924. The single storey substation acts as a break between the flow of multi storey heritage buildings and the modern 1989 building situated on the corner of Courtenay Place and Tory Street. The opposite side of what is a narrow street is dominated by an undistinguished parking building.

  • close Cultural Value

    Built in 1925, the building is an example of the Chicago architectural style which was popular during the inter war period. The use of brick, as opposed to reinforced concrete, distinguishes it from other tall Chicago style buildings.

    The building has historical value as it is associated with the Jones Estate which was the legacy of Thomas Jones (1845-1918), a partner in the building firm Palliser and Jones and former director of the Silverstream Brick Company.

    The building’s use as a tyre depot is also associated with the historical growth of Wellington’s car manufacturing industry.

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

    • 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?

        The building has architectural significance as an elegantly proportioned and distinguished example of the Chicago style, which was popular during the 1920s and 30s. The building differs from the standard Chicago style in its use of brick instead of reinforced concrete.

      • Group

        Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

        The middle portion of the eastern side of lower Tory Street contains a small but coherent collection of heritage buildings of a similar age but a variety of styles and sizes.

      • 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’s has townscape value due to its visually impressive red brick façade which, when combined with its height, distinguishes it from the two low lying buildings on either side.

    • Historic Value close
      • Association

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

        The building is associated with the Jones Estate which was the legacy of Thomas Jones, a partner of the building firm Palliser and Jones and director of the Silverstream brick works. 

      • Association

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

        The building’s use as a tire depot in the late 1920s is associated with the growth of Wellington’s car manufacturing industry in the wider Courtenay Place area at the time.

    • Scientific Value close
      • Archaeological

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

        The Thomas Ward Map shows that there was a building existing here prior to 1900. The building is located in the Central City archaeological site reference NZAA R27/270.

    • Social Value close

      Not assessed

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close
      • 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 fabric therefore it has authenticity.

      • Local Regional National International

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

        The building is of local importance as it is a reminder of the historical role of the automotive industry in Courtenay Place and environs during the first half of the twentieth century.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail
    • District Plan Number

      16/ 314.4

    • Legal Description

      Lot 1 DP 3892

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not registered

    • Archaeological Site

      Central City NZAA R27/270 Pre-1900 building

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      124 Notice

  • close Additional Information
    • Sources close
      • Jones family history. Accessed 21 August 2012.
      • New Zealand Historic Places Trust Professional Biographies, ‘Crichton, McKay & Haughton,’ accessed 19 October 2012
      • Wellington City Council. “Courtenay Place Precinct.” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001. COURTENAY.
      • Wellington City Council. “Courtenay Place Precinct.” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001. COURT23.
      • Dominion. Volume 11, Issue 285. 21 August 1918. Page 6.
      • Evening Post. Volume CVII, Issue 79. 6 April 1929. Page 4.
      • Evening Post. Volume CXIII, Issue 131. 4 June 1932. Page 12.
      • Evening Post. Volume CV, Issue 41. 18 February 1928. Page 18.
    • Technical Documentation close
    • Footnotes close

      Not available

Last updated: 11/28/2017 3:22:42 AM