Wellington Education Board Building (Former)

• 1939 - 1940
• Building constructed (00056:221:B18846)
• 1964 - 1966
• Addition to enclose an existing balcony on the south side to provide additional space for offices, loading bay, garage door, replace with concrete wall. (00058:456:C19592)
• 1972 - 1973
• Glass replaced. Addition of new fire escape. Internal alterations. (00058:841:C37568 and 00058:861:C38358)
• 1984 - 1984
• Neighbouring building is built as the new office for the Education Board. A glass bridge is built to link the two buildings together.
• 1986 - 1986
• Alterations (00044:2:46)

Not assessed

Not assessed

The former Wellington Education Board Building is a good representative example of a modest-sized office building of the late 1930s. It is stripped Classical in style, with six large pilasters rising through the full height of the building from the ground floor sill level to support a broad plain fascia at roof level. The Classical composition is overlaid with decorative features of Art Deco origin, including the stepped profile of the pilasters, the geometric motifs in the spandrels between the windows, and the chevrons that enliven the top edge of the parapet. A strong central feature is the doorway projecting forward, flanked by lamp standards, yet severely plain in its finish. The Classical lamp of knowledge, worked in plaster relief, adorns the second floor spandrel above the doorway, and the symmetry of the building is further enhanced by the stepped parapet and central flagpole at roof level.

There were offices on all three floors of the main front section in the original layout of the building, with a two-storey portion behind, containing a large office on the ground floor and a board room with a large skylight on the first floor. The staircase and lift are centrally placed opposite the main entrance.

There is modest technical interest in the construction methods of the time and a high level of authenticity in its main architectural attribute, the front elevation. The design values of the other elevations are very low.

Construction is reinforced concrete frame with concrete floors. External walls are unreinforced cavity brick with original internal partitions of lightweight “breeze blocks.”

The building’s contribution to the townscape is slight, since it is set well back from the street frontage and adjoining buildings are of mediocre quality. The open space does, however, allow the significant architectural quality of the front elevation of the building to be appreciated. The open space and trees are also welcome in this densely built up part of the city.

• 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 Wellington Education Board Building (former) has aesthetic value as a good representative example of the stripped Classical style of architecture common in Wellington between the two World Wars, and is interesting for the overlay of Art Deco derived ornamentation on a Classical framework. The scale of the composition, with full height pilasters, belies its modest three storeys. The logical nature of the design, with the neat symbolism provided by the lamp of knowledge on the front elevation, proclaims something of the role of the building in the educational life of the region.

• 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 value of the building in the townscape derives from the open space with greenery in front of it, allowing it to be well seen from the street.

• Association

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

  The Wellington Board of Education was an institution of considerable importance in the development of education in this province. From 1871 until the end of the provincial era in 1876, the Board led the provision of education. It continued this work for another 118 years until it was disbanded in 1989. The building is historically significant because it was almost certainly the first built exclusively for the Board, and remained in its use for nearly 50 years.

• Archaeological

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

  The building is located in the Central City archaeological site reference NZAA R27/270.

• Technological

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

  The building has some technical interest for the construction methods of the time.

• 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 had few intrusive modern alterations or additions over the past 70+ years and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of Abel Smith Street

• 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 front façade retains a high level of authenticity of design and fabric.

• Representative

  Is the item a good example of the class it represents?

  The former Wellington Education Board Building is a good representative example of a medium-sized office building of the late 1930s.

• Local/Regional/National/International

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

  This building is of regional importance for its historical association with the Wellington Education Board, which played a significant role in the development of education in the province.

Not assessed

• Births, Deaths and Marriages Online, registration number 1888/3453
• Historic Places Trust. Erskine College. 17 July 2009. Accessed 20 July 2012.
• Historic Places Trust, “Kelly, Albert – Architect”, Professional Biographies, accessed April 4 2013
• Mt Victoria Historical Society, 7 Patterson Street: [Supporting information for Mt Victoria Historical Society’s Nomination for Registration of 7 Paterson Street with New Zealand Historic Places Trust] (Mt Victoria Historical Society, 2010).
• Newman, Joanna. Art Deco Mount Victoria: A Walking Guide (Mt Victoria Historical Society, 2008)
• Walden, Russell. Voices of Silence: New Zealand’s Chapel of Futuna (Wellington: Victoria University Press, 1987), 45-6.
• Wellington City Council, “65-69 Abel Smith Street: Wellington Education Board Building,” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. (Wellington City Council, 2001), ABEL1.
• Archives: Tritt, T. 1973, It Was Resolved, Wellington Education Board p.9.
• Archives: File 91/111/236 “Wellington Education Board Building Structural Report”, 1977.
• “BIRTHS,” Press, Volume XLV, Issue 6970, 25 January 1888, Page 3.
• “ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE,” Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 146, 17 December 1903, Page 2
• “ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE, WELLINGTON,” New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1, 5 January 1905, Page 29
• “St Patrick’s College,” Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 242, 18 February 1905, Page 9
• “WOMEN IN PRINT,” Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 63, 11 September 1912, Page 9
• “MAYORAL INSTALLATIONS,” Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 105, 5 May 1915, Page 8
• “DEATH OF MR. J. P. KELLY,” Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 29, 2 August 1918, Page 7
• Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 117, 14 November 1932, Page 16 (Advertisements Column 4)
• “NEW CONVENT,” Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 28, 2 August 1937, Page 5
• “HUTT HIGH SCHOOL,” Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 61, 9 September 1937, Page 17
• “SPIRITUAL VALUES,” Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 20, 24 July 1939, Page 6
• Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 32, 7 February 1940, Page 14 (Advertisements Column 4)
• “NEW COLLEGE,” Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 47, 24 February 1940, Page 13
• “MORE ACCOMMODATION,” Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 71, 25 March 1940, Page 3
• Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 83, 8 April 1940, Page 5
• “NEW QUARTERS,” Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 15, 17 July 1940, Page 13
• Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 75, 29 March 1941, Page 18 (Advertisements Column 8)
• Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 20, 25 January 1944, Page 2 (Advertisements Column 5)
• Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 29, 3 February 1945, Page 2 (Advertisements Column 6)
• Evening Post, 8 January 1962, page 1 (column B)

• Inventory report
• 1939 plans

Not available