Warehouse (Former)

Fruit and Produce Exchange, 19 Allen Street, 21 Allen Street, 24 Blair Street, 26 Blair Street

19 - 23 Allen Street (& 20 - 28 Blair Street), Te Aro, Wellington
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Photo: Charles Collins, 2014

Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2014


Cityview GIS 2013
Cityview GIS 2013 
WCC Archives 00053: 120: 6634: 001
WCC Archives 00053: 120: 6634: 001
Map

  • Constructed

    1905 - 1905

  • Heritage Area

    Courtenay Place Heritage Area

  • Architect(s)

    Thomas Turnbull and Son

  • Builder(s)

    Unknown

  • An Edwardian commercial warehouse with well-proportioned, well-modulated, and sparingly decorated classical facades

  • Downloadable(s)

    Download this content as PDF

  • close History
    • The Allen and Blair Street Area has a varied history. This area was once swampland, but with the arrival of the New Zealand Company came plans for the design of a new settlement. This area was transformed dramatically by the 1855 earthquake, making it habitable land. The land occupied by the building was part of a slum area of Te Aro taken over by the Wellington Harbour Board in 1898. The Board acquired responsibility for the area as part of a land-swap with the Wellington City Council – the outcome of legislation to allow further reclamation of Wellington Harbour. The Board was handed the job of removing the insanitary dwellings, building culverts and new roads and selling the land. It took the council some time to remove all the occupants and demolish their houses and it was not until 1903 that the land could be properly drained. The original layout of the block was then redesigned; Allen Street was widened and extended to join Victoria Street, which is now Wakefield Street and Blair Street was formed parallel to Allen Street. Between 1904 and 1906 a variety of warehouse buildings were constructed along both sides of Allen and Blair Streets. These warehouses were used for storage and auctions. They were two or three stories high with a variety of street facades, some more ornate than others. In many of the stores markets and auctions were held on the ground floor with offices on the floors above.[1] Allen and Blair Streets bustled with vendors, merchants and numerous vehicles loading and unloading produce and other marketable goods.

      This building was designed by Thomas Turnbull and Sons as the Wellington Fruit and Produce Exchange Building. It is a two storey building with long frontages, identical on both Blair and Allen Streets. The ground floor was originally used as one large open market space, raised above street level to make loading and unloading easy. There were four cart docks to each street elevation. 

      In 1928 the building was engulfed by a large fire. As the building extended through to Blair Street the fire had to be fought from both sides. It is estimated that the fire caused damage to the value of £300, 000. Newspapers of the time stated that the fire broke out inside the premises of Thompson Bros, a statement that the Thompsons were keen to quash.[2]

      Today the building has lost many of its original features, in particular parapets to both street elevations that featured curved and triangular pediments. The Blair Street entrance has an ornate bracketed pediment still intact where it has been removed from the Allen Street entrance. The facades are plastered brick with a decorative finish in the form of rustication and moulded window frames. The building now houses a number of different commercial and retail businesses.
    • Modifications close
      • 1905
      • Original Construction
      • 1929
      • Alterations and additions – reinstate building after fire (00056: 73: B6985)
      • 1930
      • Reinstate building after fire (00056: 114: B10353)
      • 1935
      • Alterations to cart dock (00056: 161: B14261)
      • 1944
      • Alterations and earthquake repairs (00056: 289: B23142)
      • 1951
      • Alterations to building (00056: 404: B31089), Addition – two cool stores (00056: 420: B32187)
      • 1954
      • Addition – refrigerator room (00056: 458: B34762), Addition – lift (00056: 491: B36847), Addition – cool room (00056: 495: B37146)
      • 1958
      • Roof alterations (00058: 74: C3641)
      • 1962
      • Alteration – loading dock (00058: 226: C10219), Office alterations (00058: 248: C11029)
      • 1963
      • Office alterations (00058: 277: C12266)
      • 1964
      • Additions – tea and locker rooms (00058: 324: C13994), Alterations to ground floor (00058: 367: C15722)
      • 1965
      • Alterations (00058: 412: C17617)
      • 1972
      • Additions – mezzanine floor (00058: 817: C36614)
      • unknown
      • 1974
      • Office alterations, alterations to ground floor (00058: 932: C41078), Addition – fire doors (00058: 934: C41132)
      • 1986
      • Additions and alterations – factory units, level 2 (00059: 0: D2707)
      • 1990
      • Fire protection upgrade (00059: 424: E21347)
      • 1994
      • Refurbishment, level 2 (00060: 181: 6545)
      • 1995
      • Seismic strengthening, stage 1 (00061: 84: 12630)
      • 1996
      • Seismic strengthening, stage 2 (00078: 180: 22250)
      • 1997
      • Alterations – restaurant fit out (00078: 114: 35401), Additions and alterations (00078: 165: 35963), Additions – fit out ground floor (00078: 60: 28598)
      • 1999
      • Alterations – restaurant and bar facilities (00078: 302: 58345), Alterations – first floor (00078: 330: 56153), Alterations – level 1 (00078: 330: 57391), Office fit out (00078: 348: 55778), Office subdivision, level 2 (00078: 398: 50527), Installation of sign for ‘Big Thumb’ restaurant (00078: 478: 60690)
      • 2000
      • Internal alterations, levels 1 and 2, stage 1 (00078: 440: 61476), Additions – balcony and balustrade (00078: 520: 63217), Office alterations, levels 1 and 2, stage 2 (00078: 685: 70724)
      • 2002
      • Office Alterations (00078: 1152: 94427), Removal of office wall and door (00078: 939: 92859)
      • 2003
      • Internal office alterations (00078: 1161: 104146)
      • 2004
      • Additions and alterations (00078: 1360: 114072)
    • Occupation History close
      • 1915 - 1916
      • George Thomas & Co., fruit auctioneers; Wellington Fruit & Produce Exchange Ltd., R.C. Renner, secretary
      • 1920 - 1945
      • 19-21 Allen St: George Thomas & Co. (Stones 1920 - 1945).
      • 1935
      • 19-21 Allen St: L.O.O.F Hall (Stones 1935 - 1945; Wises 1950-51).
      • 1930
      • 23 Allen St: Wah Kee (G) & Co., Chinese merchants (Stones 1930 - 1935).
      • 1950
      • George Thomas & Co.(est. 1896) (Wises, 1950-1 to 1990).
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      The former Wellington Fruit and Produce Exchange is a two storey building with long frontages, identical on both Blair and Allen Streets. The ground floor was originally used as one large open market space, raised above street level to make loading and unloading easy. There were four cart docks to each street elevation. The building has since been subdivided into separate tenancies, with ground floor retail or restaurant units and first floor office space.  

       Although the building has been much-modified, the overall effect is that of a pleasant, well-mannered Edwardian Classical commercial building. The long, low-rise, Blair and Allen Street facades have been divided into a series of narrow and wide ‘bays’ by the use of rusticated pilasters on the ground floor. These bays are further defined on the first floor with pilasters that frame groups of windows in arranged in a distinctive wide-narrow-wide layout. The first floor string course adds a distinct horizontal element that is reinforced (visually) by the simple lines of the parapet and cornice. 

       The major 20th century alterations to the building include the removal of the decorative parapet and pediments in the c.1940s, presumably as a result of the 1942 Wellington-Wairarapa earthquake;[1] the replacement ground floor cart-docks and windows with modern shop-fronts; and the replacements of the first floor casement windows with new. 

    • Materials close

      Brick structure, cement render and detailing, steel joinery.

    • Setting close

      This building is found in the Courtenay Place Heritage Area with street frontages to both Blair and Allen streets. This part of the Heritage Area is a precinct of warehouses that are consistent in building type and age. There is a diversity of styles but they relate well to one another in opening form, scale, decoration, and underlying classicism. This consistency, diversity, and homogeneity of building facades provide interest and character in the precinct.

      Both Blair and Allen streets are made up of a number of former warehouse buildings associated with the fruit and produce markets. The Blair and Allen Street precinct is remarkable for its homogeneity. They provide the most consistent and uniform streetscape views of any part of the commercial business district of Wellington. They are mostly designed in the functional tradition, and were constructed for utilitarian purposes of produce markets and warehouses. 

  • close Cultural Value

    19-23 Allen Street/20-28 Blair Street is a good representative example of an Edwardian commercial warehouse. It is notable for its pair of well-proportioned, well-modulated, and sparingly decorated Classical facades to both Blair and Allen streets.

     This building is associated with the produce markets in Wellington, which were held there for over 50 years. It is related to the commercial and economic development in the early 20th century.

    This building has an important townscape role as an element of the Blair/Allen Street precinct of 19th and early 20th century masonry warehouses.

    • 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?

        19-23 Allen Street/20-28 Blair Street is a good representative example of an Edwardian commercial warehouse. It is notable for its pair of well-proportioned, well-modulated, and sparingly decorated Classical facades to both Blair and Allen streets.

      • 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 building contributes to the Courtenay Place Heritage Area, which is made up of a group of late 19th – early 20th century commercial buildings, and features the distinctive Blair and Allen Street warehouse precinct.

      • 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?

        This building has an important townscape role as an element of the Blair/Allen Street precinct of 19th and early 20th century masonry warehouses.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        This building is associated with the produce markets in Wellington, which were held there for over 50 years. It is related to the commercial and economic development in the early 20th century. It is also associated with the prominent architectural firm of Turnbull and Sons.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaelogical

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

        This building is included in the NZAA R27/270 archaeological area.

    • Social Value close

      • 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 part of a collection of historic buildings which contribute to the sense of place in the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. More specifically, the collection of buildings that form the Blair and Allen Street precinct is a coherent streetscape well understood and appreciated by the local community.

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close

      • Representative

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

        This building is a representative example of a specific building type and style for the period which contributes to a rare example of a warehouse precinct in Wellington.

      • 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?

        This building retains some authenticity of design, craftsmanship, and materials with a high level of authenticity of setting.

      • Local

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

        This building is important at a local level due to its association with the historic commercial and economic development of Wellington. It has authenticity and contributes greatly to the integrity of the Allen streetscape.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      16/10.6 (26.1 for 20 - 28 Blair Street)

    • Legal Description

      Lots 14 & 16 DP 1302 (Blair Street - LOT 15 and 17 DP 1302)

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not listed

    • Archaeological Site

      Central City NZAA R27/270

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Not Earthquake Prone

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 8/7/2017 1:02:13 AM