Houses

68 Elizabeth Street; 70 Elizabeth Street

68, 70, and 72 Elizabeth Street, Mt Victoria, Wellington
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68 Elizabeth Street (Image: Charles Collins – 2015)
68 Elizabeth Street (Image: Charles Collins – 2015)
70 Elizabeth Street (Image: Charles Collins – 2015)
70 Elizabeth Street (Image: Charles Collins – 2015)
72 Elizabeth Street (Image: Charles Collins – 2015)

72 Elizabeth Street  (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)

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  • Constructed

    c.1890

  • Architect(s)

    Unknown

  • Builder(s)

    Unknown

  • The houses at 68, 70, and 72 Elizabeth Street are three of the most elegant on the street, and their quality and grouping give them streetscape value. Having said that, this can perhaps be overstated, given the similar quality and type of housing that characterise Mount Victoria.

    The group value of the Elizabeth Street houses is the primary reason why they are heritage listed. The three cottages form an attractive precinct of late 19th century dwellings.

    The Elizabeth Street houses contribute a sense of place to Mount Victoria as one of Wellington’s original suburbs with considerable heritage value and distinguished houses.


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  • close History

    • The residential suburb of Mt Victoria is one of Wellington’s oldest and most prominent historic areas. The area was first settled in the early 1840s by New Zealand Company colonists and over the past 170 years it has developed a unique character and identity that is closely associated with the variety of architectural styles seen in the area. The houses are mainly 19th century wooden villas and cottages.

      The houses that make up 68, 70, and 72 Elizabeth Street are attractive and authentic examples of the type of domestic architecture that was popular during the later part of last century. The cottages appear on the 1892 Thomas Ward map and stylistically they can be expected to date from the late 19th century. It is likely that they were constructed as speculative housing and appear to have had few significant alterations made to them since this time. 

      The cottages do not appear in archival records until the 1930s, and there is little known about the early history of these cottages or the people who occupied them.

      No. 72 was owned between 1986 and 1992 by Sir Geoffrey Palmer and his wife Margaret while Sir Geoffrey was New Zealand’s prime Minister. In 1989 the property was occupied by the Honourable Margaret Wilson, Labour Cabinet Minister and the first female speaker of the House of Representatives, when she was the then president of the Labour Party. The Palmer’s then lived at 72 Elizabeth Street after Sir Geoffrey Palmer was replaced as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party in 1990.

      Although there is little information about these houses, we are still left with three impressive 19th century villas in a row, each in beautiful condition and with high degrees of authenticity, standing symbolically in for wider Mount Victoria built domestic heritage. The cottages represent an important precinct of late nineteenth century dwellings that have remained substantially unaltered from their original form and contribute significantly to the streetscape and character of Mt Victoria.







    • Modifications close
      • unknown
      • 68 Elizabeth Street
      • 1933
      • Addition of shed
      • 1982
      • Repiling
      • 1983
      • Alterations and additions
      • unknown
      • 70 Elizabeth Street
      • 1982
      • Alterations, additions, and repiling
      • unknown
      • 72 Elizabeth Street
      • 1982
      • Alterations and additions
      • 1991
      • Conservatory added
    • Occupation History close
      • unknown
      • Not assessed
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      These three cottages stylistically date to the late 19th century and were likely constructed as speculative housing. They share a number of characteristics that have become synonymous with bay villas that became common during the later part of last century.

      The buildings are clad in rusticated weatherboards. The upper storey windows are decorated with an intricate pediment, an imitation of stone detailing in timber, while the gabled ends have finials and piered bargeboards. Such details were added to dwellings of this type, lifting them above the realm of humble dwellings.

      It is unusual to find three identical houses without the effect of being marred by alterations; they form an attractive precinct.

    • Materials close

      Rusticated timber weatherboards, timber joinery, and corrugated iron.

    • Setting close

      The three houses stand on the southern side of the middle block of Elizabeth Street. The area feels like deep suburban Mount Victoria, very near to the city but feeling otherwise. The houses are surrounded by other domestic abides similar in age, style, and use. It is an attractive part of the city, and the houses at 68, 70, and 72 Elizabeth Street enhance the heritage value of the area while their collective heritage value is enhanced by the area as well.

  • close Cultural Value

    The houses at 68, 70, and 72 Elizabeth Street are three of the most elegant on the street, and their quality and grouping give them streetscape value. Having said that, this can perhaps be overstated, given the similar quality and type of housing that characterise Mount Victoria.

    The group value of the Elizabeth Street houses is the primary reason why they are heritage listed. The three cottages form an attractive precinct of late 19th century dwellings.

    The Elizabeth Street houses contribute a sense of place to Mount Victoria as one of Wellington’s original suburbs with considerable heritage value and distinguished houses.

    • 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 Elizabeth Street houses have architectural value for their attractive, uniform design.

      • 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 group value of the Elizabeth Street houses is the primary reason why they are heritage listed. The three cottages form an attractive precinct of late 19th century dwellings.

      • 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 houses at 68, 70, and 72 Elizabeth Street are three of the most elegant on the street, and their quality and grouping give them streetscape value. Having said that, this can perhaps be overstated, given the similar quality and type of housing that characterise Mount Victoria.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        No 72 is associated with Sir Geoffrey Palmer and his wife Margaret who were ether owners of the house between 1986 and 1992. It is also associated with the Honourable Margaret Wilson who occupied the house in 1989. 

      • Association

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

        These houses are associated with the residential suburb of Mt Victoria, which is one of Wellington’s oldest and most prominent historic areas. It is likely that they were constructed as speculative housing and are attractive and authentic examples of the type of domestic architecture that was popular during the later part of last century.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        The Elizabeth Street houses have archaeological value for the presence of pre-1900 buildings.

    • 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 Elizabeth Street houses contribute a sense of place to Mount Victoria as one of Wellington’s original suburbs with considerable heritage value and distinguished houses.

    • 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 Elizabeth Street houses retain high levels of authenticity of material, design, use, setting, and craftsmanship.

      • Local Regional National International

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

        The Elizabeth Street Houses are important at a local level.


    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      16/ 107

    • Legal Description

      68: Lot 1 DP 5692 70: Lot 2 DP 5692 72: Lot 3 DP 5692

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not Listed

    • Archaeological Site

      Pre-1900 buildings

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Outside Earthquake Prone Policy

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 10/6/2017 1:17:06 AM