Wellington Chinese Masonic Society Building

• 1925
• Lodge construction (00055:48:A4515)
• 1947
• Earthquake repairs (00056:337:B26110), Additions and alterations (00056:341:B26332)
• 1954
• Boiler house (00056:487:B36608)
• 1995
• Warehouse alterations (00061:166:15309)

• 1925
• Kee Chung Tong society
• 1982
• Sold to Gavin Munro Wilson, occupants unknown
• 2012
• Film New Zealand

Not assessed

Designed in an Inter-War Free-Classical approach the building demonstrates a style which was ebullient and self-confident and expressed society’s growing prosperity. The building is extremely similar in style to a Masonic Lodge designed by C. Askew in Victoria, Australia (1929). The building was constructed along traditional Hung League designs (gates at each elevation) and has similarities with Cantonese architecture.

The building is two storeys high, the main elements on the front facade being a central pair of doors on the ground floor and, above this, a framed panel with the building name in Chinese characters.

The planning of the building is simple, and has been simplified further with recent renovations. The plan of the building is rectangular, with a central entrance way. To either side of the entrance are two small rooms facing the street front, further back from the entrance is a large room that steps up further into another large room, and beyond this a lean-to kitchen bathroom area.

Doors on either side give access to a shallow first floor balcony, while above there is a bracketed cornice and a roof parapet with a central arched motif. The present-day use of the building is offices on the ground floor with an apartment above. The side (west) elevation attests to these new uses with large openings on the ground floor providing access and natural light to the interior.

Little fabric of heritage value remains inside, although two small rooms on either side of the main entrance are intact, as are their steel-framed windows facing Frederick Street.

Unreinforced masonry brick.

Frederick Street is lined on both sides with a varied collection of light industrial, commercial and residential buildings of no particular distinction. Along with the former Chinese Mission Hall (40-46 Frederick Street), the former Chinese Masonic Society building, however, stands out in the street as a modest but graceful neo-Classical structure that still reflects the long association of Frederick Street and the surrounding area with Wellington’s Chinese community. It has townscape value for its architecture, scale and the interest of the carefully considered Classical decoration.

• 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?

  This is a building which has been designed in both the Inter-War Free Classical style and along traditional Hung League plans, featuring similarities with traditional Cantonese architecture. The exterior façade features a cement rendered niche with Chinese characters and a pediment which had originally displayed a Masonic symbol (the latter has been removed but the outline is still visible).

• 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?

  Along with 40-46 Frederick Street (Chinese Mission Hall), the Chinese Masonic Society Building is one of the few buildings that still remain from the former Chinese settlement in Frederick Street.

• 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 townscape value as its Inter-War architectural style stands apart from the surrounding modern structures.

• Association

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

  The building is historically associated with the establishment and development of Wellington’s Chinese community. It is also associated with international Chinese secret societies which were dedicated to overthrowing the rule of the Qing Dynasty in China. 

• Association

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

  The building is historically associated with the Chee Kung Tong society, a branch of the international Hung League. 

• 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.

• 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 was once a focus of identity for Wellington’s Chinese community.

• Sentiment/Connection

  Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

  Since the Masonic building is one of only two remaining buildings that are connected with the Chinese settlement in the area of Frederick and Haining Streets it will retain sentimental value to the descendents of Wellington’s early Chinese settlers.

• Symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual

  Does the item have symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual or other cultural value for the community who has used and continues to use it?

  Since the Chee Kung Tong was a secret society, the building’s architecture possibly still contains esoteric symbolism. The building will also have cultural value to Wellington’s Chinese community since it is one of only two remaining buildings that are connected with the Chinese settlement in the area of Frederick and Haining Streets.

• 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 north facing façade of the building has retained a significant amount of its original fabric.

• Rare

  Is the item rare, unique, unusual, seminal, influential, or outstanding?

  The building, along with 40-46 Frederick Street, is a rare surviving example of the buildings which were formerly found on Frederick Street when it was an area of Chinese settlement.

• Local/Regional/National/International

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

  The building has local value in its historic role as a focus for Wellington’s Chinese community.

Not assessed

• Gak. Flickr. Accessed 7 August 2012.
• Murphy N. and Wong K. Chee Kung Tong: The Hung League in New Zealand. National Library Gallery Catalogue. 1991 Alexander Turnbull Library.
• Smillie, Sandra. ‘Wellington Chinese Masonic Society Inc.’ Heritage Building Interiors Project Interiors Survey.
• Wellington City Council. “Wellington Chinese Masonic Society Building.” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001. FRED 1.
• Wellington City Council. “30 Arthur Street.” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory1995: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 1995. F.
• Thurston, Bret. ‘Conservation plan: the former Wellington Chinese Masonic Society Incorporated Building.’ Paper prepared for ARCH 273, Building Heritage Conservation. Victoria University of Wellington, 1999. 1041-06-FRE. Wellington City Council Records.
• “Heritage building - 175-179 Cuba Street”. 1997. 1041-06-CUB175. Wellington City Council Records.
• CT 31/209. Land Information New Zealand.

• Inventory Report
• 1923 specifications and plans

Not available