Commercial Building

• 1897
• Building constructed (00053:34:2131)
• 1928
• Add verandah to shops (00056:49:B4779)
• 1966
• Alterations (00058:487:C20983)
• 1967
• Repile (00058:489:C21059)
• 1973
• Workshop at rear of property (00058:887:C39443)
• 1986
• Additions - office (00059:19:D3736)
• 1996
• Fit-out of takeaway restaurant (00078:21:23041)

• 1900
• McHarrie Brothers, dairymen (Stones 1900)
• 1905
• Scott & Jones, dairymen (Stones 1905)
• 1910 - 1916
• John Munro, dairyman (Stones 1910-11, 1915-16)
• 1920
• George Brown, Milk Vendors' Association Depot (Stones 1920)
• 1925
• Mrs Lavina Leak, dairy (Stones 1925)
• 1930 - 1945
• Ernest Jeffries, dairy (Stones 1930, 1935, 1940, 1945)
• 1950 - 1951
• J.T Lennox, dairy (Wises 1950-51)
• 1955
• E.M. Norling, dairy (Wises 1955)
• 1961 - 1962
• Greenmeadows Dairy (Wises 1961-62)
• unknown
• Not listed Wises 1967-68
• 1971 - 1990
• Perry Electrical Ltd (Wises 1971-72, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990)

Not assessed

The façade of this two-storey timber shop and dwelling remains much as it was designed and retains a significant amount of original fabric, including much of the shop-fronts. The shop window on the ground floor is flanked by two doors. A plain cornice separates the two floors. The upper facade has three round-headed windows set into an exposed framework of vertical members that rise to the top cornice. Keystones above the windows are a timber stylisation of a traditional masonry detail. The building is capped by an arched pediment.

Timber shop/dwellings with ancillary stables were once the predominant building type for the commercial zones in Wellington. Although some timber shop/dwellings have survived in upper (southern) Cuba Street, they are a relatively rare in other parts of the CBD.

It is possible that some of the associated ancillary buildings for the former dairy have been incorporated into the existing out-buildings at the rear of the property. These would have significant rarity, educational and technological value and should be preserved and recorded where possible.

The construction is standard light timber frame on totara piles. The building is clad in rusticated weatherboards, and has a corrugated-iron roof.

The immediate setting of the building is the block in which it is embedded. Ghuznee Street where it forms part of the Cuba Street Conservation Area comprises of a mix of buildings that range from single storey stables and ancillary buildings, two storied timber or masonry mixed use residential and commercial buildings, and three to four storey commercial buildings.

To the west is the startling no. 60 (Cadbury Building), an Edwardian masonry building and no. 62 (Ghuznee Buildings), an elegant 1920s building with a stripped classical façade. To the east of no. 58 is a string of interesting buildings, including – the remains of the Ware Press at no. 56 and the former Gear Meat building at the Cuba Street Corner. Across the road are no. 132 Cuba, the Albermarle Hotel, the refurbished Glover Park and other buildings.

The wider setting includes central Te Aro, particularly Cuba Street.

• 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?

  58 Ghuznee Street is a good representative example of a timber shop/dwelling. It is a rare survivor in Wellington’s CBD.

• 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?

  Has group value for its relationship to its neighbouring buildings Ware Press and the Cadbury Warehouse and the broad collection of heritage buildings near the intersection of Cuba and Ghuznee Streets.

• 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 simple two-storey timber building, set amongst taller brick and masonry buildings, provides visual interest and townscape value to Ghuznee Street and the wider Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• Association

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

  The building has historic value for its association with the designer, the prominent architect Thomas Turnbull.

• Association

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

  Purpose built as a dairy, and remaining in that use for over 70 years, the building has historic value for its association with the dairy industry, today one of New Zealand’s biggest industries.

• Archaeological

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

  Pre 1900 building & Central City NZAA R27/270

• Educational

  Does the item have educational value for what it can demonstrate about aspects of the past?

  The design of the building gives insight into Victorian design for a self contained ‘shop and dwelling’. While the out-buildings have either been destroyed, or much-altered, much information is retained on the original plans and specifications. These indicate the infrastructure that was once required to supply a city with basic food-stuffs in the pre-motor vehicle era.

• 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 front façade has had few intrusive modern alterations and additions over the past 110+ years and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• 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 façade of this building remains largely intact with a high level of original building fabric without intrusive additions or alterations.

• 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 contributes to the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• Rare

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

  It is a rare example of a two-story timber mixed use commercial/residential premise, one of the last remaining on Ghuznee Street and environs.

• Representative

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

  It is representative of the self-contained workplace/dwellings of the Victorian era.

Not assessed

• Cochran, Chris, Turnbull House Conservation Plan (Wellington: Department of Conservation, 1991), 19.
• Cyclopedia Co. Ltd, “McHarrie Bros.,” in The Cyclopedia of New Zealand: Wellington Provincial District (Wellington: The Cyclopedia Company Limited, 1897), accessed October 5, 2012,
• Historic Places Trust, “Turnbull, Thomas - Architect”, Professional Biographies, accessed September 25, 2012,
• Historic Places Trust, “Turnbull, William (1868-1914) - Architect”, Professional Biographies, accessed September 25, 2012,
• Kelly, Michael and Russell Murray, Cuba Street Heritage Area Report (Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006).
• Tolerton, Jane. “Household services - Home deliveries”, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated March 4, 2010,
• Walrond, Carl. “Food shops – Dairies”, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated April 6, 2010,
• Wellington City Council, Cuba Street Heritage Area spreadsheet (block 4). (Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006).
• Wellington City Council, “58 Ghuznee Street,” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. (Wellington City Council, 2001), CUBA 44.
• WC Archives 00078:21:23041
• WC Archives 00078:460:24826

• Inventory Report
• 1897 plans
• 1897 specifications
• Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 107, 2 November 1911, Page 3
• Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 26, 31 January 1912, Page 2
• Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 149, 24 June 1912, Page 5

Not available