Cadbury Brothers Building (Former)

• 1908
• Building constructed (00053:148:8216)
• 1920
• New roof over factory (00053:203:11198)
• 1941
• Alterations (00056:261:B21323)
• 1953
• Alterations to ground floor (00056:465:B35305)
• 1954
• Partitions (00056:471:B35625)
• 1954
• New lift machine room (00056:493:B37042)
• 1955
• New verandah and internal alterations Alterations (00056:526:B39034)
• 1982
• Alterations to lobbies, toilet facilities and shops (00058:0:C59667)
• 1982
• Fit out restaurant (00058:0:C60461)
• 1984
• Alterations to shop No 27 (00058:0:C64796)
• 1993
• Roof addition (00059:555:E25598)
• 1993
• Alteration, window and toilet (00060:4:174)
• 2009
• Office partitioning, Level 1 (00078:2755:155392)

• 1910 - c.1968
• Cadbury Brothers (later Cadbury Fry Hudson Ltd, cocoa manufacturers (Stones 1910- 11, 1915-16, 1920, 1925, 1930, 1935, 1940, 1945, Wises 1950-51, 1955, 1961-62, 1967-68)
• c.1970 - c.1980
• Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve (Wises 1971-72, 1975,1980)
• 1895 - 1990
• various retail & small business
• c.1982
• Great Expectations, restaurant
• 2009
• Women’s Refuge

Not assessed

The facade of this four-story Edwardian warehouse building has been boldly and skilfully designed and has a distinctive Venetian influence in its design. An important element, characteristic of warehouse design, is the use of ‘Romanesque’ arches and windows on the second floor which are supported on frank brick piers rising from the first floor. This was a popular device to ensure good lighting of interiors, particularly in combination with slender window joinery in metal. The third floor is quite exuberant, with a rare use of heavy belted or ‘candy-stripe’ columns to give striking visual interest to the top of the building. The structure is capped with an arched parapet with ‘Cadbury Bros. Ltd.’ moulded into the centre.

This building makes an important contribution to the Ghuznee Street townscape and has group value with the Counties building on Cuba Street in its style and scale, and with the neighbouring Ghuznee Buildings in its scale.

The construction is load-bearing brick masonry on concrete foundations. The three upper floors and the roof are reinforced concrete laid over steel joists. The stairs, most partitions, and the lift enclosures are reinforced concrete.

The plans specify the first floor front doors and shutters are to be of totara; internal doors of oregon; and a cedar counter.

The immediate setting of the building is the block in which it is embedded. To the west is ‘Ghuznee Buildings’ (1929), an elegant stripped classical building of similar proportions to the Cadbury Building. To the east is a string of interesting buildings, including – immediately next door, Thomas Turnbull’s small Satay Village at no. 58, 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, Albermarle Hotel, and the refurbished Glover Park.

The majority of these buildings are of a broadly similar scale to the Cadbury Building and this gives the streetscape in this section of Ghuznee Street a high level of coherence that enhances and is enhanced by the heritage values of the 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?

  This building retains a high level of architectural authenticity, without intrusive modern additions or alterations.

• 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?

  This building has group value with the adjoining and nearby buildings, particularly 62-64 Ghuznee Street, and 134 Cuba 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 distinctive building has high townscape value and group value with the adjoining and nearby buildings that are mostly of a similar scale, and makes a positive contribution to, and is enhanced by, this setting.

• Association

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

  This building has historic value for its association with the confectionery giant Cadbury.

  It also has historic value for its association wit the designers, architects Hoggard and Prouse.

• Association

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

  This building has historic value for its association with the strong growth and development of Cuba Street during the Edwardian period, which resulted in the construction of many fine commercial buildings.

• Archaeological

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

  This 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?

  This building has technical value as an early example of local steel framed construction. The original plans, sections and elevations survive. These give a good insight into Edwardian warehouse design.

• 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?

  This building is part of a group of Edwardian commercial buildings on Ghuznee Street which contribute 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.

• 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 local importance, as it contributes to the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• Representative

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

  This building has representative value as an example of Edwardian warehouse design.

Not assessed

• “Great Expectations Catering Ltd.”, Miramar Links – Wedding Venue, updated July 17, 2006,
• Historic Places Trust, “Hoggard & Prouse - Architect”, Professional Biographies, accessed October 12, 2012,
• Kelly, Michael, and Russell Murray, Cuba Street Heritage Area Report (Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006), 35.
• Lochhead, Ian J. “Gummer, William Henry – Biography”, from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated September 1, 2010
• “The Story of Cadbury”, Cadbury website,
• Wellington City Council, Cuba Street Heritage Area spreadsheet (block 4). (Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006).
• Wellington City Council, Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. (Wellington City Council, 2001).
• Wilcox, Sarah. “Food and beverage manufacturing - Baking and confectionery”, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated March 4, 2010,
• “Women’s Refuge moves to meet demand”, Wellington Scoop, May 8, 2009,
• Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 107, 6 May 1908, Page 1
• “60 Ghuznee Street, warehouse”, September 30, 1908, 00053:148:8216, WC Archives

• Inventory Report
• 1908 drawings
• 1908 specifications
• 1992 drawings
• Sarah Wilcox. 'Food and beverage manufacturing - Baking and confectionery', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 10-Jul-13

Not available