Boys’ Institute Building (Former)

Boys’ Institute

30 Arthur Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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Image: Charles Collins, 2015

Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015

GIS Cityview 2012
GIS Cityview 2012
‘30 Arthur Street, brick building,’ 28 September 1906, 00053:131:7322, Wellington City Archives
30 Arthur Street, brick building,’ 28 September 1906, 00053:131:7322, Wellington City Archives
Map

  • Constructed

    1906 - 1906

  • Architect(s)

    Crichton and McKay

  • Builder(s)

  • Built in 1906, the building is architecturally unusual in that it features a mixture of Edwardian Revivalism, Stripped Classicism and Gothic styles.

    The building is historically associated with the Wellington Boys’ Institute, an interdenominational charity movement which sought to assist working class boys in their spiritual, physical and mental development.

    The building is the only remaining structure on the north side of Arthur Street and acts a reminder of how the street once looked prior to the development of the 2005 Inner City Bypass.

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  • close History

    • As the original commercial quarter of the Wellington settlement, Te Aro was predominantly the home of the city’s working class. As an institution dedicated to overseeing the spiritual, physical and mental wellbeing of working class boys, it was therefore fitting that the Boys Institute was relocated to Arthur Street. Originating as a subsidiary branch of the YMCA, the Boys Institute started to operate as a separate entity in 1892 after constructing its own building on the corner of Cuba and Victoria Streets. When the Tramway Works took over this land the Institute was forced to look for new premises. A new site was found on Arthur Street and £600 was raised to construct a new building.

      Designed by William Gray Young, who was then working for the firm of Crichton and McKay, the new building finally opened in 1906 with his Excellency the Right Honourable William Lee Baron Plunket (1864-1920), Governor of New Zealand, laying the foundation stone.

      The Institute was interdenominational and this allowed for donations to be received from different sectors of society. The Institute attracted a large number of boys (over 200 in 1911) and even within a year of opening it had become apparent that the Arthur Street building was too small. Rather than purchase adjoining properties, the Institute instead decided to build an entirely new building on a Tasman Street property that had been donated by Sarah Ann Rhodes in 1910. Construction on the new building began in 1914.

      From the late 1980s onward the building’s first floor was home to a studio where over 20 albums were recorded. It was the base of Plan 9, who composed and recorded the cultural songs of Middle Earth for the Lord of the Rings film trilogy there.

      With the development of the Wellington Inner City Bypass in 2005, the building was originally threatened with demolition. This fate was avoided after Transit New Zealand and Building Solutions relocated the building, using Teflon technology and railway tracks, 13 metres north of its original position.

    • Modifications close
      • 1906
      • Construction of building (00053:131:7322)
      • 1947
      • Reinstatement and repairs following earthquake damage (00056:331:B25781)
      • 2005
      • Relocation of building to rear of property (00078:1645:132653)
    • Occupation History close
      • 1906
      • Boys’ Institute Wellington.
      • 1922
      • Occupancy unknown – further research required
      • 1987
      • Music studio
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      The former Boys’ Institute is a two storey, brick masonry building with a group of three deep set casement windows on the first floor and a central arched doorway flanked by a pair of deep set casement windows on the ground floor. The original plans for the building show that its front façade was designed in an Edwardian revivalist style – in this case, Jacobean. This style was characterised by the tall brick gabled end and the deep set casement windows fitted between heavy “stone” mullions. The elevated gables (there were four in all) were employed at the southern or street end of the building.

      The gables were probably removed after the 1942 Wairarapa earthquake as aerial photographs show that the gables were there in 1924 and gone by 1958. Their removal has obscured the building’s architectural origins but the heavily-articulated facade is still intact on its ground and first floors.

      The ground floor of the building accommodated a gymnasium and indoor swimming pool with a classroom and hall on the floor above.


    • Materials close

      Brick masonry covered in cement render.

    • Setting close

      The building is situated on Arthur Street which underwent major redevelopment in 2005 with the construction of the Wellington Inner City Bypass. Many buildings along Arthur Street were demolished or removed. Today the former Boys Institute stands alone on the north side of Arthur Street and is the only building that opens directly onto the street.

  • close Cultural Value

    Built in 1906, the building is architecturally unusual in that it features a mixture of Edwardian Revivalism, Stripped Classicism and Gothic styles.

    The building is historically associated with the Wellington Boys’ Institute, an interdenominational charity movement which sought to assist working class boys in their spiritual, physical and mental development.

    The building is the only remaining structure on the north side of Arthur Street and acts a reminder of how the street once looked prior to the development of the 2005 Inner City Bypass.

    • 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 building features a façade which is a mix of the Edwardian Revivalist (Jacobean) and Stripped Classical styles with eclectic Gothic.

      • 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?

        Since the 2005 development of the Inner City Bypass the building now stands alone and is the only remaining building on the north side of Arthur Street.

    • Historic Value close

      • Assocation

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

        The building is historically associated with the efforts undertaken by interdenominational religious organisations that arose in the nineteenth century to provide support and moral guidance to working class boys who had moved into the cities in order to start trades and find work. Because of its location, the building is also associated with the efforts to save the heritage of Te Aro that were the result of the 2005 development of the Wellington Inner City Bypass.

      • Association

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

        The building is associated with the Wellington Boys’ Institute, an interdenominational charity organisation which sought to improve the spiritual, physical and mental wellbeing of working class boys. It is also associated with the then Governor of New Zealand, William Lee Baron Plunket (1864-1920), who laid the building’s foundation stone.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        There was pre-1900 human activity on this site. The building is located in the Central City archaeological site reference NZAA R27/270.

    • 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?

        As the only historic building left on Arthur Street, the former Boys’ Institute serves as a reminder of the street’s appearance prior to the development of the 2005 Inner City Bypass.

    • 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?

        While the building has retained some of its original exterior façade, the gabled roof of its original design has been removed prior to 1958.

      • Rare

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

        The building is an unusual mix of Edwardian Revivalism (Jacobean), Stripped Classicism and Gothic styles.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      17

    • Legal Description

      SEC 27 SO 384847

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not listed

    • Archaeological Site

      Central City NZAA R27/270, Maori Site of Significance

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      124 Notice

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 7/18/2017 4:53:37 AM