Cambridge Terrace bus shelter

• c.1907
• Construction date – unknown (but likely to be after 1907)
• 1995 - 2002
• Relocated at some time between 1995-2002

Not assessed

Not assessed

This group of five small tram shelters were constructed during the period when trams were the quintessential method of travel in Wellington. The shelters range in known construction date from 1904 to the 1940s and these dates coincide with the construction of the electric tram network to the start of the electric trolley bus era. The shelters share some characteristics. They were all designed as simple rectangular shelters with an open door or archway to the street. All have a pitched roof, now covered in corrugated mild steel, and all have some timber elements, typically timber roof structure, timber decorative elements including eaves brackets, and t&g panelling.

This shelter is a simple rectangular enclosure with a t&g timber wall to the east (rear). The partial walls to the north and south appear to have been later additions, and are bolted to the timber cross-bracing. The shelter has a simple pitched roof with gable ends and there is some decorative fretwork to the arched openings. The barge boards also have an interesting decorative notched detail. This shelter is likely to have been relocated relatively recently and the concrete footing and timber cross bracing to the north and south appear to be modern elements. 

• 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 group of small (generally) timber framed former tram shelters/bus shelters each have architectural / aesthetic value for their carefully proportioned exteriors, the quality of their construction materials, and the use of ornamentation and decorative elements that were used to enrich these otherwise utilitarian buildings. The shelters were designed to enclose and protect tram passengers from the sometimes inclement Wellington weather, and most continue to serve this function well.

• 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 shelters were designed as a response to the local climate and use local vernacular elements including timber ornamentation. They have strong townscape value for their contribution to the character and sense of place of Wellington. 

• 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 five shelters that include the Cambridge Terrace Bus Shelter, the Miramar Avenue Tram Shelter, the Oriental Bay Terminus Tram Shelter, the Oriental Parade Central Bus Shelter, and the Highland Park Tram Shelter have strong group value as a set of shelters that were built in the years when electric trams were the main form of mass transportation in Wellington. The shelters range in age from 1904 (the beginning of the electric tram era), to the early 1940s (when trolley buses began to replace trams). 

• Association

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

  The group of five shelters have representative historic value for their association with the era when electric trams were the main form of public transport in Wellington.

• Archaeological

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

  Cambridge Terrace Bus Shelter, the Oriental Bay Terminus Tram Shelter and the Oriental Parade Central Bus Shelter are all within NZAA R27/270, although the Cambridge Terrace Bus Shelter was recently relocated to this site.  

• 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 shelters were designed as a response to the local climate and use local vernacular elements including timber ornamentation. They have strong townscape value for their contribution to the character and sense of place of Wellington. 

• Rare

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

  This group of shelters are a remnant of the traditional style timber shelters that are currently under threat of replacement.

• Representative

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

  This group of five shelters are a representative sample of former tram shelters from 1904 – the early 1940s. 

Not assessed

• ‘Oriental Bay Tea Kiosk, Oriental Parade, Wellington.’ Bennie, M (Mr), fl 1983: Photographs of Wellington businesses and homes. Ref: 1/2-139951-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
• Oriental Parade, Wellington. Smith, Sydney Charles, 1888-1972 :Photographs of New Zealand. Ref: 1/2-045430-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
• ‘Man standing at a bus stop during a storm, Mahina Bay, Eastbourne.’ Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: 1/4-022744-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
• ‘Oriental Bay’. Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: PAColl-5482-014. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
• ‘Cambridge and Kent Terraces, Wellington.’ Original photographic prints and postcards from file print collection, Box 6. Ref: PAColl-5932-26. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
• The Architecture Centre website accessed 03/04/2013
• Burgess, Dave. ‘The worst bus shelters in Wellington’ Dompost 20/12/2010
• Cox, Lianne. ‘Miramar Tram Shelter, Miramar, Wellington: Conservation Plan’ unpublished conservation plan prepared by Studio Pacific Architects for the Wellington City Council (2012)
• LOCAL AND GENERAL. Dominion, 7 June 1909, Page 4
• LOCAL AND GENERAL Dominion, 6 March 1918, Page 4
• WADESTOWN'S NEEDS (a shelter-shed wanted) Evening Post, 5 May 1917, Page 6
• LOCAL AND GENERAL Evening Post, 1 June 1917, Page 6
• WADESTOWN TRAMS. Evening Post, 3 June 1911, Page 11
• TO BE REPLACED Evening Post, 13 December 1938, Page 14
• WADESTOWN TRAMS Evening Post, 30 November 1916, Page 7
• THE MARTIN FOUNTAIN. Evening Post, 14 June 1876, Page 2
• "Johnnie Martin's Fountain," which was yesterday broken up and carted away ... [truncated] Evening Post, 9 November 1938, Page 9
• WADESTOWN TRAMS Evening Post, 25 September 1916, Page 8
• FIRST TROLLEY BUS ROUTE Evening Post, 13 September 1945, Page 6.
• Morrell, Vivienne. ‘Registration Report for a Historic Place: Tram Shelter (former), Wellington (Register No. 1343)’ unpublished registration report by the NZHPT (2012)
• Thomson, Rebecca. ‘Big bill for smashed bus shelters’ The Wellingtonian 22/07/2010
• Wellington City Archives ref 000158:2:109
• ‘Moving tramway shelter shed, Sefton Street’ plan to widen the road and relocated the tram shelter - WCC Archives ref 00107:1:383 (1931)
• ‘WCC Proposed Shelter Shed for Tramway Passengers’ WCC Archives ref: 2008/27:2:2440
• ‘Trams in Wellington: a history’ Wellington City Library website accessed March 2013
• ‘History of trams in Wellington’ The Wellington Tramway Museum website accessed March 2013

• Inventory report

Not available