Warehouse (Former)

• 1908
• Blair Street and Cambridge Terrace [9-11 Blair Street, 6-7 Cambridge Terrace], warehouses (00053:143:7953)
• 1987
• refurbishment of existing office block and warehouse (00059:96:D6365) (New mezzanine floor, roof addition, shop front alts (1987) – SR D6365)
• 1993
• 9-11 Blair Street, alterations (00060:17:669) (Convert two upper floors into residential use (1993) – SR 669; Earthquake upgrading (1993) - SR 573)
• 1995
• 9-11 Blair Street, alteration, PIM Only (00061:58:11731)
• 1995
• 9-11 Blair Street, restaurant alterations (00061:74:12218) (Alts including shop front alts (1995) – SR 11731; Street elevation alts, restaurant alts (1995) - SR 12218)
• 1999
• 9-11 Blair Street, seismic strengthening of existing building (00078:270:55657) (Seismic Strengthening (1999) – SR 55657)

• unknown
• Not Assessed

Not assessed

The building at 9-11 Blair Street is a good example of a simplified Stripped Classical warehouse building with some Classical ornamental features. The building is particularly notable for the lack of intrusive alterations to its street façade (with the notable exception of the modern, ground floor fenestration).  It is a well proportioned building of three storeys, made up of three bays divided by a Classical framework of tall pilasters. The central bay has three windows at both the second and third storey, while the two flanking bays are made up of two windows at second floor level and three windows at the third floor level. The façade is topped by a cornice and stepped parapet.

The ground floor openings have been significantly altered from their original forms, but façade on the two floors above appear to match the original drawings. The façade is a strict geometric grid of groups of two and three windows, all set within a Classical framework of tall pilasters, cornice, and a stepped parapet.

The building is notable for the unusual arrangements of small and large opening lights on the second floor windows. This appears to be an original feature and is shown on the architect’s drawings.

The structure, as shown on the drawings, consists of concrete foundations supporting masonry walls, with concrete bands at floor and parapet levels. The floors are framed in timber and supported in cast iron columns, while heavy timber roof trusses with steel tie rods span the full width of the building.

Concrete foundations

Masonry walls with concrete bands at floor and parapet levels.

Timber floors supported by cast iron columns

Timber roof trusses with steel tie rods

This building is located in the Courtenay Place heritage area on Blair Street. It is a precinct of warehouses that are consistent in building type and age. There is a diversity of styles but they relate well to one another in opening form, scale, decoration, and underlying classicism. This consistency, diversity, and homogeneity of building facades provide interest and character in the precinct.

• 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 at 9-11 Blair Street is a good example of a simplified Stripped Classical warehouse building with some Classical ornamental features. The building is notable for its near-original street façade (with the exception of the modern ground floor fenestration). 

• Group

  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 is one of two identical back-to-back warehouses that were designed for a local engineering company, and which are both located with the heritage area. 

• 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 an important townscape role as an element of the Blair/Allen Street precinct of 19^th and early 20^th century masonry warehouses. 

• Association

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

  This building is associated with the markets in Wellington, which were held in the Allen and Blair Street precinct for over 50 years. It is related to the commercial and economic development in the early 20^th century. 

• Archaeological

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

  This building is included in the NZAA Central City archaeological area R27/270.

• Identity Sense of place Continuity

  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 is part of a collection of historic buildings which contribute to the sense of place in the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. More specifically, the collection of buildings that form the Blair and Allen Street precinct is a coherent streetscape well understood and appreciated by the local community. 

• Authentic

  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?

  This building retains a significant amount of original exterior fabric and retains authenticity of design and material, together with a high level of authenticity of setting. The interior has been significantly altered and the connection to its twin on Cambridge Terrace has been mostly lost. 

• 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 its architecture and history contributes to the overall historic and stylistic value of the Allen and Blair Street Precinct.

• Representative

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

  This building is a good representative of a warehouse building influenced by the Classical architectural style. 

Not assessed

• Kelly, Michael, and Russell Murray. Courtenay Place Heritage Area Report. Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006.
• Wellington City Council. Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings – Precincts. Wellington City Council 2001.
• Wellington City Council. Courtenay Place Heritage Area spreadsheet (Part 3). Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006.
• (00053:143:7953)
• (00059:96:D6365)
• (00060:17:669)
• (00061:58:11731)
• (00061:74:12218)
• (00078:270:55657)
• SR D6365
• SR 669
• SR 573
• SR 11731
• SR 12218
• SR 12218
• SR 55657
• CTWN126/90
• CTWN318/112
• CTWN5C/142

• Inventory Report

Not available