Turnbull & Jones Warehouse (Former)

21 Blair Street

21-23 Blair Street, Te Aro, Wellington
(Image: Charles Collins - 2015)

(Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)

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  • Constructed

    1906

  • Heritage Area

    Courtenay Place Heritage Area

  • Architect(s)

    Trevor and Sons

  • Builder(s)

    J. Trevor and Son.

  • 21-23 Blair Street has architectural value as a good representative example of an Edwardian Stripped Classical style utilitarian warehouse. 

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

    The building has historical value as one of a group of buildings constructed over a short period of time in the early 20th century in one place - Blair and Allen Streets - to bring Wellington’s produce markets together. That activity continued for over 80 years before it gave way to the expansion of the bar and restaurant district of Courtenay Place in the early 1990s.

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  • close History

    • Formerly a slum area, the district surrounding Allen and Blair Streets was redeveloped from 1898-1904 after the land came under the control of the Harbour Board. With preparations to install the new electric tram network in hand and the Te Aro railway station located nearby, the Harbour Board decided to turn the area into a market. The area’s fortunes soon rose with the construction of warehouses along the lengths of Allen and Blair Streets. Between 1904 and 1906 a variety of warehouse buildings were constructed along both sides of Allen and Blair Streets. These warehouses were used for storage and auctions. They were two or three stories high with a variety of street facades, some more ornate than others. In many of the stores markets and auctions were held on the ground floor with offices on the floors above. Allen and Blair Streets bustled with vendors, merchants and numerous vehicles loading and unloading produce and other marketable goods.

      Permits show that this building was constructed in 1906 by Trevor and Sons for their own use at an estimated cost of £1800. The original plan drawings are not signed by any architect, so it is possible that the design was drawn by Trevor and Sons themselves. The firm of Trevor and Sons became Trevor Bros in 1912 following the retirement of Mr. James Trevor. In 1913 the Trevor Bros leased the building to the firm of Turnbull and Jones Ltd., electrical engineers and contractors. In 1928 Turnbull and Jones had a number of alterations designed by architectural firm Atkins and Mitchell. This involved the construction of a new entrance at the northern end of the building with a canopy over it (which has subsequently been removed), as well as alterations to the stairs and lift. The ground floor has been adapted for use as restaurants/bars, and the top floors have been modified for use as offices.

      In 2000 the building underwent seismic strengthening and received funding from the Wellington City Council Earthquake risk building fund. Since this time it has been modified as a series of different bars and restaurants, the most recent incarnation being Edison’s Superette.


    • Modifications close
      • unknown
      • (original plans could not be accessed)
      • 1906
      • 17-23 Blair Street [21 Blair Street], warehouse (00053:127:7113)
      • 1928
      • 19-23 Blair Street [21 Blair Street], alterations (00056:67:B6415)
      • 1987
      • 21-23 Blair Street, office partitioning (00059:66:D5422)
      • 2000
      • 21-23 Blair Street, seismic upgrade and fitout, level 2 (00078:633:67079)
    • Occupation History close
      • 1965 - 1966
      • 44: Vanvi Ltd, electrical suppliers’ retail (Wises 1965-66)
      • 1971 - 1972
      • New Royal Restaurant New Royal Restaurant (Wises 1971-72)
      • 1980
      • no. 44 is listed as Gas Company Building
      • 1980
      • Tenants Alliance Textiles and New Royal Restaurant.
      • 1985
      • Hatters Hatters (Wises 1985)
      • 1990
      • Open All Hours (Wises 1990)
      • 1997
      • Illy Café
      • 2002
      • Amba
      • 2004
      • The Last Supper Club
      • 2007
      • Lagerfield Bar/restaurant
      • 2011
      • Edison’s Superette
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      This building is a typical warehouse of the period influenced by the Stripped Classical style. It is three storeys of load bearing brick masonry, with timber floors supported on a post and beam structure. Trusses span two thirds of the width of the building. The front façade has a plain geometric pattern of square headed windows, and the only decoration is the simple hoods over the windows and a moulded cornice. Four pilasters continue up through the cornice to give a stepped profile to the parapet.

    • Materials close

      Load bearing brick masonry, timber, concrete.

    • Setting close

      This building is flanked on the left by a three storey warehouse influenced by the Beaux Arts style which is made up of two buildings that mirror one another. To the right is a four storey utilitarian warehouse constructed in 1923, which has been through a number of alterations including the installation of new balconies and modern fenestrations.

      This building is found 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.

  • close Cultural Value

    21-23 Blair Street has architectural value as a good representative example of an Edwardian Stripped Classical style utilitarian warehouse.

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

    The building has historical value as one of a group of buildings constructed over a short period of time in the early 20th century in one place - Blair and Allen Streets - to bring Wellington’s produce markets together. That activity continued for over 80 years before it gave way to the expansion of the bar and restaurant district of Courtenay Place in the early 1990s.

    • 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?

        21-23 Blair Street has architectural value as a good representative example of an Edwardian Stripped Classical style utilitarian warehouse.

      • 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 building contributes to the Courtenay Place Heritage Area, which is made up of a group of late 19th – early 20th century commercial buildings, and features the distinctive Blair and Allen Street warehouse precinct.

      • 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 19th and early 20th century masonry warehouses.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        This building is associated with the commercial and economic development of the Allen and Blair Street precinct and more widely the development of Wellington.

    • Scientific Value close

      • 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.

    • 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?

        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 that is well understood and appreciated by the local community.

    • 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?

        This building retains some authenticity of design, craftsmanship, and materials with a high level of authenticity of setting.

      • 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 aesthetic value of the Allen and Blair Street Precinct.

      • Representative

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

        This building is a good representative example of an Edwardian warehouse that is typical of the Allen/Blair Street warehouse area.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      16/ 26.4

    • Legal Description

      Lot 2 DP 55915

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not listed

    • Archaeological Site

      NZAA Central City R27/270

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Not Earthquake Prone

  • close Additional Information
    • Sources close
      • Wellington City Council. Courtenay Place Heritage Area spreadsheet (blocks 1-3). 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.
      • Evening Post. Volume LXXXIX, Issue 112. 13 May 1915. Page 8.
      • (00053:127:7113)
      • (00056:67:B6415)
      • (00059:66:D5422)
      • (00078:633:67079)
      • CT WN25B/61
      • CT WN5C/145
      • CT WN318/112
      • CT WN126/90
      • Stones and Wises Wellington Directories
      • Wises 1965-66
      • Wises 1971-72
      • Wises 1985
      • Wises 1990
    • Technical Documentation close
    • Footnotes close

      Not available

Last updated: 4/20/2017 3:11:39 AM