House

3 Claremont Grove, Mount Victoria, Wellington
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Image: Charles Collins, 2015

Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015

Cityview GIS 2013
Cityview GIS 2013
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  • Constructed

    1880 - 1880

  • Architect(s)

    Unknown

  • Builder(s)

    Unknown

  • This is a grand Italianate house representative of the wealth and prosperity of early Mount Victoria – particularly the late 19th century. Italianate was a popular style at the time and there is value in the twin bay windows which are arched and sashed, the intricate fretwork, and the leadlight windows.

    This house contributes well to the streetscape of Claremont Grove and fits in well with its neighbours, which are of a similar style and age. Directly across from it is the Hazel Court apartment building, which provides an interesting juxtaposition with the late 19th and 20th century timber buildings that otherwise characterise the area.

    This house has educational value as a part of the story of the development of Mount Victoria and Wellington. It is a large home in an area made up of similar dwellings that provides the opposite side of the story to the Aro Street or Thorndon cottages.

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  • close History

    • This large residential house, situated at 3 Claremont Grove, is an important symbol of the wealth and prosperity of earl Wellington and Mount Victoria.

      Mt Victoria is one of the cities oldest suburbs, mainly made up of late 19th and early 20th century wooden villas and cottages. Mt Victoria as a suburb developed rapidly and these homes are the representatives of the wealth and prosperity of early residential developments in the area.

      There are no original building documents for this building, so it is unknown exactly when, or for whom, it was designed and constructed. It is likely to date from the late 19th century, probably some time in the 1880s. Designed in the popular Italianate style, this is a large and robust house. It has a twin bay window on the street facing façade and is clad in rusticated weatherboards. The arched sash windows are an attractive feature, revealed at the first floor following the removal of a boxed balcony in 1996. The house is entered from the side, where the entrance features intricate fretwork and leadlight windows.

      There is little known of its history. Land information records show that by 1888 the land was owned by Frederick Binns, a photographer. In 1899 he sold the property to Alexander Veitch, a tailor and partner in the firm Veitch and Allan. Veitch carried out some changes, adding a garage in 1925, and constructing the balcony (now removed) in 1926. Veitch died in 1928 and the house passed to Emily and Pansy Veitch as the executors of his estate. In 1935 they sold the property to Elenor Pascoe, and it appears that she had the house tenanted, and in 1954 sold to Jack Gerodis (name unclear on C.T). In 1971 the house was sold to David Burger, Elizabeth Burger, Clive Wickins, and William Juliff who sold the property in 1981 to Lloyd and Ann Chapman. The house was repiled in 1983 and sold again in 1987 to Andrew Logan and Beatrix Treuren. Throughout the 1990s a number of unspecified alterations and additions were carried out, a retaining wall was built on the property, and alterations were made to the garage.

      The 1995 Wellington City Council Heritage Building Inventory suggests that this house was associated with the German Embassy, however, no evidence of this has been found.

    • Modifications close
      • 1925
      • 3 Claremont Grove, garage (00055:42:A3932)
      • 1926
      • 3 Claremont Grove, balcony (00056:8:B753)
      • 1983
      • 3 Claremont Grove, dwelling additions and alterations, repile (00058:0:C61791)
      • 1992
      • 3 Claremont Grove, retaining wall (00059:574:E26204)
      • 1992
      • 3 Claremont Grove, dwelling additions and alterations (00059:595:E2671)
      • 1996
      • 3 Claremont Grove, additions and alterations (00078:181:26649)
      • 1996
      • 3 Claremont Grove, retaining wall (00078:150:25030)
      • 1997
      • 3 Claremont Grove, garage (00078:153:30009)
    • Occupation History close
      • unknown
      • Not assessed
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      This is a large and robust house that features twin bay windows on both the ground and first floors of the front façade. The windows are arched sash windows. The house has an ornate entrance at the side that features ornate fretwork and leadlight windows. Built in the Italianate style, which was popular throughout Wellington in the late 19th and early 20th century, this house is a good example of the style of home that was popular in Mount Victoria and shows the wealth and prosperity associated with the area.

    • Materials close

      Rusticated weatherboard

      Timber joinery

      Brick chimney

      Iron roofing

    • Setting close

      Claremont Grove is a narrow, no exit, street in the suburb of Mount Victoria accessed from Austin Street. The area is made up predominantly of two storey timber dwellings dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its immediate neighbours are both similar buildings, being two storeys and constructed in timber. Directly opposite are the Modern Hazel Court apartments.

  • close Cultural Value

    This is a grand Italianate house representative of the wealth and prosperity of early Mount Victoria – particularly the late 19th century. Italianate was a popular style at the time and there is value in the twin bay windows which are arched and sashed, the intricate fretwork, and the leadlight windows.

    This house contributes well to the streetscape of Claremont Grove and fits in well with its neighbours, which are of a similar style and age. Directly across from it is the Hazel Court apartment building, which provides an interesting juxtaposition with the late 19th and 20th century timber buildings that otherwise characterise the area.

    This house has educational value as a part of the story of the development of Mount Victoria and Wellington. It is a large home in an area made up of similar dwellings that provides the opposite side of the story to the Aro Street or Thorndon cottages.

    • 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?

        This is a grand Italianate house representative of the wealth and prosperity of early Mount Victoria – particularly the late 19th century. Italianate was a popular style at the time and there is value in the twin bay windows which are arched and sashed, the intricate fretwork, and the leadlight windows.

      • 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?

        There is a substantial number of late 19th and 20th century timber buildings in Mount Victoria that have coherence as a group due to the similarities in style, age, history, materials, and use. These homes are associated with the prosperity and wealth of early Mount Victoria and tell an important part of the story of Wellington’s development.

      • 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 house contributes well to the streetscape of Claremont Grove and fits in well with its neighbours, which are of a similar style and age. Directly across from it is the Hazel Court apartment building, which provides an interesting juxtaposition with the late 19th and 20th century timber buildings that otherwise characterise the area.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        This house has a modest, but representative history for a home in Mount Victoria. It is associated with the prosperity and wealth of early Mount Victoria and tells an important part of the story of Wellington’s development.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        Pre 1900 activity associated with the site, risk of archaeological discovery is unknown.

      • Educational

        Does the item have educational value for what it can demonstrate about aspects of the past?

        This house has educational value as a part of the story of the development of Mount Victoria and Wellington. It is a large home in an area made up of similar dwellings that provides the opposite side of the story to the Aro Street or Thorndon cottages.

    • 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?

        This house contributes to a sense of place and continuity in Mount Victoria through the retention of its original features and long standing place in the streetscape.

    • 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 house retains significant amounts of original material and maintains authenticity of materials, design, setting, craftsmanship, and use.

      • Representative

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

        This house is representative of the Italianate style and of the history of the area.

      • Importance

        Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

        This is a locally important building, significant as a representative of its architectural style, history, as a part of a group of similar dwellings in Mount Victoria, for its educational values, the retention of original features and materials, and its overall authenticity.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      16/ 57

    • Legal Description

      Pt Sec 347 Town of Wellington

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not listed

    • Archaeological Site

      Pre 1900 building

    • 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. Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 1995. Wellington City Council 1995.
      • Archives: 1925 3 Claremont Grove, garage (00055:42:A3932)
      • Archives: 1926 3 Claremont Grove, balcony (00056:8:B753;)
      • Archives: 1983 3 Claremont Grove, dwelling additions and alterations, repile (00058:0:C61791)
      • Archives: 1992 3 Claremont Grove, retaining wall (00059:574:E26204)
      • Archives: 1992 3 Claremont Grove, dwelling additions and alterations (00059:595:E2671
      • Archives: 1996 3 Claremont Grove, additions and alterations (00078:181:26649)
      • Archives: 1996 3 Claremont Grove, retaining wall (00078:150:25030)
      • Archives: 1997 3 Claremont Grove, garage (00078:153:30009)
      • Land Info NZ: WN 9C/1312
      • Land Info NZ: WN 48/162
      • Land Info NZ: WN 529/122
      • Land Info NZ: WN 424/27
    • Technical Documentation close
    • Footnotes close

      Not available

Last updated: 6/26/2022 9:50:04 PM