Stewart’s Building

• 1919
• Building constructed for owner J. Stewart. (00053:197:10873)
• 1931
• Sign erected. (00056:121:B10984)
• 1935
• Sign erected. (00056:158:B14032)
• 1937
• Sign erected. (00056:195:B17046)
• unknown
• Shop front altered. (00056:196:B17063)
• 1938
• Sign erected. (00056:217:B18577)
• 1961
• Alterations to the shop front. (00058:206:C9397)
• unknown
• Shop alterations for a beauty salon (00058:208:C9490)
• 1963
• Shop alterations. Erection of a two storied concrete block structure linking front & rear parts of upper floor. (00058:275:C12179)
• 1964
• Alterations to coffee bar. (00058:352:C15142)
• 1967
• Alterations to the premesis. (00058:489:C21046)
• 1972
• Building alterations. (00058:818:C36660)
• 1973
• Building alterations for a restaurant. (00058:841:C37585)
• 1991
• Business additions and alterations for a restaurant. (00059:491:E23558)
• 1997
• Conversion to apartments. (00078:104:34005)
• 2005
• Internal alterations to restaurant. This included an upgrade of toilet ventilation, construction of deck over existing balcony footpath and replacement of toilet fittings. (00078:1649:135665)
• unknown
• ventilation, construction of deck over existing balcony footpath and replacement of toilet fittings. 135665

• 1919 - 1985
• James Stewart, electrical engineer (Stones 1919-1928). The "Don", tailors (Stones 1930 - 1945; Wises 1950-1 to 1955). Attic Coffee Lounge (Wises 1967-8); Various restaurants/cafes (Wises 1971-2 to 1990). Wellington Poker Club (Wises 1985).

Not assessed

43 Courtenay Place is a diminutive two-storey building constructed of reinforced concrete designed in an eclectic style with Classical, neo-Gothic and Art Deco elements. The building has Classical proportions but the second storey is dominated by an almost Gothic bay window which has three segments set within a structural arch. The building’s name, in cement render, can be seen above the arch. The facade is capped by a stylised, Art-Deco-esque cornice. The streetscape value of this building is diminished by a clumsy, modern smoker’s balcony set above the verandah.

Reinforced concrete.

Stewart’s Building is located in a block of buildings on the south side of Courtenay Place. This section of Courtenay Place is characterised by its continuous line of buildings between Cambridge Terrace and Tory Street which emphasise the original survey line. The buildings are diverse in nature and age but, despite some particularly intrusive modern buildings, have a high streetscape quality which contributes significantly to the heritage value and character of Courtenay Place as a whole.

Adjoining the western side of the Stewart’s Building is the Athenic Building. This 1923 building is a tall four-storeyed concrete construction of elegant vertical proportions. Its street façade is symmetrically arranged about a narrow central bay and features pilasters rising the full height to a pediment, with the intervening spaces divided between bands of windows and decorated spandrel panels. The decorative motifs on the pilasters and the spandrels are precursors to the elaborate geometric details that became popular with the Art Deco style.

Adjoining the eastern side of Stewart’s Building is No. 41. It has a distinctive upper façade with square Doric pilasters at each side rising through a strong cornice and bracketing round headed windows divided by fluted pilasters, each capped with palmettes.

As a group these buildings contribute to the character of the Courtenay Place Heritage Area.

• 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?

  Stewart’s Building is a diminutive commercial building designed in an eclectic style with elements of Classical, Gothic and Art Deco architecture. It is notable for the unusual first floor bay window, although this is partly concealed by a poorly conceived modern balcony.

• 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 is part of an important group of heritage buildings which together form the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. Although most of the buildings were constructed in the first half of the 20th century, there are significant differences in age and style among some of the buildings in this group.

• Association

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

  The building has a representative historical value. Its pattern of use and occupation is typical of many small businesses that lined Courtenay Place in the early decades of the 20th century .

• Association

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

  The building was first occupied by Wellington electrician James Stewart for 8 years and his name is still on the face of the building.

• Archaeological

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

  Central City NZAA R27/270 - there was pre-1900 human activity on 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?

  This building is part of a group of commercial buildings on Courtenay Place and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of the Courtenay Place Heritage Area.

• 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?

  The building’s name is still visible on the face of the building.

• Representative

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

  This building is representative of commercial buildings built in Wellington in the early 1900s.

Not assessed

• CT WN 93/14, Land Information New Zealand
• Kelly, Michael and Russell Murray, Courtenay Place Heritage Area Report. Welllington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006.
• Stones Directories - 1919, 1928, 1930 and 1945.
• Wellington City Council, “Stewarts Building”, Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 1995. Wellington City Council, 1995.
• Wellington City Council, Courtenay Place Heritage Area spreadsheet. Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006.
• Wises Directories – 1950/1, 1955, 1967/8, 1971/2, 1985 and 1990.
• Newspapers: “Page 1 Advertisments Column 6”, Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 106, 29 January 1920.
• Newspapers: “Page 2 Advertisements Column 1”, Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 50, 22 November 1919.
• Newspapers: “Page 6 Advertisements Column 2”, Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 85, 7 October 1942.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, building”, May 8, 1919, 00053:197:10873, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, erect electric sign”, June 23, 1931, 00056:121:B10984, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, erect sign”, June 20, 1935, 00056:158:B14032, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, erect sign”, September 23, 1937, 00056:195:B17046, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, alter shop front”, October 28, 1937, 00056:196:B17063, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, erect sign”, December 5, 1938, 00056:217:B18577, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, shop front alterations”, October 25, 1961, 00058:206:C9397, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, shop alterations (beauty salon)”, November 9, 1961, 00058:208:C9490, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, shop alterations”, March 13, 1963, 00058:275:C12179, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, alterations to coffee bar”, July 22, 1964, 00058:352:C15142, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, alterations to premises”, Janurary 10, 1967, 00058:489:C21046, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, building alterations”, November 16, 1972, 00058:818:C36660, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, building alterations - restaurant (fire damage specs only)”, April 16, 1973, 00058:841:C37585, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, conversion to apartments”, 1997, 00078:104:34005, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “43 Courtenay Place, internal alterations to restaurant”, 2005, 00078:1649:135665, Wellington City Archives.

• Inventory Report
• 1919 specifications and plans

Not available