Commercial Building

• 1895 - 1895
• Original Construction (00053: 18: 1034)
• 1925 - 1925
• Repair work and alterations (00056: 95: B8843)
• 1928 - 1928
• Building alterations (00056: 63: B6062)
• 1942 - 1942
• Building alterations (00056:276: B22264)
• 1951 - 1951
• Kitchen alterations and out building (00056: 401: B30849)
• 1960 - 1960
• Alterations – first floor café (00058: 163: C7602)
• 1969 - 1969
• Shop alterations (00058: 616: C28778)
• 1996 - 1996
• Alterations – Shop front fit-out (00078: 46: 25918)
• 2003 - 2003
• Building modifications – Earthquake strengthening (00078: 2500: 83283)

• 1895 - 1900
• Boot Manufacturer
• 1910 - 1911
• Butcher
• 1915 - 1916
• Butcher
• 1915 - 1916
• Restaurateurs
• 1910 - 1911
• Restaurateurs
• 1920
• Restaurateurs
• 1925 - 1940
• Zealandia Cafe
• 1945 - 1955
• Christies Oyster Bar & Dining Room (Stones 1945; Wises 1950-51 to 1955)
• 1961 - 1967
• New Zealandia Oyster Bar
• 1971 - 1975
• International Cakes
• 1980 - 1990
• Wellington Continental Cakes

Not assessed

No.24-26 Courtenay Place is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. It is a diminutive two-storey building that was designed as a pair of shop/residences. It has a simple but handsome symmetrical façade divided in two bays; each bay has two arched windows with architrave mouldings and a string course at the springing line and surmounted by an entablature formed with two further string courses and a small triangular pediment set against a plain parapet. The structure of the building is concrete foundations, masonry walls, and timber floors and roof structure.

This building is a lively composition and in relatively authentic condition, although the ground floor shop frontages have been altered, and the original bull-nosed verandah has been replaced. This building and the next are also largely obscured from view by modern bus shelters.

This building is constructed on concrete foundations with masonry walls and with timber floors and roof structure.

No.24-26 is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the Courtenay Place Heritage Area and contributes to the diversity of styles and periods of building that are found within this precinct.  It is an important element of the streetscape, effectively helping to maintain the historic character of this inner city area where other parts of the city have now been overtaken with modern buildings.

• Architectural

  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?

  24-26 Courtenay Place is a good representative example of a Victorian shop/dwelling and is one of the oldest buildings in the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. It is notable for its handsome, symmetrical façade that is decorated by a restrained palette of Classical ornamentation. 

• 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, as an element of the Courtenay Place Heritage Area, is part of a group of historic buildings that are coherent in age, history, scale, materials, and use. 

• 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 some townscape value, but is partly obscured from view by a row of intrusive modern bus shelters. 

• Association

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

  This building is associated with the early social and economic history of Wellington, helping to tell the story of Wellington’s development. The building, while originally a retail premises, has for nearly a decade housed restaurants and cafes. This is an important element of in the development of Courtenay Place’s as an entertainment district. 

• Archaeological

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

  This building was constructed pre 1900 so is classed as an archaeological site by the HPA (1993). It is also included in the NZAA Central City R27/270 listing. 

• Public Esteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  The building may be held in public esteem for its continuing use as an hospitality venue. 

• 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 has had few intrusive modern alterations or additions (with the notable exception of the modern shop-fronts & verandah) and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of Courtenay Place.

• 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 authenticity of materials, design and craftsmanship. It has had few exterior modifications, with the removal of the original bull-nosed verandah being one of the few that may negatively impact upon the value of the building
  

• Local Regional National International

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

  This building is important at a local level for the contribution that it makes to the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. It is a lively composition and in a reasonably authentic condition. 

• Representative

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

  This building is a good representative of the Victorian Italianate style and contributes positively to the architectural character of the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. 

Not assessed

• Courtenay Place Heritage Area’ unpublished report produced for DPC 48 (2006)
• ‘Francis Penty’, The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District] 1897., accessed 18/04/2013.
• Wellington City Council, “24-26 Courtenay Place,” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Historic Precincts. Wellington City Council, 2001
• Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 121, 19 November 1900
• Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 63, 11 September 1920

• Inventory Report
• 1895 plans

Not available