Victory Buildings

66 - 72 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington
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Image: Charles Collins, 2015

Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015

Cityview GIS 2012
Cityview GIS 2012
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  • Constructed

    1919

  • Architect(s)

    James Bennie

  • Builder(s)

    Unknown

  • The Victory Building is an unusual two-storey commercial building designed in a transitional Stripped Classical style by well known local architect, James Bennie. The building façade is notable for its bold composition of plain columns and arched parapets, decorated with a simple palette of lettering and Classical ornamentation. 

    The building has had an uneventful history that is typical and representative of many of its neighbours on Courtenay Place. It was built in 1919 and named the Victory Building to mark the end of WWI. It has an association with the enduring popularity of the game of billiards as a form of entertainment in Wellington from the early 1900s until present day. 


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  • close History

    • This unusual building with its distinctive row of four arched-gables was built in 1919 for A.L Johnson and S. Edilson on land that had been purchased from the Wellington Gas Company. The site had previously been occupied by a large gasworks, but was subdivided and sold after the Wellington Gas Company transferred its plant and equipment to Miramar in 1914. A construction permit was issued in September 1919 and the building was named the ‘Victory Building’; presumably in honour of the end of World War I. It was designed by well-known local architect, James Bennie, and cost an estimated £6,000 to build.

      The building appears to have been designed as a row of four shops at ground floor, with a separate Courtenay Place street-entrance for the first floor tenancy or tenancies. A variety of tenants have occupied the building over the past 90 years. Notable long-term tenants include E.B. Ash, who owned a shoe shop from 1928 until at least the mid-1950s; Cooper Roberts a clothing manufacturer; Browne’s Furnishings; and the Wong & Co fruit shop that traded between 1939 and 1955.

      The building is associated with the enduring popularity of the game of billiards as a form of entertainment in Wellington. The building has housed a billiard saloon since the early 1920s. It is uncertain the billiard parlour has operated continuously since then, but certainly it is in this use today. Today it is known as the ‘Ballroom Billiards Saloon’ and currently operates 34 tables.

      In 1964 the property was purchased by Basil Papageorgiou, Louiza Papageorgiou and Clive Milne Rodham Kerr and has changed hands repeatedly within the Papageorgiou family since then, and still remains in their ownership today. Today the building is also occupied by shops and a restaurant. (2012)

    • Modifications close
      • 1919
      • Built. . (00053:198:10958)
      • 1928
      • Building altered.(00056:52:B5077)
      • 1969
      • Restaurant fit-out. (00058:614:C28699)
      • 1971
      • Shop altered. (00058:732:C33161)
      • 1982
      • Fire egress constructed. (00058:0:C60518)
      • 1983
      • Additions and alterations undertaken. (00058:0:C61883)
      • 1986
      • Alterations to the restaurant. . (00059:0:D3152)
      • 1988
      • Sign. (00059:222:D10368)
      • 2004
      • Renewal of shop front. . (00078:1334:120546)
      • 2006
      • Restaurant additions and alterations. (00078:2427:149627)
      • 2008
      • Restaurant refurbished. (00078:2705:183666)
    • Occupation History close
      • 1924
      • Pilmer & Tremaine Billiard Saloon
      • 1927
      • David Pilmer Billiard Saloon
      • 1929
      • Robert Buddicombe Billiard Saloon
      • 1931
      • Henry Marmont Billiard Saloon
      • 1932
      • Jason McLaughlan Billiard Saloon
      • 1950
      • Ernest W. Peterson Billiard Saloon
      • 1952
      • Wynter Billiard Saloon
      • 1953
      • Victory Billiard Saloon
      • unknown
      • Ballroom Billiards Saloon. Ballroom Billiards Saloon. (2012
      • unknown
      • A selection of other long-term occupants:
      • 1928 - 1955
      • E.B. Ash, Boot and shoe specialist.
      • 1920 - 1921
      • Cooper Roberts, Clothing manufacturer.
      • 1940 - 1955
      • Browne’s Furnishings.
      • 1939 - 1955
      • Wong & Co Fruiterers.
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      The Victory Building is a two-storey commercial building designed in a transitional Stripped Classical style with some Art Deco overtones. The first floor façade has had few intrusive modern alterations, but the ground floor shop-fronts have been much modified.

      The Victory Buildings provide an interesting and sprightly rhythm in the Courtenay Place townscape. The building was designed as a row of four shops at ground floor, with a separate Courtenay Place street-entrance for the first floor tenancy or tenancies. The façade has been divided into four even ‘bays’ to denote the four ground-floor tenancies, and each bay has been framed by a pair of plain columns. The columns are each decorated with a cartouche, and the columns serve as a ‘springing point’ for each of the four arched parapets. The first floor windows are paired, and are almost industrial in their plainness. The original lettering and other decorative elements compliment the façade very well, and neatly emphasise the curved shapes of the gables.

    • Materials close

      Reinforced concrete foundations.

      Concrete frame with brick cladding or infill.

      Steel windows.

      Iron roofing.

    • Setting close

      The Victory Buildings are part of the commercial centre of Courtenay Place, an area bustling with cinemas, shops, theatres and a variety of eateries. Immediately to the east of the Victory Buildings is the former Wellington Gas Company Building, a relatively grand late-Victorian commercial building designed to resemble an Italian palace or palazzo. The building to the west is a modern two-storey commercial building with little street presence, but which has been designed with a curved gable to reference the adjacent Victory Building.

  • close Cultural Value

    The Victory Building is an unusual two-storey commercial building designed in a transitional Stripped Classical style by well known local architect, James Bennie. The building façade is notable for its bold composition of plain columns and arched parapets, decorated with a simple palette of lettering and Classical ornamentation.

    The building has had an uneventful history that is typical and representative of many of its neighbours on Courtenay Place. It was built in 1919 and named the Victory Building to mark the end of WWI. It has an association with the enduring popularity of the game of billiards as a form of entertainment in Wellington from the early 1900s until present day.

    • 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?

        The Victory building is an unusual two-storey commercial building designed in a transitional Stripped Classical style by well known local architect, James Bennie. The building façade is notable for its bold composition of plain columns and arched parapets, decorated with a simple palette of lettering and Classical ornamentation.

      • 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 (but is not part of) the adjacent Courtenay Place 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 makes a positive contribution to the townscape of Courtenay Place.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        The building has had an uneventful history that is typical and representative of many of its neighbours on Courtenay Place. It was built in 1919 and named the Victory Building to mark the end of WWI. It has an association with the enduring popularity of the game of billiards as a form of entertainment in Wellington from the early 1900s until present day.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        This building is in an area known to be associated with pre 1900 human activity. It is included in the NZAA Central City Archaeological Area R27/270

    • 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?

        These buildings are part of a group of commercial buildings on Courtenay Place which contribute to the sense of place and continuity in Courtenay Place.

    • 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?

        The exterior of the Victory Building appears authentic in fabric above verandah level.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      16/66.2 (front facade - first floor and above)

    • Legal Description

      Lot 8 DP5285 and Pt Lot 9 DP5285

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not listed.

    • Archaeological Site

      Central City NZAA R27/270

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      124 Notice

  • close Additional Information
    • Sources close
      • Historic Places Trust, “Bennie, James”, Professional Biographies, Accessed: August 2012,
      • Wellington City Council, Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001.
      • ‘Billiards’, Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1944, Page 3.
      • ‘Page 2 Advertisements Column 2’, Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 206, 26 May 1920, Page 1.
      • ‘Page 3 Advertisements Column 1’, Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 74, 24 September 1920, Page 3.
      • ‘Page 4 Advertisements Column 4’, Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 129, 2 June 1928, Page 4.
      • ‘Page 8 advertisements Column 3’, NZ Truth, Issue 844, 21 January 1922, Page 8.
      • ‘Sale Of Gas Company’s Property’, Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 240, 4 July 1919, Page 3.
      • “66- 72 Courtenay Place, shop”, September 6, 1919, 00053:198:10958, Wellington City Archives.
      • “66- 72 Courtenay Place, building alterations”, April 16, 1928, 00056:52:B5077,
      • “66-72 Courtenay Place, reinstate building – restaurant”, April2, 1969, 00058:614:C28699, Wellington City Archives.
      • “66-72 Courtenay Place, building alterations – shop”, May 21, 1971, 00058:732:C33161, Wellington City Archives.
      • “66-72 Courtenay Place, fire egress”, November 3, 1982, 00058:0:C6051883, Wellington City Archives.
      • “66-72 Courtenay Place, restaurant”, May 1, 1986, 00059:0:D3152, Wellington City Archives.
      • “66 Courtenay Place, sign”, 1988, 00059:222:D10368, Wellington City Archives.
      • “66 Courtenay Place, renewal of shop front”, 2004, 00078:1334:120546, Wellington City Archives.
      • “66 Courtenay Place, restaurant additions and alterations”, 2006, 00078:2427:149627, Wellington City Archives.
    • Technical Documentation close
    • Footnotes close

      Not available

Last updated: 10/10/2017 3:51:00 AM