Wellington City Art Gallery

• 1937
• Mercer Street [29 Harris Street], public library (00056:195:B17048)
• 1942
• 29 Harris Street, repair earthquake damage (00056:279:B22480)
• 1943
• 29 Harris Street, repair earthquake damage (00056:281:B22571)
• 1951
• 29 Harris Street, alterations (00056:400:B30789)
• 1959
• 29 Harris Street, building alterations (00058:120:C5807
• 1978
• 8-18 Mercer Street [25 Harris Street], central library basement (00058:1158:C49893)
• 1981
• Mercer Street [25 Harris Street], convert basement into children's library C57320
• 1989
• 29 Harris Street, demolition (00059:337:E18711)
• 1990
• 29 Harris Street, cooling towers (00059:405:E20812)
• 1993
• 29 Harris Street, demolish Planetarium (00060:27:1049)
• 1997
• 29 Harris Street [25 Harris Street], City Gallery, roof extension and stair access (00078:321:37670)
• 1990
• 101 Wakefield Street, 29 Harris Street or 65 Victoria Street, Civic Square Stage 1, central Library and basement carpark stage (00059:376:E19888)
• 1990
• 29 Harris Street, roof over carpark - Civic Square/Centre (00059:404:E20759)
• 1997
• 8 Mercer Street [25 Harris Street], additions and alterations to City Gallery foyer (00078:189:38312)
• 1997
• 29 Harris Street [25 Harris Street], City Gallery, roof extension and stair access (00078:321:37670)
• 2008
• 25 Harris Street, Stage 1, demolition (00078:3163:175601)
• 2009
• 25 Harris Street, City Gallery Civic Square, two hand basins level 3, one hand basin level 1 (00078:3068:199853)
• 2009
• 25 Harris Street, additions to north-west corner of building containing auditorium and art galleries (00078:3640:185323)

• 1940 - 1993
• Wellington Central Public Library
• 1993
• – Present: Wellington City Art Gallery

Not assessed

The former Public Library is a fine example of an Inter-war stripped Classical building designed for an important civic purpose. The building is functional, with generous fenestration and a clear logic of planning. The Civic Square façade is symmetrical, its tempo set harmoniously by the six large fluted pilasters between the ground and first floors. These stylised pilasters have no capitals and give way to a plain entablature separated from the first floor by a railed string course. Moulded panes above the ground floor windows have been incised with words denoting the various categories of the former library: Philosophy, Religion, Sociology, Science, Useful Arts, Commerce, Fine Arts, History. The building is also a good representative of reinforced concrete construction, coupled with the use of steel window joinery. The interior has been modified sympathetically. The building has been somewhat truncated when the level of Civic square was raised, which has completely obscured the original basement area.

Reinforced concrete construction

Concrete Blocks

Steel window joinery

Brick

Stone

The setting of the former library has changed significantly since its construction, in particular the loss of the terraced entranceway, which originally gave the library an increased sense of grandeur. Its nearest neighbour is the new central library with its distinctive eastern, wavy, curtain-wall glass façade. Other near neighbours are the two large WCC office buildings, the Edwardian Classical Wellington Town Hall (WCC 17/325), and the concrete and stainless steel Michael Fowler Centre. The former library is bounded to the east by the City to Sea Bridge, which is a large scale piece of functional public art that links the Civic Square to the waterfront.

Despite the changes to the setting, the former library continues to make a significant contribution to the streetscape, as one of the five council owned buildings that surround the Civic Square. The library is the only building whose main façade faces into the Civic Square and has, as such, become the focus of Wellington’s primary urban public-space.

• 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 Wellington City Art Gallery, formerly the Wellington Public Library, has a high level of aesthetic value. It is a fine example of the inter-war stripped Classical style, skilfully designed by some of New Zealand’s most prominent architects.

• 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 Wellington City Gallery is of significant townscape value for the contribution that it makes to Civic Square.

• 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?

  The library is the only building whose main façade faces into the Civic Square and has, as such, become the focus of Wellington city’s primary urban open-space.

• Association

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

  There is a long history of public libraries in Wellington and this building was the city’s central library for over 50 years.

• Association

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

  This building is associated with prominent architectural firm Gummer and Ford, as well as architects Messenger, Taylor, and Wolfe.

• Archaeological

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

  Although the building was constructed post 1900, it is situated in the NZAA Central City Archaeological Area R27/270 and sited on reclaimed land R27/456.

• Technological

  Does the item have technological value for its innovative or important construction methods or use of materials?

  There is some technical value in the construction of this building, particularly in the use of reinforced concrete.

• 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 provides a sense of continuity with the cultural and educational history of Wellington and remains in use as an important civic institution.

• Public Esteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  This building is held in high public esteem as the home of the public library in Wellington for over 50 years. More recently as the home of the City Gallery, it has retained this public and civic function.

• 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?

  Although the purpose of this building has changed over time, it retains a great deal of authenticity and integrity. The exterior has had few negative alterations and the interiors, although modified for use as an art gallery, has retained many of its original features, finishing’s and fittings.

• Representative

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

  This building is a good representative of the inter-war stripped Classical style designed for an important civic purpose by prominent architects. The construction and materials used are representative of the technologies available at the time of construction.

• Importance

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

  This building is locally and regionally important for its history (and ongoing use) as a major civic institution. It has a high level of aesthetic value and contributes significantly to the townscape qualities of Civic Square. It has some technical value in the use of reinforced concrete construction, and the exterior has a high level of authenticity.

Not assessed

• ‘Dotted re-opening for City Gallery’, 22/09/2009, accessed 9 July 2013,
• Wellington City Council. Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001
• Papers Past
• Wellington Public Library’, New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12843, 17 April 1905, Page 5.
• ‘A New Library’, Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 94, 20 April 1923, Page 10
• ‘£50,000 Building. Architects Award. New Wellington Library’, Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 297, 16 December 1935, Page 11.
• Wellington City Archive
• 00060:27:1049
• 00056:195:B17048
• 00078:321:37670
• 00059:376:E19888
• 00059:404:E20759
• 00078:189:38312
• 00078:321:37670
• 00078:3163:175601
• 00078:3068:199853
• 00078:3640:185323
• 00056:279:B22480
• 00056:281:B22571
• 00056:400:B30789
• 00058:120:C5807
• 00058:1158:C49893
• 00058:1369:C57320
• 00059:337:E18711
• 00059:405:E20812
• Replacement of cooling towers, WCC Resource Consent 205667

• Inventory Report
• 1936 plans
• 1992 plans

Not available