Farmers Department Store

Christopher Smith Cash Draper; 94 Cuba Street, 96 Cuba Street, 98 Cuba Street, 100 Cuba Street

94 – 102 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015
Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015
Merged image: WCC, 2011

Merged panoramic image: WCC, 2011

Image: WCC, 2011
Image: WCC, 2011
Image: WCC, 2011
Image: WCC, 2011
Image: WCC, 2011
Image: WCC, 2011
Image: WCC, 2011
Image: WCC, 2011
Map

  • Constructed

    1914

  • Heritage Area

    Cuba Street Heritage Area

  • Architect(s)

    Joshua Charlesworth

  • Builder(s)

  • The building is a good representative example of building built in the transition period between Classicism and functional Modernism. 

    The building is associated with “Farmers” a well known and long established chain of retail stores.

    The building is associated with Joshua Charlesworth, a significant local architect who designed several prominent buildings in Wellington City and beyond.

    The Cuba Street façade retains most of the original fabric with the exception of the parapet (altered after the 1942 earthquake), shop-front windows (assumed circa 1957 and later), windows, parapet and roof (assumed 1962 and later). Some or all of the north façade was ‘removed’ in 1972. 


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  • close History

    • This three-storey building was designed by Joshua Charlesworth and built for C. Smith. The permit was issued in January 1914. Christopher Smith, a draper, had arrived in New Zealand in 1875 from Melbourne and established his business on Cuba Street by at least 1890. He went on to own a chain of drapers shops with branches in Greymouth, Westport, Denniston, Nelson, Masterton, and Reefton.

      C. Smith Ltd sold the building to the Farmers Trading Company (Wellington) Ltd in 1957 and ceased trading in c.1960. Farmers had been established in 1909 when Robert Laidlaw started Laidlaw Leeds, a mail-order company, in Fort Street, Auckland. Laidlaw and Leeds operated as The Farmers Union Trading Company in 1917 and by 1920 operated twenty retail outlets including shops in Auckland, Whangarei and the Waikato. The ‘flagship’ store was at Hobson Street, Auckland.[7] Woolworths, another well known national chain of department stores, occupied the adjacent premises at 184-192 Cuba Street from 1951.  

      Plans show that in 1962 there was a building at approx 169 Victoria Street directly behind Farmers that appears to have been occupied by Woolworths. Woolworths also seem to have occupied the adjacent building south of 169 Victoria Street and there was a walk-through between the two buildings. In 1962 Farmers obtained the building at 169 Victoria Street, blocked the walk-through, and built a link between 94-102 Cuba Street and 169 Victoria Street. The first floor of the existing retail building at 169 Victoria Street was converted form a carpark for Farmers.[8]

      By 1970 Farmers was the largest department store chain in New Zealand.[9] It’s rival Woolworths (NZ) Ltd was sold to L.D. Nathan in 1979[10] and in 1988 LD Nathan re-named its sixty Woolworths (and some McKenzie) variety merchandise stores to the DEKA brand.[11] DEKA purchased the Farmers Trading Company[12] in 1992 and, moved the operation of DEKA to the adjacent Farmers’ Building at 94-102 Cuba Street at sometime around this date. Both the Farmers and DEKA buildings were sold in c.1997[13] to Century City Holdings owned by developer Terry Serepisos, but Farmers continued to trade from the premises (2012).[14] Receivers of Century City Holdings offered the Farmers and Deka ‘blocks’ on Cuba Mall for sale in 2012. Despite


      significant interest in the property and initial contracts, the sale of the building did not occur until December 2013 when the property was sold to the Willis Bond property development company. 

      The store was closed for nearly six weeks following a magnitude 6.2 earthquake on August 16 2013. The building underwent several engineers’ assessments and was found to be fit to occupy. 



    • Modifications close
      • 1890
      • C. Smith [Cash] Draper was operating from a timber building on this site
      • 1910
      • Construction of workshop and wc at 94 Cuba Street Applicant: R Low. Owner: A Lindsay Ltd. Ref 8600
      • 1914
      • Construction of new building at 96-102 Cuba Street, applicant: Alfred Seamer. Owner: C Smith Ltd. Architect: Joshua Chatsworth. Ref 9766
      • 1929
      • Addition to northern portion of building. Ref 7615
      • 1944
      • Earthquake reinstatement, changes to cornice and parapet. Ref B23298
      • 1949 - 1951
      • Close in light well (B28126). B29906 - close in light well (1950); Fill in light well (B30949 and B31589);
      • 1956
      • brick wall at south side of building (B40000);
      • 1957
      • demolish old showcases and put in new storefront (C1289);
      • 1962
      • mezzanine floor added (C10695); adjoining building built, windows, roof and parapet replaced on existing building (C11845);
      • 1972
      • removal of facade on north side of building (C35954);
      • 1992
      • strengthening (E23719);
      • 1993
      • interior refurbishment, E997;
      • 1997
      • verandah on Victoria Street side repaired verandah on Victoria Street side repaired (17085)
      • 2011
      • 96 Building A Building A (fronting 94102 Cuba Street – Section 124 notice served SR 163461. Issued 30 June and Expires 30 June 2026.
      • 2011
      • 96 Building B (fronting Victoria Street) – Section 124 notice served SR 204718. Issued 30 June 2011 and Expires 30 June 2026.
    • Occupation History close
      • unknown
      • C. Smith Ltd, drapers etc (Stones1915-16, 1920, 1925, 1930, 1935, 1940, 1945, Wises 1950-51, 1955), Farmers' Trading Company Ltd (Wises1961-62, 1967-68, 1971-72, 1975, 1980, 1985). Not listed 1990. Current occupant.
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close
      The building is a three storey department store with the main entrance and street façade at 94 – 102 Cuba Street. There was a substantial (1962/3) addition/alteration to an existing building at 169 Sturdee (Victoria Street) on the west side of the site and a link was constructed between the two buildings. The original Cuba Street façade style is from a transitional period between an era when a Stripped-Classical style was prevalent and the early 20th century move towards a functional modernism, and the building has elements of both styles.   The rear facades, particularly those visible from Dixon Street have an industrial /functional modernist building aesthetic, the rear (Victoria Street) façade was remodelled as part of the 1962 building alterations. 

      Apart from the remodelling of the ground-floor shop windows and entrances, and some exterior resurfacing, this Stripped Classical facade is very much as designed. The facade is divided by slender brick piers into regular, shallow bays, each with a double window and fanlight set into steel joinery. A plain entablature above the third floor is capped by a simple cornice with a strip of dentils below. A small parapet above the cornice hides the line of the roof. Apart from the dentils beneath the cornice, a moulded crest set at the junction of the piers and cornice is the only concession to ornament, and serves the place of a capital on more traditional buildings. The plain, regular styling of the building fits in well with the architect’s concern for functional requirements, such as the provision of generous fenestration. 

      The building was designed originally designed as a commercial (department store) premises with a 16’ ceiling height sales floor at ground level, the first floor had a ceiling height of 13’ and the second a 12’ ceiling height. There was, on the original plans, a glass roof and light well / atrium to allow natural light to the rear of the premises, this was probably in-filled in 1951.  

    • Materials close

      Brick masonry building structure on concrete foundations and piles

      Internal cast iron stanchions to support timber bearers and floor joists.

      Steel windows

    • Setting close

      Block 3 Cuba Street  - from the WCC Cuba Street Heritage Area report for DPC 48

      The Farmers Building adjoins the stripped Classical former Te Aro House at 84-92 Cuba Street to the north and 104 Cuba Street, a  1920s building with a distinctive oriel windows and modern paint scheme to the south. 

      Cuba Mall (established in 1969) is a public space paved with clay pavers and is a pedestrian mall closed to (most) vehicular traffic. Cuba Street Blocks 3  and 4 have the highest concentration of Edwardian commercial buildings in Cuba Street and consequently have the highest architectural, heritage and streetscape value in the Cuba Street Heritage Area, and the most important of the surviving Edwardian buildings are found on this block. The characteristic scale of Block 3 is three tall stories, a level defined by the Wellington Working Men’s Club and reflected in the Farmers Building, Hotel Bristol, Barbers Building, and others (although there are 

      some two storied buildings and one building has four storeys).  Most of the buildings in Block 3 have flat-roofed verandahs attached at the first floor which have a strong similarity of form and scale. The street edge reads very strongly in this block with nearly all the buildings conforming to the common line.  



  • close Cultural Value
    The building is a good representative example of building built in the transition period between Classicism and functional Modernism. 

    The building is associated with “Farmers” a well known and long established chain of retail stores.

    The building is associated with Joshua Charlesworth, a significant local architect who designed several prominent buildings in Wellington City and beyond.

    The Cuba Street façade retains most of the original fabric with the exception of the parapet (altered after the 1942 earthquake), shop-front windows (assumed circa 1957 and later), windows, parapet and roof (assumed 1962 and later). Some or all of the north façade was ‘removed’ in 1972. 

    • 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 Farmers Department Store is a good representative example of building built in the transition period between Classicism and functional Modernism. 

      • 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 makes a positive contribution to the significant collection of heritage buildings that form the Cuba Street Heritage Area. 

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        The building is associated with “Farmers” a well known and long established chain of retail stores.

        The building is associated with Joshua Charlesworth, a significant local architect who designed several prominent buildings in Wellington City and beyond


      • Association

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

        The building is associated with the development of department stores and shopping malls in New Zealand

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        There are a number of known archaeological sites associated with Cuba Street. This building 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?

        The building façade has remained (relatively) unchanged on the site for almost100 years and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

        The building is associated with a long-established national chain of department stores

    • 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 Cuba Street façade retains most of the original fabric with the exception of the parapet (altered after the 1942 earthquake), shop-front windows (assumed circa 1957 and later), windows, parapet and roof (assumed 1962 and later). Some or all of the north façade was ‘removed’ in 1972. The building interior has been much altered but there are some remnants of the original pressed metal ceilings and internal cornices

      • Representative

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

        The building is a good representative example of early 20th Century commercial (retail) architecture

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      16/ 77.1

    • Legal Description

      Summary: 94-98 Cuba St ALL DP 3990, LOT 1 DP 24926, PT LOT 2 DP11588, LOT 3 DP 19496, LOT 1 DP 44277& PT SECS 176 178 TOWN OF WELLINGTON-SUBJ TO & INT IN R/W, Lot 1 A Plan 2464

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      2/ 3632

    • Archaeological Site

      Pre 1900 building on site – NZAA Central City archaeological area 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

Last updated: 10/10/2017 4:20:44 AM