Commercial Building

• 1913
• Building constructed (00053:177:9761)
• 1924
• Additions (00055:30:A2873)
• 1930
• Rebuild roof (00056:95:B8871)
• 1937
• Shop alterations (00056:189:B16528)
• 1957
• Shop alterations (00058:46:C2313)
• 1972
• Shop alterations (00058:782:C35225)
• 1976
• Building alterations (00058:1067:C46309)
• 1980
• Alterations to first floor (00058:1264:C53652)
• 1989
• Business additions and alterations (00059:311:E17995)
• 1995
• Shop alterations (00061:130:14244)
• 2001
• Earthquake strengthening and renovations Earthquake strengthening and renovations (SR82793)
• 2002
• Refurbishment and add extra storey for student accommodation (SR86285)
• 2003
• Seismic strengthening, ground floor (00078:1198:106343)
• 2003
• Restaurant additions and alterations (00078:1790:98495)
• 2004
• Demolish and replace verandah, ground floor (00078:1550:111689)

• c.1915 - 1920
• Brown & Yeats, house furnishers & manufacturers (Stones 1915-16, 1920)
• c.1925 - 1955
• Union Clothing Company Ltd (Stones 1925, 1930, 1935, 1940, 1945, Wises 1950-51, 1955)
• c.1961 - 1972
• Mann's Shoe Store (Wises 1961-62, 1967-68, 1971-72)
• c.1975 - 1985
• Various takeaway shops (Wises 1975, 1980, 1985)
• c.1990
• Bookmark (Wises 1990)
• unknown - c.2002
• Lucky Corner
• 2003 - 2006
• Rouge Bistro
• 2006
• Scopa Café Cucina

Not assessed

This building has been designed with an emphasis on function. On the ground floor there is a maximum amount of glazing on the shop front. The first floor facade has been designed in a simplified style. It consists of paired, double hung windows with plain surrounds flanked by a system of paired pilasters with plain capitals. A simple, unadorned cornice runs the length of the two facades, capped by a simple pediment with boxed corners and projecting panels. A St Andrew’s Cross has been moulded into each of the panels, the only purely decorative element on the exterior. A contemporary mansard-roofed addition has been added, taking it to three stories.

The construction is load bearing brick masonry, reinforced concrete columns and beams, and timber roof trusses.

This building occupies a prominent corner site on the south-east corner of Cuba and Ghuznee Street. 141-143 Cuba Street relates to its neighbouring buildings in both scale and form, and acts as a unifying element of the corner of Cuba and Ghuznee streets.

141-143 Cuba Street, together with the opposite 132 Cuba Street, defines the northern entrance to this block of Cuba Street. No. 132 and no. 141-143 are a pair of Stripped Classical buildings in similar scale, pattern and colour but of quite different periods – the former Hallenstein’s building (no. 132) dating from 1920 is two and a half storeys tall with a very high parapet and notably retains much of its original shop frontage at street level including the stained-glass toplight with the “HB” logo worked in to the design.

• 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?

  Designed by J.M. Dawson in 1913, this building has architectural value for its functional design and Stripped Classical styling and retains a high level of authenticity despite the contemporary mansard-roofed addition and alterations to the ground floor shop fronts

• 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 is part of a group of Edwardian commercial buildings which contribute to the Cuba Street 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?

  The building occupies a prominent corner site, and its Edwardian Classical styling contributes to the Cuba Street townscape. The building relates to its neighbouring buildings in both scale and form, and acts as a unifying element of the corner of Cuba and Ghuznee streets.

• Association

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

  The building has historic value for its association with the architect J.M. Dawson.

• Association

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

  The building has historic value for its association with the strong growth and development of Cuba Street during the Edwardian period, which resulted in the building of many fine commercial buildings.

• Archaeological

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

  The building is located in the Central City archaeological site reference NZAA R27/270.

• 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 historic commercial buildings which contribute to the sense of place and continuity of the Cuba Street 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 façade of this building remains largely intact with a high level of original building fabric, despite modifications to the ground floor shop fronts and the addition of a second floor.

• Local Regional National International

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

  The building is of local importance, as it contributes to the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• Representative

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

  This building is representative of the architecture and history found on Cuba Street.

Not assessed

• Historic Places Trust, “Dawson, Joseph McClatchie.”, Professional Biographies, accessed 4 September 2012,
• Kelly, Michael, and Russell Murray, Cuba Street Heritage Area Report (Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006), 6.
• Wellington City Council, Cuba Street Heritage Area spreadsheet (block 4). (Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006).
• Wellington City Council, “132 Cuba Street”, Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. (Wellington City Council, 2001), CUBA 17.
• Wellington City Council, “141-143 Cuba Street,” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. (Wellington City Council, 2001), CUBA 19.
• “Topics of the day”, Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 156, 30 December 1913, Page 6
• “Bankrupt couple investigated for concealing assets”, Stuff.co.nz, 9 October 2007,

• Inventory Report
• 1913 specifications and plans

Not available