The Vic Private Hotel (Former)

Lotus Restaurant Building

154-156 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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“The Vic” (Charles Collins, 2014)

“The Vic” (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2014)

Extent: Cityview GIS 2012
Extent: Cityview GIS 2012
Map

  • Constructed

    1935 - 1935

  • Heritage Area

    Cuba Street Heritage Area

  • Architect(s)

    James Bennie

  • Builder(s)

    J Campbell

  • Designed by James Bennie, this three story 1930s building is an exuberant example of Art Deco design, of which there are relatively few examples in Wellington.

    The building has historic value for the 35 years of use as ‘The Vic Private Hotel’.

    The façade of this building remains largely intact with a high level of original fabric, despite modifications to the ground floor shop fronts.

    The Vic is part of a group of historic commercial buildings on Cuba Street which contribute to the character, sense of place and continuity of the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

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  • close History

    • This three-storey building was designed by James Bennie and built for Mrs Alice Elizabeth Tatum (?1853 -1943). Originally designed as a two-storey building, the permit was issued in July 1935. A special application was made to add an extra storey and a further permit for an additional floor was issued in November 1935. Alice Tatum was the wife of Major Charles Thomas Tatum (1857 – 1942), and the couple are best remembered for their charitable bequests to both the Wellington Anglican Cathedral fund, and to the Boy Scout movement, particularly for their donation of their farm in Manakau that became known as Tatum Park. Tatum Park was the national training centre for Boy Scout leaders from approximately 1940 – 2008, and served as a camp ground and conference centre.

      The Cuba Street building was built in front of, and joined to, an existing wooden structure which housed tearooms and shops facing onto Cuba Street. It is presently unclear exactly when this timber building was built. The earliest record of a building on this site held at WC Archives dates from 1914 and is for additions and alteration to shops. Advertisements in the Evening Post indicate that occupants in 1933 included the Wellington Brass Bands Association headquarters, a Hairdresser and Tobacconist. In February 1935 the ‘Centenary Café’ opened in the premises.

      The architect’s specifications state that: “The existing wooden portion which includes the butchers, hairdressers and boot shops, entrance to the present dining room and living quarters on the first floor are to be removed by contractor and the new reinforced concrete building as now planned erected on the site.” The specifications also state that the existing buildings at the rear of the new portion and all adjoining premises were to be altered and made good. The butchers plant and layout were to be carefully protected during the alterations, and the present tenant of the barbers shop and the entrance to the dining room were to remain in occupation during reconstruction and were to be disturbed as little as possible.

      The building was planned as a private hotel, with three shops below, and a dining room and kitchen behind to serve the boarding establishment above. The first floor had a lounge, eight bedrooms and a bathroom. The second had nine bedrooms, a bathroom and a “lounge hall” with a skylight.

      The plans show that the building was to be named “York House”. However a search of old newspapers has failed to find any mention of a “York House” on Cuba Street, although there was one at 180 Lambton Quay. It seems that a change of heart during construction saw it named The Vic. An advertisement in the Evening Post from April 1936 declares The “Vic” Private Hotel open, with double and single rooms available for both permanent and casual boarders. The hotel is advertised as superior accommodation, having central heating throughout, a billiard room and palm lounge. The building continued to operate as The Vic Private Hotel up to the 1970s.

    • Modifications close
      • 1935
      • construction (00056:159:B14157)
      • 1935
      • additional storey (00056:165:B14627)
      • 1936
      • wash-houses (00056:173:B15279)
      • 1949
      • convert shed to smokehouse (00056:363:B27943)
      • 1958
      • shop additions and alterations (00058:75:C3689)
      • 1962
      • building alterations to café (00058:259:C11489)
      • 1970
      • shop alterations (00058:667:C30639)
      • 1973
      • building alterations (00058:887:C39450)
      • 1978
      • reconstruct and renovate part of building – The Lotus Restaurant (00058:1151:C49619)
      • 1986
      • convert existing shop to takeaway – Lotus Chinese Takeaways (00059:0:D5136)
      • 1988
      • additions to Chinese takeaways (00059:188:D9114)
      • 1989
      • restaurant fitout (00059:329:E18531)
      • 1993
      • Archway (00060:37:1403)
      • 1994
      • takeaway conversion (00060:24:924)
      • 2001
      • apartment fit out (00078:975:80507)
      • 2006
      • restaurant additions and alterations (00078:2098:149626)
    • Occupation History close
      • unknown
      • Victoria Private Hotel (from 1945 "The Vic") (154) (Stones1940, 1945, Wises1950-51, 1955, 1971-72),
      • unknown
      • Irma Duncan, beauty salon (154) (Stones1945, Wises1950-51)
      • unknown
      • Reliance Butchery Reliance Butchery (156) (Stones1940)
      • unknown
      • Excelsior Butchery (Stones1945, Wises1961-62, 1967-68, 1971-72)
      • unknown
      • Star Butchery & Delicatessen (Wises1950-51,1955)
      • unknown
      • After this time occupied by a number of businesses at one time including:
      • unknown
      • Electrical good, restaurant, shoe shop Electrical good, restaurant, shoe shop (Wises1961-62)
      • unknown
      • Frock shop Frock shop (Wises1967-68)
      • unknown
      • Lotus Restaurant Lotus Restaurant (Wises1967-68, 1971-72, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990)
      • unknown
      • Steiners Butchery Steiners Butchery (Wises1980, 1985)
      • 2012
      • Istanbul (restaurant) and Carly Harris (clothes store).
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      The architect has adopted superficial features of Art Deco to give the building a contemporary exterior. Slender fins rise over both floors to the parapet and provide an exaggerated vertical emphasis. Secondary fins over the stepped parapet repeat this emphasis. The central pier is capped by the famous “sunrise” motif of Art Deco, and a strip of chevron moulding runs above the upper windows. The window joinery also reiterates the vertical flavour of the building. A full-blown Art Deco facade is rare in Cuba Street and the building contributes a more contemporary flavour to a predominantly Edwardian precinct.

    • Materials close

      The construction is reinforced concrete walls, beams and columns on concrete foundations and piles. The first floor is reinforced concrete, and the second floor joists and roof trusses are timber. The roof is clad in corrugated iron.

    • Setting close

      This block of Cuba Street, between Ghuznee and Vivian Streets, retains some of the area’s oldest buildings. The Vic’s immediate neighbours are two modern buildings: to the north, on the corner of Garret Street, stands the bulky seven-storey concrete Crombie Lockwood House which is considerably out of scale with the low-rise surroundings; to the south is a modern (2008) two storey building, with a very tall apartment tower behind, and a weathered steel facade.

  • close Cultural Value

    Designed by James Bennie, this three story 1930s building is an exuberant example of Art Deco design, of which there are relatively few examples in Wellington.

    The building has historic value for the 35 years of use as ‘The Vic Private Hotel’.

    The façade of this building remains largely intact with a high level of original fabric, despite modifications to the ground floor shop fronts.

    The Vic is part of a group of historic commercial buildings on Cuba Street which contribute to the character, sense of place and continuity of the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

    • 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?

        This three story 1930s building has architectural value for its strong Art Deco design which is particularly evident in its exuberant stepped and finned parapet. Art Deco buildings are rare in Wellington and there are few as richly decorated as this one.

      • 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 is one of a group of historic commercial buildings which make a positive contribution to the character of 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?

        A full-blown Art Deco facade is rare in Cuba Street and the building contributes a more contemporary flavour to a predominantly Edwardian precinct.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        The building was designed by James Bennie, a significant architect of his time.

        The building has some historic value for the 35 year period it was used as The Vic Private Hotel.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        It is known that there has been pre-1900 human activity on the site; hence this site has potential archaeological value.

    • 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?

        This building is part of a group of historic commercial buildings on Cuba Street which contribute to the sense of place and continuity of the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

    • 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 façade of this building remains largely intact with a high level of original building fabric, despite modifications to the ground floor shop fronts.

      • Rare

        Is the item rare, unique, unusual, seminal, influential, or outstanding?

        The Art Deco design of this building is rare on Cuba Street, and in wider Wellington.

      • Importance

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

        This building is of local importance for its contribution to the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      16/ 83

    • Legal Description

      Lot 1 DP 2686

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      2/Historic Place 5356

    • Archaeological Site

      None

    • 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: 4/20/2017 4:12:26 AM