Alexandra Building

Alexandra Buildings (HPT), Leather Direct, Wilsons Army, Navy & Western; 175 Cuba Street; 177 Cuba Street

175-179 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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Image: Charles Collins, 2014

Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2014

Cityview GIS 2012
Cityview GIS 2012
These 1942 plans detail repairs to the building and the removal of decorative masonry features such as the parapet and urns (Wellington City Archives, 00056:280:B22502).
These 1942 plans detail repairs to the building and the removal of decorative masonry features such as the parapet and urns (Wellington City Archives, 00056:280:B22502).
Map

  • Constructed

    1905

  • Heritage Area

    Cuba Street Heritage Area

  • Architect(s)

    James O'Dea

  • Builder(s)

    Murdoch and Wallis

  • This three-storey masonry building has architectural value for its simple neo-Classical façade which retains a high level of authenticity despite modifications to the parapet and shop fronts. 

    The building has historic value for its connection to several successful Wellington businessmen and as a representative example of a commercial mixed use investment property built during the growth and development of Cuba Street in the Edwardian period.

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


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  • close History

    • Architect James O’Dea designed this three-storey building for Messrs McArdle and Wylie. The builders were Murdoch and Wallis and the permit was issued in September 1905. The ground floor was fitted out as shops, and the two upper floors contained three separate residential apartments.

      McArdle and Wylie purchased the section in 1903 from Dr John Teare for £6,400. O’Dea was commissioned to design the building called ‘Alexandra Buildings’ as an investment property.

      Born in Scotland, Andrew Wylie came to New Zealand as a child in the 1860s. He trained as a lawyer and worked for a number of law firms in Wellington until 1892 when he entered into a partnership with Charles Perrin Skerrett (later Chief Justice of New Zealand). Andrew Wylie was also a shareholder in the J. Staples Company. In 1909 the legal partnership evolved into Chapman, Skerrett, Wylie and Tripp, a forebear of the well-known law firm Chapman Tripp. A “well-known old resident of Wellington”, Wylie retired from his firm in 1912, and died at Heretaunga in 1930.

      Owen McArdle was born in Ireland and immigrated to New Zealand in the 1870s. He joined his cousins, the Gilmers, on the West Coast where they were running a hotel. In subsequent years he was employed by the Staples and Co. Brewery as secretary, and later the Wellington manager. He is known to have had an interest in other properties, such as the Maguire Building (1901) which still stands at 168-174 Cuba Street, which he invested in with his cousin Hamilton Gilmer (a member of the Legislative Chamber) and Allen Maguire, both directors of Staples and Co. Brewery. McArdle did not live long to experience the rewards of his property ventures, as he died suddenly of a heart attack in Masterton in 1908 where the three men were inspecting the new Empire Hotel Building. His obituary noted he was a “very well-known citizen of Wellington”.

      McArdle and Wylie’s estate owned the building until 1911 when it was sold to Edwin Moult for £9,000. Moult made a considerable profit on the building, selling it for £16,250 in 1922 to pharmacist Robert Johnson. Johnson operated a pharmacy from 179 Cuba Street until he died in 1956. The building was administered by the Public Trustee until 1985 when it was acquired by the Salvation Army Property Trust. This organisation sold it a year later to the Patel and Parag families. The present owners purchased the building in 1995 and continue to lease the shops and apartments.

      Records show an interesting mix of tenants in the shops over the years, including a series of restaurants, a boot maker and various shoe shops, chemists, a furniture store, and a record store. The street directories do not record the residential tenants; however it is likely that various residential tenants have occupied the apartments. Correspondence from the 1980s held by the Wellington City Archives suggests that tenants at this time tended to be drawn from artistic and musical circles, attracted by the cheap rents and central location.

      The building has been subject to various alterations since it was constructed, the shop fronts in particular have been considerably altered. In 1942 the building suffered damage in the Wairarapa earthquakes. Repairs were made to the cracked façade of the building and the ornate parapet and decorative urns were removed. This was not unusual - many buildings in the central city were damaged in the earthquakes and high-level masonry features were removed either because they were damaged or as a precautionary measure.

      In 1996 the building was seismically strengthened with frames and wall bracing. The building owner received a $37,000 grant towards this work from the WCC Earthquake Risk Building Fund.


    • Modifications close
      • 1905
      • Building constructed ) (00053:121:6748)
      • 1930
      • Shop front alterations (00056:111:B10088)
      • 1935
      • Shop front alterations (00056:157:B14006)
      • 1939
      • Shop front alterations (00056:237:B19859)
      • 1942
      • Reinstate earthquake damage (00056:280:B22502)
      • 1966
      • Building Alterations (00058:454:C19525)
      • 1975
      • Shop alteration (00058:983:C43076)
      • 1987
      • Cafeteria (00059:119:D7076)
      • 1990
      • Business additions and alterations – restaurant (00059:413:E21043)
      • 1991
      • Office building additions and alterations (00059:475:E22983)
      • 1996
      • Strengthening (00078:18:22703)
      • 1998
      • New frontage and minor internal alterations (00078:1280:49262)
      • 2007
      • New bathrooms and laundry situated by stairs. New stair handrail and new hall balustrade to level 2. Building work to occur in both 177a and 179a Cuba St St (00078:2895:162503)
    • Occupation History close
      • 1915 - 1916
      • Gallate & Karantze, restaurateurs (175) (Stones 1915 -16)
      • 1920 - 1925
      • Petro Gerondis, restaurateur (175) (Stones 1920,1925)
      • 1930
      • Queen's Café (Stones1930)
      • 1920 - 1930
      • Edward Mann, boot maker (177) (Stones, 1920, 1925, 1930)
      • 1930 - 1955
      • Robert Johnston, chemist (179) (Stones, 1930, 1935, 1940, 1945, Wises 1950-51, 1955)
      • 1935 - 1962
      • Halls Shoe Company Ltd (177) (Stones, 1935, 1940, 1945, Wises 1950-51, 1955, 1961-62)
      • 1967 - 1972
      • G. M Bruce Ltd, chemists (179) (Wises -1967-68, 1971-72)
      • 1971 - 1975
      • Apperly Footwear Ltd (175) (Wises -1971-72, 1975)
      • 1980 - 1985
      • John's Shoes Ltd (Wises 1980, 1985)
      • 1980 - 1985
      • House of Oak, furniture (Wises,1980, 1985)
      • 1990
      • Silvios Records (Wises 1990)
      • unknown
      • Various residential tenants on first floor.
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      This building is three tall stories high with a simple neo-Classical façade featuring paired windows, segmental arched at the first floor and fully arched at the second, all set off with strong horizontal cornice lines and a bull-nosed verandah. The latter, likely to be substantially original, is supported on cast-iron posts at the street edge. The façade reads as incomplete as the original parapet and decorative urns have been removed and steel fire escapes have been added at an unknown date.  The replacement parapet is a plain, unembellished addition and presents a moderately discordant appearance in comparison to the decorative window arches. 

    • Materials close
      The construction is load-bearing brick masonry (English bond), with concrete foundation walls, cornices, and lintels reinforced with railway irons. The floor joists and roof trusses are totara.
    • Setting close
      The building sits among a row of masonry buildings of a variety of scales and architecture on Cuba Street between Swan Lane and Vivian Street. The immediate area is predominantly low-rise and older in character, with the exception of two very large, modern buildings on the opposite side of the street. The building is close to the mid-point of the Cuba Street Heritage Area in a part of the precinct that retains a high concentration of heritage buildings. The narrowness of the streets means that broader views are not easily obtained.

  • close Cultural Value

    This three-storey masonry building has architectural value for its simple neo-Classical façade which retains a high level of authenticity despite modifications to the parapet and shop fronts.

    The building has historic value for its connection to several successful Wellington businessmen and as a representative example of a commercial mixed use investment property built during the growth and development of Cuba Street in the Edwardian period.

    This building is part of a group of Edwardian commercial buildings on Cuba Street which contribute to the 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 building retains a reasonable level of architectural authenticity, despite the removal of decorative elements in 1942.

      • 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 Edwardian 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?

        The scale, materials and style of this building contribute to the townscape of Cuba Street.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        The building has historic value for its connection to several successful Wellington businessmen.

      • Association

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

        The building also 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.

    • 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 Edwardian 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 and the removal of the pediment and decorative features.

      • Level Regional National International

        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.

      • Representative

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

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

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      16/ 86.2

    • Legal Description

      Part Sec 153 Town of Wellington

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      2/ Deficient registration 5342)

    • 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: 10/17/2017 3:45:01 AM