Inverlochy House

Inverlochie, Inverlochy Flats

3 Inverlochy Place, Te Aro, Wellington
❰ ❱
Photo: Charles Collins, 2015

Photo: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015

Cityview GIS 2013
Cityview GIS 2013
Map

  • Constructed

    1878

  • Architect(s)

    Unknown

  • Builder(s)

    Unknown

  • Inverlochy House is a good representative example of a large, Victorian Italianate, upper-middle class, domestic residence. It is particularly notable for its grand (if somewhat overgrown) approach and for its fine internal fittings and finishes. 

    This house is associated with Thomas Kennedy Macdonald, a leading colonial businessman known throughout New Zealand for his commercial endeavours, as an active local and national politician, and friend of such luminaries as Richard Seddon and Joseph Ward. It is now the home to the Inverlochy Art School.

    Inverlochy House is held in very high public esteem demonstrated by the effort that was put into ensuring its retention and survival when its owner Williams Development Holdings planned to demolish it. 
     

  • Downloadable(s)

    Download this content as PDF

  • close History

    • Inverlochy House has had a multifaceted past, the house’s fortunes reflecting that of both its owners and the wider city of Wellington as well. The house is good example of a building’s history that has been woven into the larger narrative of its urban setting.

      Inverlochy (or, “Inverlochie”, as it was originally called) House was constructed in 1878 or 1879. It was built for a residence for Thomas Kennedy Macdonald, a Wellington businessman and politician. Macdonald was born in 1847 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, and came to New Zealand via Australia in 1871. He worked briefly as an accountant, before establishing his company, T. Kennedy Macdonald and Company. His business interests were wide, including ‘land, estate and general agencies, share broking, auctioneering and commission agencies’. The company operated throughout the Wellington province and beyond. Macdonald’s commercial success elevated his profile and he became an important figure in business and both local and national politics. Macdonald purchased the site of Inverlochy House. It has been written that Macdonald bought that land from Thomas Turnbull, and the architect has been credited with the design of the house, though this is not confirmed.

      Over time the land, the building, and the wider setting of Inverlochy House have all been modified. At the turn of the twentieth century the house was converted into two luxury apartments. In the 1920s it was further adapted into nine self-contained flats. Over the same period the estate was seriously encroached upon by various developments. While the property lost some of its grandeur and suffered the ill-effects of wear and tear and an absentee landlord, it remained in high esteem amongst the community. This high regard was demonstrated in 1979/1980 when Frank Renouf purchased the land upon which Inverlochy House is located and began talks with Williams Development Holdings to on-sell the land.

      Williams planned to demolish the house and replace it with a seven-storey, ninety-room motel and restaurant. This occurred at a time when the face of Wellington was being irrevocably changed through the redevelopment of the predominantly Victorian/Edwardian CBD, and of the old inner-city residential areas of the north end of The Terrace. A campaign was undertaken in opposition to the proposed hotel-development, the success of which highlights the social value of Inverlochy house.

      Williams went on to build the hotel next to Inverlochy house and gifted the historic building to the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, who took possession of the building in the mid 1980s. Major renovations were undertaken and it now houses the Inverlochy Art School.

      Inverlochy House retains a high level of authenticity and aesthetic significance as it retains a significant amount of its original materials, fixtures, and fittings. It is architecturally and historically significant a late 19th century residence for its upper-class owners, and is set in an area that was once home to many of New Zealand’s original social, political, and commercial elite.

    • Modifications close
      • unknown
      • (original plans cannot be accessed)
      • 1878 - 1879
      • Original Construction
      • c.1878 - c.1893
      • Addition
      • 1890 - 1900
      • Modification
      • unknown
      • Modification - Subdivided into 9 flats, each with own bedroom, kitchen and toilet: Early 1920s
      • 1921
      • off Abel Smith Street, [144 Abel Smith Street & 3 Inverlochy Place] alterations to dwelling (00053:208:11447)
      • 1925
      • Abel Smith Street [3 Oak Park Avenue,3 Inverlochy Place & 144 Abel Smith Street], alterations (00056:3:B213)
      • 1985
      • 3 Inverlochy Place, repiling (00059:0:D1331)
      • 1989
      • 144 Abel Smith Street [3 Inverlochy Place], arts centre - conversion (00059:286:E17092)
      • 2002
      • 3/4 Inverlochy Place, internal alterations to kitchen and bathroom, includes removal of wall and installation of window and new gas fireplace (00078:927:88457)
      • 2002
      • 4/3 Inverlochy Place, internal alterations to kitchen and bathroom. includes removal of wall and installation of window and new gas fireplace (00078:1761:87597)
    • Occupation History close
      • 1878 - 1893
      • The Macdonald family
      • 1893 - 1920
      • James McLellan (who also owned the property, at unspecified dates)
      • 1920 - 1980
      • Tenants
      • 1987
      • Inverlochy Art School
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      Inverlochy House is a Victorian mansion in the Italianate style, which was influential at the time of its construction. The building was of considerable repute in its time. When it was put up for sale in 1893, the New Zealand Times wrote that the property had: “14 rooms, 2 bathrooms, every modern convenience, water laid on, 2 conservatories, a vinery, a fernery, fowl house, wash house and offices, stable with 2 stalls and loose box, being in a salubrious and fashionable location, and an unrivalled family residence’.

      The house has two-storeys with wide, double-bracketed eaves and wooden quoins on the corners. It has a gabled bay and bay windows on the front facade, and a canopied entry with a verandah above. A notable feature of this villa is the imitation of stone details, such as quoins and brackets, in timber. Originally, the property belonging to Inverlochy covered three acres. There are also two lion-head fountains in the front yard. Many of the original fittings, such as the mosaic tiles in the hall, the ornate carved fireplaces and the two lion fountains at the front of the building were imported from Great Britain and Europe.

      The house is a good illustration of the New Zealand tradition of "architecture by accretion". It has a number of unsympathetic additions (such as the filling-in of the verandah) which detract from the profile of the house. However, Inverlochy and its garden remain something of an oasis in a crowded urban setting.

    • Materials close

      The house was originally constructed primarily of timber and plaster. In 1985 the original timber piles were replaced with pre-cast concrete piles. The house has timber framing, rusticated weatherboards for cladding, and a corrugated iron roof. The interior hallways and rooms are panelled in kauri, which was also used for the main stairway and some of the floors.

    • Setting close

      The setting of Inverlochy House has changed dramatically since the time of its construction as the large gardens have been encroached upon by various developments. The development and unsympathetic additions detract from the profile of the house, but the retention of some of its garden setting remain something of an oasis in a now crowded urban setting.

  • close Cultural Value

    Inverlochy House is a good representative example of a large, Victorian Italianate, upper-middle class, domestic residence. It is particularly notable for its grand (if somewhat overgrown) approach and for its fine internal fittings and finishes.

    This house is associated with Thomas Kennedy Macdonald, a leading colonial businessman known throughout New Zealand for his commercial endeavours, as an active local and national politician, and friend of such luminaries as Richard Seddon and Joseph Ward. It is now the home to the Inverlochy Art School.

    Inverlochy House is held in very high public esteem demonstrated by the effort that was put into ensuring its retention and survival when its owner Williams Development Holdings planned to demolish it.

    • 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?

        Inverlochy House is a good representative example of a large, Victorian Italianate, upper-middle class, domestic residence. It is particularly notable for its grand (if somewhat overgrown) approach and for its fine internal fittings and finishes.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        This house is associated with Thomas Kennedy Macdonald, a leading colonial businessman known throughout New Zealand for his commercial endeavours, as an active local and national politician, and friend of such luminaries as Richard Seddon and Joseph Ward. It is now the home to the Inverlochy Art School.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        This house was constructed pre 1900 and is included in the NZAA Central City Archaeological Area R27/270.

      • Technological

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

        There is technical value in the original materials of the house, in particular the high number of original fittings and fixtures.

    • 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 an important part of the local community and makes a contribution to the wider setting of Inverlochy Place and The Terrace.

      • Public Esteem

        Is the item held in high public esteem?

        Inverlochy House is held in very high public esteem demonstrated by the effort that was put into ensuring its retention and survival when its owner Williams Development Holdings planned to demolish it.

    • 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 building has been through a number of alterations, losing significant materials internally due to a series of adaptations to smaller flats. The remaining original materials have high authenticity value. It retains authenticity of materials, style, design, and to some extent, setting.

      • Local Regional National International

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

        This house is locally significant for its architectural, townscape, and group values, its historic associations, its archaeological values, and its authenticity.

      • Representative

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

        This house is a good representative of a large Italianate timber house constructed using materials and techniques common to the period.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      16/ 157

    • Legal Description

      LOT 2 DP 16277

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      2/Historic Place 1398

    • Archaeological Site

      Central City NZAA R27/270

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Not Earthquake Prone

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 10/24/2017 11:03:12 PM