CBA Building (Former)

GBL House, Telegroup House, 328 Lambton Quay

328-330 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington
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Image: Charles Collins

Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015


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  • Constructed

    1936 - 1936

  • Heritage Area

    BNZ Head Office

  • Architect(s)

    Clere and Clere

  • Builder(s)

    Unknown

  • The former CBA Building is a good representative example of an interwar commercial building that was designed in a Stripped Classical ‘Chicago’ style. It is a particularly competent example of the work of prominent local architects – Clere & Clere – who are now perhaps better known for their ecclesiastic projects. 

    The former Commercial Bank of Australia was one of the many banks established in New Zealand in the 19th or early 20th century - this building was the C.B.A’s New Zealand head-office for 40 years. It is one of a group of head-office buildings that were built at the southern-end of Lambton Quay in the 1930s. It has a historic association with both the early physical development of Wellington, the establishment of the city’s financial centre and the development of Wellington as the country’s financial and corporate capital.

    The building contributes to the BNZ/Head Office Heritage Area.

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  • close History

    • The C.B.A Building was built for the Commercial Bank of Australia in 1936, and was its New Zealand head-office. It is one of a row of very fine 1930s’ head office buildings that were built for insurance companies and banks on this part of southern Lambton Quay.

      The site is known to have been occupied in 1844 with the construction of St Andrews - the first Presbyterian Church in New Zealand. This church was replaced in 1866 and the original church was dragged over the road to what became the corner of Lambton Quay and Hunter Street. It eventually became part of the Central Hotel and was only demolished in 1939. The 1866 church was replaced in 1878 by a building for the Colonial Bank of New Zealand. This building occupied both 328 and 326 Lambton Quay until the construction of this building in 1936 for the C.B.A

      The Commercial Bank of Australia was founded in Melbourne in 1866, with the intention of providing credit for small traders, farmers, etc. It later expanded to acquire the Australian and European Bank in 1879. The C.B.A. was one of 15 banks forced to close for a time in April 1893 during the great economic depression of the late 19th century. It commenced operations in New Zealand in 1912, at Featherston Street, Wellington.

      In 1914, the C.B.A. purchased one half of the 1878 Colonial Bank of New Zealand building. This building was divided into two parts by a party wall, of which the south portion was occupied by the bank. The north part had been leased by South British Insurance Ltd from the 1880s. C.B.A. demolished their half of the building in 1934, two years before South British demolished the other.

      The present building was designed by Clere & Clere, with seismic design by engineer A.T.H. Hatchison. The principal contractor was Fletcher Construction. The main feature of the building was a large banking chamber, now used for retail purposes. The building opened in 1936.

      The building was originally partly occupied by tenants, but this was soon to change. Many of the head-office responsibilities were delegated to the Wellington office, and with an increase in workload came an increase in staff numbers, and an increased requirement for office space. The bank gradually took over the rest of the building and by the late 1960s there were no tenants left. By 1969 the bank had even outgrown its purpose built office building. Larger premises were sought and the C.B.A. lodged an application with the Wellington City Council to demolish their building and the South British building, and to develop the larger site. Agreement was given in 1971 but the option was never pursued.

      In 1982, a merger with the Bank of New South Wales created the Westpac Bank, and this led to the disappearance of the name C.B.A. from the commercial scene in New Zealand. The following year the building was sold to the Prudential Insurance, who had purchased the South British building the previous year. In the late 1990s a developer applied for consent to demolish all three Prudential owned buildings and replace them with a single tall tower. This was opposed by the NZHPT, provoked a public outcry, and was finally resolved by the Environment Court. The tower was never built. The C.B.A building was subsequently sold to the Heritage Property Group Ltd - a company that specialised in restoring old buildings – but that has since gone into voluntary liquidation. The company credited an increase in insurance premiums after the Canterbury Earthquakes (2010-11), the ‘global financial crisis,’ and fears that the government would lift minimum seismic standards above the current 34% of new building standards as reasons for the decision to cease trading.

      The former CBA Building’s heritage value is predominantly tied to its group and townscape value. It has historical value as the New Zealand head-office of the Commercial Bank of Australia for forty years, and architectural value as the work of the prolific Wellington architects Clere and Clere. Its main heritage value, however, stems from its position in the commercial building precinct at the southern end of Lambton Quay, centred around Stewart Dawson’s corner and the BNZ Banking Complex.

      Along with Stewart Dawson building, the other heritage items in this precinct include the CBA’s neighbours the Prudential Building and the South British Insurance Building, the MLC Building across the road, and Plimmer’s Arcade and Steps nearby. Many of these buildings were erected in the interwar period, and their continued existence makes a strong contribution to the townscape value of Lambton Quay.

    • Modifications close
      • 1935 - c.1936
      • Plan as Proposed WCC Archive File 00056:159:B14100
      • 1935
      • Additions - Retaining wall constructed at rear of building (00056: 156: B13861)
      • 1956
      • Alterations – Extension of lift room (00058: 3: C122)
      • 1965
      • Alterations – Internal alterations and alteration to ground floor lobby/entrance (00058: 410: C17524)
      • 1977
      • Alterations – Upgrade of interior: removal of timber partitions, removal of plaster ornamentation, demolition of concrete walls, removal of carpets, removal of some doors and windows, removal of floor finished to the main stair up to the mezzanine level, removal of signs and plaques, upgrade to street verandah, addition of sliding doors (0058: 1088: C47092)
      • 1983
      • Alterations to ground floor and stairways (00058: 0: C63104)
      • 1987
      • Shop entry alterations (00059: 69: D5532)
      • 1988
      • Alterations – Office fit out (00059: 242: D11068)
      • 1989
      • Alterations – Installation of partitions on fifth floor (00059: 412: E21016)
    • Occupation History close
      • unknown
      • Not assessed
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      The former CBA (now Telegroup House) is an eight-storey steel framed building. It is in the Chicago style of base, shaft and capital. The base is formed by two-storey high Classical, fluted columns supporting a frieze with dentils. The windows in the six storeys above are arranged with three in the central bay and a pair on either side. The flanking bays are slightly recessed from the central section. The windows are all square headed and are separated horizontally in each bay with a thin mullion and vertically with a moulded spandrel panel. The spandrel panels between the windows have Art Deco style relief designs. A frieze with dentils, matching that at second floor level, finishes the top of the building. Above the level of the verandah the façade is unaltered from the original, but the modern angled glass verandah detracts somewhat from views of the building from the street.

      The former CBA building is harmoniously proportioned and together with the other buildings in the group makes a significant contribution to the streetscape of Lambton Quay and to the values of the heritage area.

      Many of the interior spaces have been modified over time to suit changing uses, although remnants of original finishes remain in some spaces. The most interesting space was the original two storey high banking chamber at ground level; this has now been filled in for office space. The staircase retains its original timber handrail and wrought iron balustrade.

    • Materials close

      Steel frames encased in concrete

      Granite base

      Terracotta faced façade till first floor windows; plaster façade above

    • Setting close

      The Prudential Building (1934 - WCC 17/ 190.3), the CBA Building (1936 – WCC 17/190.2) and the South British Insurance Building (1936 – WCC 17/190.1) form a terrace of similar Art Deco / Chicago styled buildings. These three buildings, along with the fine MLC Building (1939-40) give prominence to the intersection between Hunter Street and Lambton Quay.

      The buildings are all part of the BNZ / Head Office Heritage Area. This Heritage Area incorporates several groups of heritage buildings that together form one of the most significant and highly regarded streetscapes in New Zealand. The area mainly occupies land reclaimed between 1857 and 1863, but it also includes a part of the city, a stretch of southern Lambton Quay, that has been permanently settled since 1840.

      The centre-piece is the block containing the former BNZ buildings – four buildings associated with the Bank of New Zealand, only one of which was built by the BNZ, plus the MLC Building. The area also includes a significant cluster of late Victorian / Edwardian commercial buildings around the Stewart Dawson’s Corner, a row of very fine 1930s’ head offices built for insurance companies and banks on Lambton Quay and one of the finest 20th century buildings in Wellington – the AMP building on Customhouse Quay.

      The oldest of the buildings is the former National Mutual Life building (1883), later incorporated into the BNZ complex, on the corner of Hunter St and Customhouse Quay. The most recent buildings are modern structures on Lambton Quay, although they are not considered contributors to the area. In between is a collection of buildings that offer a broad and interesting sweep through a range of architectural eras, incorporating a variety of styles and materials.

      The heritage area is nationally significant for its association with both the early physical development of Wellington, the establishment of the city’s financial centre and the development of Wellington as the country’s financial and corporate capital.

  • close Cultural Value

    The former CBA Building is a good representative example of an interwar commercial building that was designed in a Stripped Classical ‘Chicago’ style. It is a particularly competent example of the work of prominent local architects – Clere & Clere – who are now perhaps better known for their ecclesiastic projects.

    The former Commercial Bank of Australia was one of the many banks established in New Zealand in the 19th or early 20th century - this building was the C.B.A’s New Zealand head-office for 40 years. It is one of a group of head-office buildings that were built at the southern-end of Lambton Quay in the 1930s. It has a historic association with both the early physical development of Wellington, the establishment of the city’s financial centre and the development of Wellington as the country’s financial and corporate capital.

    The building contributes to the BNZ/Head Office 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?

        The former CBA Building is a good representative example of an interwar commercial building that was designed in a Stripped Classical ‘Chicago’ style. It is a particularly competent example of the work of prominent local architects – Clere & Clere – who are now perhaps better known for their ecclesiastic design work.

      • 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 former CBA is one of a group of head-office buildings that were erected in Wellington in the 1930s in the area around the southern end of Lambton Quay. These form part of the BNZ/Head Offices 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 CBA Building, the South British Insurance Building and the Prudential Assurance Building form a terrace of similar Art Deco / Chicago styled buildings that date from the mid 1930s. These three stylistically similar former head-office buildings, along with the fine MLC Building, give prominence to the intersection between Hunter Street and Lambton Quay.

    • Historic Value close

      • Assocation

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

        The former Commercial Bank of Australia was one of the many banks established in New Zealand in the 19th or early 20th century - this building was the C.B.A’s New Zealand head-office for 40 years.

      • Association

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

        It is one of a group of head-office buildings that were built at the southern-end of Lambton Quay in the 1930s. It has a historic association with both the early physical development of Wellington, the establishment of the city’s financial centre and the development of Wellington as the country’s financial and corporate capital.

    • Scientific Value close

      • 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.

    • 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 former CBA building has had few intrusive modern alterations or additions over the past 80+ years (with the notable exception of the shop-fronts and verandah) and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of the streetscape. The building’s use as a former head-office and its contribution to the BNZ/Head Offices Heritage Area is pertinent to Wellington’s identity as country’s financial and corporate capital.

      • Public Esteem

        Is the item held in high public esteem?

        The building is likely to be held in high public esteem and this can be seen by the public campaign to ‘save’ the building from demolition in the 1990s.

    • 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?

        While the interior spaces have been extensively modified the building’s façade is relatively unaltered from the original state (with the notable exception of the shop-fronts and verandah).

      • Representative

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

        The former CBA is a good example a commercial building built in the Stripped Classical ‘Chicago’ style.

      • Importance

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

        The former CBA Building is important at a local level.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      17/ 190.2

    • Legal Description

      Lot 1 DP 2827

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      2/Historic Place 1346, South Lambton Quay Historic Area

    • 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: 6/22/2017 4:38:34 AM