The Thistle Inn

• 1840
• Original Thistle Inn Constructed
• 1866
• Original Thistle Inn destroyed by fire – replacement Thistle Inn (preset building) constructed
• 1896 - 1897
• Additions and alterations to the building (see William Turnbull plans – 00053: 26: 1531: 001 – 011)
• 1952
• Additions – Build a new store shed at back of the Thistle Inn (00056: 437: B33327)
• 1962 - 1963
• Additions and alterations – replacement of the bar floor, strengthening of the building with steel girders, and the provision of new linings and partitions (based on history – unable to find any plans)
• 1965
• Addition – Awning to hotel (00058: 400: C17077)
• 1969
• Additions and alterations – new ‘flagon store’ and a new canopy
• 1970
• Alterations to Thistle Inn (00058: 662: C30415)
• 2004
• Additions and alterations – Demolition of outbuildings, construction of new cool room, toilets, roof deck, and entranceway.

• unknown
• Not assessed

Not assessed

The Thistle Inn is a very rare example of the commercial timber buildings that made up central Wellington in the mid-19th century. Timber was the predominant building material for the first three decades after settlement, but from 1880, masonry began to replace timber until, today, the Thistle remains as one of only two timber buildings left on the Golden Mile – the other is the much larger Government Buildings on Lambton Quay (WCC 17/179).

The building has two street facades, one to Mulgrave Street and one to Kate Sheppard Place. Each has a moulded cornice at eaves level. There is a regular row of matching double-hung windows at first floor level (6 on Mulgrave St and 3 on Kate Sheppard Place, with one now covered on the chamfered face at the corner). Ground floor openings had been altered and modernised – but following the c.2004 renovations have been returned to something that approximates the original design.

The cladding is rusticated weatherboards, important technically as one of the two earliest recorded examples in Wellington of a profile that later became very popular (the other example is 22 The Terrace, 1866). The side walls, and the hipped roof, are clad in corrugated iron.

The designer of the Thistle is not known. It is possible that William Cooper designed the building since it follows a form that was traditional for the time (public bar with corner entrance from the street, bedrooms on the first floor with separate entrance). While the bar has been extensively modified, the exterior form and first floor joinery have remained intact. The building is therefore reasonably authentic for its age, and is very rare in continuing its original use for over 140+ years.

Timber framing

Weatherboards

Steel girders

Corrugated mild steel roofing

The overall setting of the Thistle Inn has been significantly impacted upon by the demolition of smaller scale buildings and the construction of modern high-rise structures. The size of the building, however, does mean that it is not overwhelmed by being overshadowed by these buildings.

Due to its position on a slight rise and on a prominent corner near the railway and bus station, this building has gained a landmark status. It also plays an important role in illustrating the relationship between the early development of Wellington and the original foreshore.

In the wider setting of Thorndon, the Thistle Inn has two near contemporaries. The much altered Shepherd’s Arms Hotel (1870) and the Shamrock Hotel (1893) both on Tinakori Road. All three of these buildings were built as timber hotels / licensed Public Houses in the mid – late 19th century.

• 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 Thistle Inn is a rare example of a mid-19th century timber Victorian hotel/public house, and is one of the oldest surviving commercial buildings in Wellington.

• 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 has some group value with the nearby former J. Staples and Co Ltd. owned brewing tower on Murphy Street (WCC 18/224), and with the two 19th century timber hotels in nearby Thorndon – the Shamrock and Shepherd’s Arms hotels on Tinakori Road.

• 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 is a local landmark. It is located on a prominent corner that is visible from Thorndon Quay (formerly the beachfront). It stands in contrast to its many high-rise neighbours on Mulgrave Street.

• Association

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

  The Thistle Inn is one of the oldest commercial buildings in Wellington and is associated with the early settlement and development of the city. It is the oldest hotel in Wellington and among the oldest in New Zealand, having held its liquor license since 1840. The hotel was built on the foreshore prior to reclamation of the harbour, and is an important reference point and landmark in a much-altered the cityscape. The Thistle Inn played an important role in the social history of Wellington and continues in its use as a licensed public house.

• Association

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

  The building has a long and eventful history and some of the most the significant historic associations include: -
  
  Carne Bidwell, a ‘Sydney merchant’, and noted explorer and naturalist who purchased the land in 1841; Katherine Mansfield used the hotel as her as the setting for the story ‘Leves Amores’; J. Staples and Co Ltd. purchased the hotel in 1915. Staples established a brewery in Thorndon in 1866 and this was later amalgamated into New Zealand Breweries in 1923.

• Archaeological

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

  This area on the historic harbour/waterfront was also used by Maori prior to European Settlement and is close to the Pipitea Pa site.
  
  There were two known pre 1900 buildings on this site – the original 1840 hotel, and the present building that was built in 1866.

• Technological

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

  The building is thought to be the first in Wellington to be clad in rusticated weatherboards. It is a rare surviving example of an 1860s commercial building and there is technological value in its form, structure, building materials, and any accumulated fixtures and fittings.

• IdentitySenseOfPlaceContinuity

  Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

  The Thistle Inn contributes greatly to a sense of place and continuity in Wellington as it is Wellington’s oldest pub and has been in continuous use since it was rebuilt in 1866. It also plays an important role in the relationship between the developing town of Wellington and the original foreshore.

• PublicEsteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  The building is likely to be held in high public esteem as one of the oldest surviving commercial buildings in Wellington. It is a contemporary of the nearby, and highly regarded, Old St Paul’s Cathedral.

• 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?

  Although the building has been constantly adapted for its ongoing use as a hotel/ licensed public house, the building retains much of its early or original form, structure and built fabric.

• Rare

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

  This building is a now rare example of a timber hotel/ licensed public house. Timber hotels were a common New Zealand building-type in the mid 19th century, but many have been lost to fire, decay and commercial development. This building is the last timber hotel, and one of only two timber buildings, to remain on the Golden Mile. The building gains value because it has been retained on its original site, in its original use, and because it is relatively unmodified.

• Representative

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

  This building is a good representative example of the type of timber hotels that were common to many New Zealand towns and cities in the mid 19th century.

• Importance

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

  This is a nationally important building as it is a rare example in Wellington, and along with the Shamrock Tavern, tells an important part of Wellington and New Zealand’s history. It retains authenticity of design, materials, craftsmanship, and function although the integrity of its setting has been impacted upon negatively by modern buildings. Its long social history in Wellington, as well as association with important and well known Wellingtonians make this building significant. It contributes greatly to a sense of continuity in what is now a much changed area of the city.

Not assessed

• Alexander Turnbull Library. Davis, William Henry Whitmore, 1812-1901 : Photographs of Wellington and district. ‘Thorndon Quay and Mulgrave Street, Wellington’. Ref: 10x8-2087-G.
• Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. Taylor, Richard, 1805-1873 :Sketchbook. 1835-1860.. ‘Wellington from Mulgrave Street, looking towards Te Aro. ca 1858’. Ref: E-296-q-170.
• Clendon, J. Research report on the Thistle Inn. NZ Historic Places Trust, 1975.
• Cochran, Chris. Turnbull House Conservation Plan. Wellington: Department of Conservation, 1991.
• Historic Places Trust, “Turnbull, Thomas - Architect”, Professional Biographies, accessed September 25, 2012,
• Historic Places Trust, “Turnbull, William (1868-1914) - Architect”, Professional Biographies, accessed September 25, 2012,
• The New Zealand Gazette and Britannia Spectator, 3 October 1840
• Wellington City Council, Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001.
• Archives: 00058: 662: C30415
• Archives: 00053: 26: 1531: 003
• Archives: 00058: 662: C30415: 001
• Archives: 00058: 400: C17077
• Archives: 00056: 437: B33327
• Archives: William Turnbull plans – 00053: 26: 1531: 001 – 011

• Inventory Report
• 1897 specifications and plans

Not available