New Zealand Breweries Brew Tower (Former)

• 1915
• Construction of brewery tower (addition to existing brewery (00053: 182: 10024)
• 1998
• Brewery Tower incorporated into Thorndon New World (SR 189672)
• 1998
• Seismic strengthening of Brewery tower - $25000 Wellington City Council Earthquake Fund – Encumbrance. Building strengthened to 2/3 the seismic load requirements of the NZS 1900 Chapter 8.

Not assessed

Not assessed

The former Thorndon Brewery Tower is made up of two sections that sit at right angles to each other, of four and five storeys. It is a purpose built industrial complex designed in an inventive Edwardian eclectic style, making use of well-defined brick piers, large Romanesque arches emphasised with plaster, a prominent projecting cornice with dentils, and an elaborate parapet that is gabled at each end of the two buildings. 

The style has been described as “blood and bandages” because of the way that the bands of cement render stand out against the red brickwork. The detail of the windows, some of which have now been bricked in, becomes increasingly decorative in the upper floors. The second-floor windows are square headed with a simple, fan like, architrave. The third-floor windows are segmentally headed and are ornamented with brick voissoirs, while the fourth-floor windows are arched with heavy hood mouldings and keystones. The gable ends have been detailed to simulate Classical pediments, with acroteria at gable apexes and ends. The feature windows in the gable ends, either circular or semi-circular, are a Georgian element. 

The interior has exposed steel roof trusses on the upper floors. The interior remains relatively unaltered despite the incorporation of the tower into the supermarket complex in c.1998.    

The tower is constructed in load bearing brick masonry on concrete foundations and piles, with floors supported on cast iron columns and beams with riveted joints.

The former brewery tower is a highly visible structure in the Thorndon townscape. It is an interesting industrial relic, although now empty of any brewing plant. As a surviving tall brick Edwardian ‘survivor’ in an increasingly developed area, it has important townscape values. It is an important landmark in Thorndon both for its size and for its strong industrial character, both features set it apart from the other high rise buildings in the area.

• 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 Thorndon Brewery Tower is a fine example of a specialist industrial building required for brewing beer on an industrial scale. Despite its industrial function the building is notable for the decorative brickwork of the façades (particularly at the top-floor level), the care taken to detail the gables and parapets, and the distinctive lantern ventilator.

• 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 its near-neighbour – the Thistle Inn – also owned by Staples in the early 1910s.

• 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?

  This building is a local landmark – it is a prominent building in a cityscape of predominantly low-rise buildings. It provides considerable visual interest to the area as a rare example of a tower designed in a distinctive Edwardian eclectic architectural style in Wellington city.

• Association

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

  Brewing was carried out on this site from 1866 to 1988, and the brew tower was built at the half-way point in 1915. The brewery was originally surrounded by houses and schools, and supplied the local licensed hotels including the nearby Thistle Inn (also owned by Staples and Co.). In particular this building is associated with the development of the gravity fed process for brewing beer, and is one of only two surviving similar brew towers in New Zealand – the other is the well-known 1930s Tui Brew Tower at Mangatainoka, near Palmerston North. 

• Association

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

  This building is primarily associated with the Staples Brothers, John and William, who were prominent brewers and sons of the Nelson based brewer John Staples. The company became J. Staples and Co. under the directorship of prominent local businessman Martin Kennedy. The company was part of the merger that formed New Zealand Breweries, and following this, Lion Nathan.

  It is also associated with prominent New Zealand architectural firm of Thomas Turnbull and Sons, and William Turnbull.  

• Archaeological

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

  Near known areas occupied by Maori pre 1900 including Pipitea Pa. Near several Maori sites of significance – M61, M62, M63, M64, M65. Pre 1900 activity on this site – European brewery.

• Educational

  Does the item have educational value for what it can demonstrate about aspects of the past?

  This tower has significant educational potential as an example of the early development of brewing in Wellington, and in particular the development of the gravity fed process for brewing beer.

• Technological

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

  There is significant technological value associated with this building as it is one of only two surviving large-scale brewery towers in New Zealand. The design of both towers is specific to a gravity-fed brewing process that has now been replaced by new technologies and brewing methods.

• 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 contributes greatly to a sense of place and continuity in the Thorndon Community – it is a reminder of the commercial and industrial processes that were once common to city-fringe sites.

• Public Esteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  The Thorndon Brewery Tower is a fine local landmark and is likely to be held in high public esteem. The building was ‘saved’ from demolition during the redevelopment of the brewery and now forms part of the newer supermarket development.

• 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 retains much of its original form and structure, but has lost its wider context and use as a part of brewery complex.

• Rare

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

  This building is one of only two surviving gravity-feed system brew towers in New Zealand.

• Representative

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

  The building is a fine example of a 19th century brew tower.

• Local/Regional/National/International

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

  This is a nationally significant building for a number of reasons. It is a rare example of a brew tower for a large-scale industrial brewing complex; it is a high-quality building whose elaborate brick detailing and high quality building materials contrast with its relatively functional industrial use; it has a long history and associations with a number of prominent New Zealanders and New Zealand companies; it is a local landmark and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of urban and sub-urban Thorndon.

  The former Brewery Tower is an important industrial building that is a physical reminder of the history of the area. It is an Edwardian survivor in an increasingly developed part of the city, and in an area that is otherwise typified by domestic-scale late 19^th century timber buildings it provides an excellent visual contrast.       

Not assessed

• Historic Places Trust ‘William Turnbull’ Professional Biographies accessed 10 June 2013.
• Wellington City Council. Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001.
• Newspapers: Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3131, 23 February 1871
• Archives: 00053: 182: 10024: 002
• Archives: 00056:30:B2939; 31-33 Murphy Street, brewery additions, 28 Mar 1927
• Archives: 00056:102:B9409; 31-33 Murphy Street, alterations, 09 May 1930
• Archives: 00056:159:B14126; 31-33 Murphy Street, additions16 Jul 1935
• Archives: 00056:189:B16557; 31-33 Murphy Street, fridge room additions, 19 May 1937
• Archives: 00056:191:B16687; 31-33 Murphy Street, building alterations, 17 Jun 1937
• Archives: 00056:192:B16772; 31-33 Murphy Street, building alterations. 14 Jul 1937
• Archives: 00056:274:B22187; 31-33 Murphy Street, retaining wall, 03 Feb 1942
• Archives: 00056:368:B28264; 31-33 Murphy Street, alterations, 20 Jun 1949
• Archives: 00056:370:B28446; 31-33 Murphy Street, alterations, 04 Aug 1949
• Archives: 00056:395:B30400; 31-33 Murphy Street, nissen huts, 11 Oct 1950
• Archives: 00056:409:B31476; 31-33 Murphy Street, vats, 06 Jul 1951
• Archives: 00056:437:B33274; 31-33 Murphy Street, cool store, 08 Aug 1952
• Archives: 00056:468:B35464; 31-33 Murphy Street, wall, 27 Nov 1953
• Archives: 00053:182:10024; 31-33 Murphy Street [15-51 Murphy Street], addtions to brewery premises, 23 Feb 1915
• Archives: 00056:491:B36840; 31-33 Murphy Street, drivers room, 28 Sep 1954
• Archives: 00056:492:B36966; 31 Murphy Street, reinstatement of malt house, 19 Oct 1954
• Archives: 00056:500:B37490; 31-33 Murphy Street, retaining wall, 14 Feb 1955
• Archives: 00056:506:B37866; 31-33 Murphy Street, malt house alterations, 09 May 1955
• Archives: 00056:540:B39872; 31 Murphy Street, retaining wall, 26 Jun 1956
• Archives: 00058:5:C222; 31-33 Murphy Street [Little Pipitea Street], fermenting house, 15 Dec 1956
• Archives: 00058:5:C223; 31-33 Murphy Street, boiler house, 15 Nov 1956
• Archives: 00058:13:C623; 31-33 Murphy Street, chimney and base, 11 Feb 1957
• Archives: 00058:35:C1777; 31-33 Murphy Street, Engine room and yeast building, 24 Sep 1957
• Archives: 00058:43:C2189; 31-33 Murphy Street, bulb piling, 03 Dec 1957
• Archives: 00058:51:C2563; 31-33 Murphy Street, new brew house, 27 Feb 1958
• Archives: 00058:60:C2985; 31-33 Murphy Street, cask shelter, 20 May 1958
• Archives: 00058:63:C3111; 31-33 Murphy Street, building additions, 12 Jun 1958
• Archives: 00058:177:C8182; 31-33 Murphy Street, malt silo alterations, 15 Mar 1961
• Archives: 00058:277:C12267; 31-33 Murphy Street, toilet block, 28 Mar 1963
• Archives: 00058:348:C14954; 31-33 Murphy Street, tanker filling shelter, 26 Jun 1964
• Archives: 00058:413:C17645; 31-33 Murphy Street, fire escapes, 11 Aug 1965
• Archives: 00058:557:C26580; 31-33 Murphy Street, hopper and gantice etc, 04 Apr 1968
• Archives: 00058:684:C31282; 31-33 Murphy Street, warehouse, 30 Jun 1970
• Archives: 00058:572:C27189; 31-33 Murphy Street, building alterations – garage, 23 Jul 1968
• Archives: 00058:794:C35677; 31-33 Murphy Street, pump room, 28 Jun 1972
• Archives: 00058:952:C41814; 31-33 Murphy Street, beer tank stand, 20 Nov 1974

• Inventory Report

Not available