Wellington Central Fire Station

• 1936
• Wellington Central Fire Station (00056:170:B15032)
• 1968
• Additions and alterations (00058:545:C26169)
• 1972
• Additions and alterations (00058:796:C35809)
• 1984
• Additions and alterations (00058:0:C64887)
• 1988
• Business alterations (00059:201:D9551)
• 1990
• Business additions and alterations – glazed entrance (00059:404:E20785)
• 2004
• Refurbishment of fire station (00078:2412:112266)
• 2008
• Interior fit out, air conditioning and ventilation additions (00078:2702:182242)
• 2012
• SR256204 , RC - a Res.Con, 1. Land Use: Strengthening of fire station (heritage building)
• 2013
• SR281051 , aBLDG CONSENT, 3.2 - Commercial - Heritage Building - Wellington Central Fire Station including separate archive building at rear - New Seismic strengthening concrete shear walls, Fire safety upgrade work, minor internal alterations.

• 1937
• Wellington Fire Board

Not assessed

The main block of the Central Fire Station fronts onto Oriental Parade with a symmetrical facade and a central tower set well back. Behind this main block there are two wings of two-storey flats overlooking the rear car park. The style of the building is a functional version of Moderne, with some minor Art Deco touches.

The main building has a prominent central entrance, conceived as a shallow bay with five appliance access doors. The piers of the ground floor are continued through the first and second-floor levels as plain pilasters. Deeply recessed windows and spandrels fill the rest of this central component which is capped by a stepped parapet, acroterion, and flagpole. The tall vertical window bands light up the vehicle court behind and demonstrate the functionalism of the design.

The two wings on either side of the centre are a model of plain design, with metal window joinery and a regular pattern of window spacing. String courses above and below the windows tie the composition together somewhat. The line of the parapet is decorated by a zigzag line. The square clock tower carries the profiles and ornament of Art Deco.

The interior of the Central Fire Station, plain and utilitarian, is largely intact, with some simplified Art Deco detailing. Modifications have been made to some of upstairs accommodation.

This is a functional and rational building in reinforced concrete. In style, it is almost perfectly poised between the historicism of earlier decades, and styleless simplicity of the Modern Movement. Architectural precedents have been followed in the design of this building, and simplified, but no real departures have been made.

Reinforced concrete structure

The Wellington Central Fire Station is situated on Kent Terrace at the end of Wakefield Street. Its broad façade dominates the beginning of Kent Terrace and its clock tower is quite prominent. These features allow it to be viewed from quite a considerable distance along Wakefield Street. On the building’s southern side, along Kent Terrace, stands the Bats Theatre (1923). To the north the building is separated from the multi-storey Bay Plaza Hotel by an access way.

• 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 Wellington Central Fire Station is a good representative example of inter-war public building architecture. The building is notable for its size and scale, for its symmetrical main façade, and for its prominent clock tower.

• 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 fire station is a local landmark, and the building’s size and scale, the prominent clock tower and symmetrical main façade make a strong contribution to the streetscape of Kent Terrace.

• Association

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

  The building is associated with the efforts undertaken by Wellington’s fire service, since over the past 60 years the combat against some of the city’s largest fires has been directed from this station.

• Association

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

  The building has historic value for its 70 year association with the Wellington Fire Service. The building is also associated with the Wellington Town hall, as the clock in the tower was originally donated to the town hall in 1922 before being transferred to the fire station in 1932.

• 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.

• 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 building has had few intrusive modern alterations or additions and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of the Oriental Parade/Kent Terrace streetscape.

• Sentiment Connection

  Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

  The building will have sentimental value to both current and former members of Wellington’s fire service.

• 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 retained a significant amount of its original fabric, therefore it has authenticity.

• Importance

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

  The building is important on a local level due to the architectural value that it adds to the Wellington townscape and because of significant role that it has played in the history of the city’s fire service.

Not assessed

• Historic Places Trust. “Mitchell & Mitchell.” Professional Biographies. Accessed 13 August 2012.
• Ward, L.E. Early Wellington. Auckland: Whitcombe and Tombs. 1928.
• Wellington City Council. “2-38 Oriental Parade.” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: n-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001. ORIE1.
• Newspapers: Bristow, A. ‘Firefighting in the Old Days Was Quite Something.’ Evening Post. 28 October 1926
• Archives: ‘2-32 Oriental Parade Wellington Central Fire Station.’ 26 March 1936. 00056:170:B15032.

• Inventory Report
• Main Station Block drawings 1936
• Men's Quarters Block 1 drawings 1936
• Men's Quarters Block 2 drawings 1936
• Men's Quarters Block 3 drawings 1936
• Workshop drawings 1936

Not available