Apartment Building

• 1929
• 300 Oriental Parade, dwelling (00056:87:B8262)
• 2005
• 300 Oriental Parade, screen wall on south boundary (00078:2534:125549)

• unknown
• Not assessed

Not assessed

The house at 300 Oriental Parade is a handsome three storey Georgian Revival building, built in reinforced concrete (exterior walls, ground, and part of the first floor) with a warm red brick facing; other floors and roof framing are in timber. The main (west) elevation of the house faces across Oriental Bay and back to the city.

The ground floor has two garages with internal access up into the house. The garage doors are flanked on either side by a gate and passage that on the left leads alongside the building to the backyard, and on the right to the first floor front door. The first floor of the house has the formal rooms and the kitchen/pantry; there are further service rooms, including a laundry and outside toilet in the backyard. The top floor plan shows four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dressing room, and sundry closets and cupboards. It is a very well appointed house for its time.

The main elevation of the house faces west. The garages, with a Greek frieze pattern above, and strong horizontal banding at second floor, and roof parapet level, are white painted plaster on concrete contrasting with the warm red brick of the rest of the façade. The first floor has four tall multi paned windows, set back from the wall surface and surmounted by a semi-circular arch with an inset roundel. The top floor has square-headed double hung windows, the sashes again divided into small panes. It is a carefully considered, rational, and ordered façade.

The house has now been converted into apartments. The ground floor car parks were excavated to create an underground car park with lift access into the apartments.

Reinforced concrete (exterior walls, ground, and part of the first floor)

Red brick facing;

Floors and roof framing are in timber

Plaster

This house has very high aesthetic significance as one of a group of period buildings that define the sweep of Oriental Parade, where the combination of harbour and city views, sea-walls, and promenade, with bush clad hills behind and a number of high quality residences in the area create an attractive setting.

• 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?

  This house has architectural value as a competent example of the Georgian Revival style, executed in concrete and red brick, and characterised by a well ordered and symmetrical façade.

• 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?

  This building is one of a group of period buildings that define the sweep of Oriental Parade, contributing to a group of high quality residential buildings of different periods.

• 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 house is of high townscape value, contributing visual interest to the streetscape. It is visible from both directions around the bay, adding its own dignified presence to the eclectic mix that makes the bay architecturally interesting.

• Association

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

  The historical significance of this house is primarily linked to its first owner and occupant, Sir Donald McGavin, one of New Zealand’s most well respected surgeons. It is also associated with Henry Dobie, the former Chairman and managing director of the Union Steamship Co., the most important shipping company in New Zealand history. It is also associated with its architect William Page.

• Archaeological

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

  This house is included 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?

  This building has technical interest for its concrete and brick construction.

• 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 house contributes to the sense of place and continuity on Oriental Parade due to the retention of its original features and its long standing place on the street.

• 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?

  This house has a high level of authenticity in its exterior form and detail.

• 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 of local significance for its historical associations, its contribution to the townscape, its exterior authenticity, and the place that it holds in an important group of period buildings on Oriental Parade.

• Representative

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

  This house is a representative of the Georgian Revival style executed in brick and concrete. It is a good example of a residential building of medium scale and is a rare application of this style in Wellington.

Not assessed

• Kelly, Michael and Chris Cochrane. ‘300 Oriental Parade – McGavin House’. Unpublished heritage assessment, prepared for Wellington City Council, 2001.
• Archives: 1929300 Oriental Parade, dwelling (00056:87:B8262)
• Archives: 2005300 Oriental Parade, screen wall on south boundary (00078:2534:125549)

Not available

Not available