Chew Cottage

Millwood

19 Ottawa Road, Ngaio, Wellington
❰ ❱
Images: Charles Collins, 2015
Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015
Images: Charles Collins, 2015
Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015
Cityview GIS 2012
Cityview GIS 2012
pre 1914 - Chew cottage, Ngaio, Wellington. Siers, Judy, 1937- :Photographs. Ref: 1/2-031670-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22894045

Pre 1914 image of Chew Cottage


National Library reference: Chew cottage, Ngaio, Wellington. Siers, Judy, 1937- :Photographs. Ref: 1/2-031670-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22894045

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  • Constructed

    1865

  • Architect(s)

    John Chew

  • Builder(s)

    John Chew

  • Chew Cottage is good representative example of a c.1860s farmhouse that has been adapted in several phases to suit its use as family home for over 140 years.

    The house is associated with the Chew family who established one of the earliest farms in Ngaio. John Chew was a sawmill owner who gave his name to Chews Lane, a narrow pedestrian thoroughfare between Willis and Victoria streets. 

    The house has some technological value for its use of local timber that may have been milled at the nearby Kaiwarra Sawmill, also once owned by John Chew. 

    The house is a focus of community sentiment and connection. It is the subject of extensive research by its local historical society and features in many publications about local history.

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  • close History

    • The house at 19 Ottawa Road was built in c.1865 by John Chew (c.1826– 1888) a businessman, timber merchant, farmer, Hutt County councillor and Harbour Board member.

      John Chew was born in Lancashire where he trained as a foundry patternmaker and later worked as a grocer. He married Esther Horsfall (c.1823 - 1906) and the couple arrived in Wellington on the Oliver Lang in 1858 with their oldest children.  They settled at Crofton (Ngaio) where they purchased 212 acres and leased a further 200 acres of forest and farmland in 1859.  The Chews moved initially into a small house that was sited to the north of Chew Cottage. This house was abandoned soon-after and became the playhouse for the Chew’s grandchildren before it was demolished. A second cottage (also demolished) was built on the same section and this later became John Chew’s workshop, as well as a storeroom and washhouse. The building that we now know as Chew Cottage was built in c.1865 as the first permanent and substantial house on the section.

      The new house was known initially as ‘Millwood’ and was built of local totara and rimu.  The internal finishing timber is kauri, and is likely to have been shipped from Auckland or from the far north where it naturally occurs. The rimu and totara may well have been milled at the adjacent ‘Kaiwarra Saw Mill’, a water-powered mill that stood at the approximate current site of the Ngaio Town Hall. John Chew purchased the saw-mill in 1863, at a time when most of the local timber had already been cleared. The saw-mill was owned by a group of four sawyers, Joseph Hurley, Joseph Torr, Benjamin Lewis Lowndes and Thomas Parry, who had originally built a water-powered mill at the Porirua Stream in 1842. This venture failed as their rights to mill were uncertain, and they were driven from the land by the Ngati Toa leader and warrior, Te Rangihaeata. They then made an agreement with Captain Daniell in c.1843 and established the Kaiwarra Saw Mill on his ‘Trelissick’ farmstead. Chew is said to have used the mill equipment to establish a sash and door factory (or timber merchants) on Willis Street to the north of Chew’s Lane, and this timber yard remained in business long after the Kaiwarra Saw Mill was destroyed by floodwaters in c.1865. He later built saw mills in Porirua (from c.1870),  Carterton (by c.1878) and possibly in the King Country, the Hutt Valley and D’Urville Island.

      Although Chew Cottage is one of Wellington’s oldest cottages, it is not the oldest to have survived in Ngaio. It was pre-dated by some eight years by its near neighbour, ‘Crofton’, for which the suburb was originally named. ‘Crofton’ (1857) was built for William Fox, a leading statesman who later became premier of New Zealand. It was sold in 1862 to the first Bishop of the Wellington Anglican diocese, C.H. Abraham, for use as a private boy’s college, but reverted to use as a family home in 1875.  Crofton may have been larger, earlier and had somewhat grander pretensions than Chew Cottage, but its owners were transient and often let the house for long periods. The Chew family, along with their Aplin neighbours who farmed the adjacent ‘Colway Farm’ to the east of Ottawa Road, are remembered as the earliest permanent settlers in Ngaio and had a correspondingly high influence on the development of Crofton/Ngaio. John Chew is also remembered as a prominent local identity who pursued a range of interests that include saw-milling, mining, the railways, manufacturing and politics. He was a member of the Hutt County Council and served as the council’s representative to the Wellington Harbour Board.

      Chew cottage was home to John and Esther and their six children. It passed to Esther Chew in 1888, and to her youngest daughter, Annie, in 1906. Annie Chew (1868 – 1953) married Arthur Henry Gibson in 1891 and the couple built a house to the north of Chew Cottage that subsequently burnt down. They returned to live at the family home where Annie managed the homestead and the surrounding land. The house was altered in c.1910 when the ‘colonial oven’ was removed from the dining room, and the scullery was converted into a kitchen. The dairy was converted into a pantry and bathroom, and the verandah was removed and replaced with an addition to the room behind. A small sun-room was built to the rear of the cottage, and this was later converted into a wash-house. Annie and Arthur raised their only surviving child, a son named Esmond Allen Gibson (1896 – 1981), at the cottage and Esmond became a civil engineer and aviation administrator. He sold the house and subdivided the land at some time after Annie’s death in 1953. 

      The Historic Places Trust are said to have been offered the house for use as a house-museum, but it was instead sold to the Rands-Trevor family. It was modernised with the installation of new plumbing, electrical wiring and wall linings, and new French doors that were added to the dining room. The renovation process was continued by Jim and Judy Siers, who bought the cottage in 1967. Judy Siers is a well known local author, historian and former city councillor who, along with her husband, ran
      the well-regarded Millwood press, gallery and bookshop - all of which were named after John Chew’s house.  A new studio, designed by notable architect and historian Charles Fearnley, was built at the rear (east) of the property in 1974. Further work was designed by architect and historian Martin Hill (Synaxon Architects) in 1984 to add a conservatory and laundry, to update the kitchen, and to add an en-suite bathroom to the ground floor bedroom.

      A visit to the house in 1997 as part of the Heritage Building Interiors project found that some of the original furniture associated with the Chew family – although other items were donated to the ‘Dominion Museum’, now Te Papa; including some of the items that John Chew purchased at the International Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876.

      The house was sold again in the 1990s, and the 1974 studio was enlarged by its new owners in c.2008. Further work was carried out in c.2011 to demolish the existing south porch, build a new verandah, remove the c.1984 ensuite, and to refurbish the building’s interior.



    • Modifications close
      • 1910
      • Verandah infill to south elevation. Scullery converted into a kitchen. Dairy Verandah infill to south elevation. Scullery converted into a kitchen. Dairy (store-room converted into a bathroom and pantry.
      • 1930
      • (00056:103:B9503); 19 Ottawa Road, tool shed
      • 1945
      • (00009:2145:50/1054/396); Damage by Earthquake 19 Ottawa Road, Mrs A E Gibson
      • 1974
      • (00058:908:C40237); 19 Ottawa Road, dwelling additions and alterations
      • 1979
      • (00058:1204:C51667); 18 Ottawa Road, retaining wall and carport
      • 1984
      • (00058:0:C64475); 19 Ottawa Road, dwelling additions and alterations, laundry, kitchen and bathroom
      • 1984
      • (00058:0:C65240); 19 Ottawa Road, conservatory
      • 2009
      • (00078:3143:189058); 19 Ottawa Road, new deck, bathroom on slab and box window and associated work to existing studio building.
      • 2010
      • (00078:3746:205554); 19 Ottawa Road, demolish south porch and section of bedroom; construct new verandah; remove en-suite and enlarge existing bedroom; interior re-furbish
    • Occupation History close
      • unknown
      • Not Assessed
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      Chew Cottage is a small c.1865 farmhouse that is typical of the Colonial period. The overall form of the cottage is typical of timber gothic houses of the period – but this example is notable for its simplicity and lack of adornment, and for the exterior of the house, which is made up of a complex arrangement of gable end walls and steeply pitched roofs.

      The original plan may well have been ‘T’ shaped, with a main entrance and verandah to the south. The main reception rooms and a bedroom were located on the ground floor, and the children’s bedrooms, and possibly a nursery or schoolroom, were located in the first floor ‘attics’. The ‘T’ has been in-filled, possibly at an early date with a dairy under a lean-to roof at the north-east, and a scullery to the north. These are either original or very early additions.

      The verandah was in-filled in c.1910 at which time the oven was removed from the dining room and the scullery converted into a kitchen. The dairy was converted into a bathroom and pantry at this time.

      The house was enlarged in c.1974 when a studio was built in the rear (west) garden. The living room was extended with a ‘bay’ to the west, the dining room doors were added to give access to the gardens, and a laundry was added at the north-west corner. It was further enlarged in c.1984 with a large conservatory to the west of the house, and a smaller addition to the existing laundry. An ensuite was added to the ground floor bedroom. The c.1974 studio was altered and enlarged in 2009. Further work was proposed in 2010, including a proposal to reinstate the original verandah.

      A visit to the building’s interior in 1997 noted that the ground floor featured a dining room with a match-lined ceiling, a built-in cupboard, built-in chest of drawers, and an ‘original fireplace transferred from another room’. The living room featured an original fire surround and pelmets. The front room (presumably the bedroom) featured some original tongue and groove ceiling linings. The hallway featured ‘shiplapping’ to the wall (perhaps where the original verandah was enclosed), original doors and latches, architraves and skirtings, original coat-rack and wainscoting. The stair, staircase and wall linings are said to be made of kauri, totara and kahikatea. The first floor small bedroom featured the original window and architrave, a chest, floor boards and pelmet. The main bedroom included original floorboards, bed, chest of drawers, ‘chest (from John Chew’s voyage to New Zealand), and original pictures of the Chew family.’ The house also features original doors and fittings including keys, and original floors.

      The most notable internal features were the ‘…interior room layout, timber floors, original wainscoting, staircase, two fire-surrounds, built in cupboards (dining room) pelmets, architraves, skirtings, doors and hardware.’

    • Materials close

      Timber ship-lap weatherboards

      Timber framing

    • Setting close

      Chew Cottage is located on Ottawa Road, the main thoroughfare through the wellington suburb of Ngaio. The house is surrounded by houses that generally date from the 20th century. The house to the due south is a bland c.1960s house that appears to occupy land that was subdivided from the cottage’s original front approach / front garden. The property due north of the cottage is occupied by a large petrol station whose asphalted car park allows for views to the rear (south) of the cottage.

  • close Cultural Value

    Chew Cottage is good representative example of a c.1860s farmhouse that has been adapted in several phases to suit its use as family home for over 140 years.

    The house is associated with the Chew family who established one of the earliest farms in Ngaio. John Chew was a sawmill owner who gave his name to Chews Lane, a narrow pedestrian thoroughfare between Willis and Victoria streets.

    The house has some technological value for its use of local timber that may have been milled at the nearby Kaiwarra Sawmill, also once owned by John Chew.

    The house is a focus of community sentiment and connection. It is the subject of extensive research by its local historical society and features in many publications about local history.

    • 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?

        Chew Cottage is good representative example of a c.1860s farmhouse that has been adapted in several phases to suit its use as family home for over 140 years.

      • 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 house is one of the oldest in suburban Ngaio and is a local landmark on Ottawa Road, a major thoroughfare in the suburb.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        The house is associated with the Chew family who established one of the earliest farms in Ngaio. John Chew was a sawmill owner who gave his name to Chews Lane, a narrow pedestrian thoroughfare between Willis and Victoria streets that once bordered his central Wellington timber yard.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        Pre 1900 building

      • Technological

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

        The house has some technological value for its use of local timber that may have been milled at the nearby Kaiwarra Sawmill that was once owned by John Chew.

    • 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 house has had few intrusive modern alterations or additions over the past 140+ years and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of suburban Ngaio.

      • Public Esteem

        Is the item held in high public esteem?

        The house is held in high public esteem and was once considered worthy of preservation as a ‘house-museum’.

      • Sentiment Connection

        Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

        The house is a focus of community sentiment and connection and is the subject of extensive research by its local historical society.

    • 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?

        The house retains much of its original and early built fabric, to both the interior and exterior.

      • Local Regional National International

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

        The house is of local significance.

      • Rare

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

        The house is a relatively rare surviving example of a 1860s farmhouse in the Wellington region.

      • Representative

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

        The house is a good representative example of a 1860s farmhouse

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      21/ 247

    • Legal Description

      LOT 5 DP 26224 - CHEW HOUSE

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      1/ 1348

    • Archaeological Site

      Pre 1900 house

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Outside Earthquake Prone Policy

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 11/27/2017 1:57:19 AM