Shed 3

Shed ‘I’ (renumbered 1921), 2 – 6 Jervois Quay, Dockside Restaurant

Queen’s Wharf, Wellington, Wellington
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  • Constructed

    1887

  • Builder(s)

  • This harbourside wharf building is notable for alterations done in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries that show its many changes in use. It’s one the oldest examples of a building fundamental to operating Wellington’s wharves.

    It now houses Dockside bar and restaurant.

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  • close History
    • Under the 1852 NZ Constitution Act, provinces controlled harbour activities. With the abolition of the provinces in 1876, there followed a period of indecision and inefficiency. In 1878 the Harbours Act was passed, under which many of New Zealand’s harbour boards were established. Wellington had its own act, the Wellington Harbour Board Act of 1879, which created a body of appointees representing provincial and commercial interests. It first met on 20 February,1880.

      One of the prime considerations for the new board was the provision of wharves and, in 1883, new Chief Engineer William Ferguson drew up a plan of wharf development which was largely followed for next 50 years. The Board also began a building programme. For the first ten years the Board built warehouses and stores, predominantly in timber, for the storage, organisation and distribution of the goods for which it was responsible. Within decades a range of timber buildings occupied all the wharves and jetties from Taranaki Street to Pipitea Wharf.

      One of these buildings was Shed 3, which was designed by Ferguson and built on the north side of the main axis of Queens Wharf. H.M. Customs occupied the shed from c.1897 and a second storey addition was added in c.1911 to provide additional accommodation for the department at a cost of approximately £1000. Customs moved to Shed 7 in c.1921 and Shed 3 appears to have been used by the harbour tug and pilot staff after this date.

      In 1964, the Wellington Harbour Board cleared two of the Queens Wharf sheds and then another in 1973 when it also removed the line of sheds along Jervois Quay. This left Sheds 3 and 5 as the oldest Harbour Board buildings; Shed 5 retains much of its external original built fabric, but Shed 3 has been much altered.

      Lambton Harbour Management was established in 1989 to develop the waterfront for a mixture of commercial and public uses and one of the first projects pursued was the conversion of Sheds 3 and 5 into restaurant bars. Shed 3 became the Dockside although it had to be considerably altered to accommodate its new role. The building reopened in October 1991, and by 2001 had prospered in the (generally unsuccessful) Queens Wharf retailing area. The Dockside bar/restaurant continues to trade from Shed 3 (in 2013), and facilities within the bar/restaurant include a waterside deck, and a first floor alfresco dining area with a retractable canopy roof.

    • Modifications close
      • 1887
      • Original construction
      • c.1910
      • Additional storey added to Shed 3 to accommodate tug & pilot crews.
      • c.1991
      • Converted to restaurant, mezzanine floor added
      • 2013 - 21108
      • SR 211087, aBLDG CONSENT, 2.3 - Commercial - Shed 3, Dockside - Removal of existing retractable canopy over existing deck. Construction of new portal frames to take new retractable canopy, construction of side roofs and new bi-fold door to perimeter.
    • Occupation History close

      Not assessed

  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      Shed 3 is a much-altered maritime building that was built as a single-storey warehouse/shed. The second-storey addition dates from c.1910 and the fenestration from c.1991. The current retractable roof over the alfresco dining area dates from c.2013.

      The building is currently configured as a two-storey shed. It is clad in shiplap weatherboards and the upper and lower floors now incorporate French windows opening out to the north. A steel balcony completes the upper level while the lower door/windows have simple hoods over them. The roof is hipped and clad in corrugated mild steel.

      During the conversion of the building to a bar and restaurant, the interior partitions were mostly removed and a new mezzanine floor installed. The building also has a new retractable roof to cover the ground floor alfresco dining area.

    • Materials close

      Timber structure

      Timber rusticated weatherboard cladding

    • Setting close

      Shed 3 is located on the Wellington waterfront and serves as a waterside bar/restaurant. The building is set within a precinct of original harbour board buildings and wharves, modern retail/commercial buildings and the TSB Arena sports/entertainment venue.

      The most notable heritage buildings in the near vicinity of Shed 3 include its near neighbour, Shed 5, and the group of buildings and objects that make up the adjacent Post Office Square Heritage Area. This heritage area includes two sets of harbour board railings and gates (1899), a telephone box (c.1938) and post box (c.1879-1910), the diminutive Clarrie Gibbon’s building/former tram shed and traffic island (1912), Head Office and Bond Store (Museum of Wellington - City and Sea, 1891-92), Shed 7 /former Harbour Board Offices & woolstore (1896), Shed 11 (1904-05), Shed 13 (1904-05), Huddart Parker Building, 2-6 Jervois Quay (1924), and the Tower Building, 50 – 64 Customhouse Quay (1936).

  • close Cultural Value

    Shed 3 is a much altered example of a harbour-side wharf building that is notable for the series of alterations in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries that document its multiple changes-in-use over the years.

    The building is one of a group of heritage buildings and objects that have an association with the Wellington Harbour Board and contribute to the character of the Wellington waterfront.

    Shed 3 has historic value for its association with the shipping industry and harbour board, both of which were crucial to the economic life of early Wellington. The building, although much altered, is one the oldest remaining examples of a building type that was fundamental to the operation of the wharves.

    • 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?

        Shed 3 is a much altered example of a harbour-side wharf building that is notable for the series of alterations in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries that document its multiple changes-in-use over the years.

      • 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 is one of a group of heritage buildings and objects that have an association with the Wellington Harbour Board and contribute to the character of the Wellington waterfront.

    • Historic Value close
      • Association

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

        Shed 3 has historic value for its association with the shipping industry and harbour board, both of which were crucial to the economic life of early Wellington. The building, although much altered, is one the oldest remaining examples of a building type that was fundamental to the operation of the wharves.

      • Association

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

        Shed 3 was designed by Wellington Harbour Board Engineer – William Ferguson

        The building was used by HM Customs from 1897-1921. 

    • Scientific Value close
      • Archaeological

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

        Pre 1900 building; Pre 1900 reclaimed land; Central City NZAA R27/270

    • Social Value close
      • Sentiment/Connection

        Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

        The building is in ongoing use as a bar/restaurant and is likely to be a focus of community sentiment and connection for bar and restaurant patrons and for the many people who have attended corporate and social events at this venue over the years.

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close

      Not assessed

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail
    • District Plan Number

      17/ 256 (This item is listed for information purposes only. The jurisdiction for this item under the RMA 1991 lies with the Wellington Regional Council)

    • Legal Description

      None

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not listed (contributing element to proposed Wellington Harbour Board Historic Area 7036)

    • Archaeological Site

      Pre 1900 building; Pre 1900 reclaimed land; Central City NZAA R27/270

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Not Earthquake Prone

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 12/20/2016 1:22:23 AM