Taranaki Street Police Station (Former)

• 1914 - 1916
• Original construction
• 2000
• Renovation, refurbishment, seismic strengthening
• 2002
• Alterations and upgrade of existing bar (basement)
• 2009
• New signage – Hashigo Zake

• 1914 - 1980
• New Zealand Police
• 2000
• Zibibbo Restaurant
• 2000 - 2009
• Different bars
• 2009
• Hashigo Zake Cult Beer bar

Not assessed

The former Taranaki Street Police Station was designed by Government Architect John Campbell in 1914. It was designed in the standard government style of the time – Edwardian Baroque. It is in some respects a scaled-down version of the former Wellington Central Police Station in Waring Taylor Street.

The street façade is asymmetric and is divided into five equal bays by a row of tall giant-order pilasters, and horizontally - by a solid base, a rusticated ground floor, string course, a simple cornice and parapets. The main entrance to the building is via the central bay, and there is a wide archway with access to a rear yard via the southernmost bay. The three remaining ground floor bays are in-filled with rusticated render and inset by arched windows. The first floor windows have rectangular heads and are set above rendered panels. The external wall at the first floor is exposed brick. The central window above the main entrance is more elaborate than the flanking windows. The giant-order pilasters are linked in pairs at parapet level and perhaps once supported a pair of elaborate pediments – but the cornice and parapet is now somewhat reduced.

Although the façade is multi-layered and well-considered, the overall effect is of a simplified Edwardian Baroque without the Mannerist excesses of the old Public Trust Building on Lambton Quay.

Concrete

Brick

Steel framed windows

The old Taranaki Street Police Station is located on the Taranaki Street Extension – a wide six-lane road that is one of the key transport routes through the east of the city. It is part of a group of five buildings that make up the eastern ‘street-wall’ on Taranaki Street between Wakefield Street and Courtenay Place. These buildings are the fine two-storey Manthel Motors Building (1913 - WCC ref 16/377) on the corner of Wakefield and Taranaki Streets, the old Police Station, a three-storey Art Deco building (1924 - WCC ref 16/280), a new 12-storey apartment building that preserves a part of Te Aro Pa in its subfloor, and ‘Molly Malones’ on the corner of Taranaki and Courtenay Place. The street-wall of two to three storey early 20th century rendered masonry buildings is only broken by the modern apartment block that rather towers over its diminutive neighbours.

• 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 old Taranaki Street Police Station is a good representative example of an early 20th century civic building. It was designed in an Edwardian Baroque style, and is typical of many buildings designed by the NZ Government Architect’s office in the early 20th century.

• 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 row of three brick masonry heritage buildings on Taranaki Street that share a similar construction date, history of use and scale. It is flanked to the north by the two-storey Manthel Motors Building (1913 - WCC ref 16/377) on the corner of Wakefield and Taranaki Streets, and to the south by a fine three-storey Art Deco building (1924 - WCC ref 16/280).

• 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 building is part of a row of three heritage buildings that provide visual interest and character to the eastern side of the old ‘Taranaki Street Extension’.

• Association

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

  This building is associated with the development and subdivision of Courtenay place between 1840 and 1880 and with the Te Aro Pa, which it is at least partially sited upon. It is of historic value for its continuous use as a city police station between 1916 and 1980 and the community which it has served. It is also associated with Government Architect John Campbell.

• Archaeological

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

  This building is associated with two known archaeological sites: Sites of significance to Maori – Te Aro Pa R27/15. NZAA Central City Archaeological Area 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?

  This building contributes to a sense of community identity in Wellington and to a sense of place within Wellington through its continuous use as a police station between 1916 and the 1980s. The exterior has had few modifications and creates a sense of grandeur and dignity far beyond its modest scale.

• 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 exterior of this building retains significant original materials and has had few modifications. It has a high level of exterior authenticity in design, craftsmanship, materials, and setting.

  The interior of the building has been significantly altered although the original staircase is included in the District Plan listing. 

• Representative

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

  This building is a highly successful and confident interpretation of Edwardian Baroque by one of the most prominent architects of the period. It is a good representative of both the style and of John Campbell’s work.

• Local/Regional/National/International

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

  This building is of local importance due to its architectural qualities, the connection that it has to the history of Wellington, the contribution that it makes to the present character of Wellington, its townscape values, and its historical associations.

Not assessed

• Historic Places Trust, ‘John Campbell’, Professional Biographies. Accessed 31 July 2013.
• Kelly, Michael, and Russell Murray. Courtenay Place Heritage Area Report. Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006.
• Wellington City Council. Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001.
• Newspapers: ‘New Police Station’, Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2407, 12 March 1915, Page 7.
• Newspapers: ‘New Police Station’, Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2731, 28 March 1916, Page 8.

• Inventory Report

Not available