Somerled House

• 1902
• Building construction (00053:83:4790)
• 1932
• Reinstatement following fire (00056:127:B11541)
• 1964
• Addition-Carport (00058:257:C11423)
• 1976
• Reinstatement-repiling (00058:1070:C46461)
• 1976 - 1979
• Alteration and additions- Renovations, installation of stained glass windows, re-plastering of ceilings, repainting of exterior, installation of new kitchen, addition of swimming pool and sauna
• 1980
• Alterations-Residential/commercial resource consent, reinstatement of wrought iron fence, landscaping
• 1995
• Alterations-conversion into residential apartments, ensuite added, access ways added.
• 2006
• Dwelling additions and alterations amounting to $49,000. (00078:2065:141802)

• 1902
• T.K. Macdonald and family
• 1920
• Lucia Mills
• 1930
• John Hamilton Miles
• 1944
• Marjorie Annie McIntyre
• 1952
• Howard Neville Robinson
• 1960
• Ruby Turner-proprietor of boarding house, numerous tenants
• 1976
• Vic Martin-Viceroy Antiques
• 1980
• B.A. Wilson-Offices of Olpherts Barristers and Solicitors
• 1995
• Tainui Maori Trust Board-Various Tenants

Not assessed

William Turnbull designed Somerled House in 1902 in the popular style of the time, late Victorian/Edwardian with Italianate features. It was built as a large extension to an earlier house, parts of which may date from as early as c.1860.

The façade is marked by a protruding bay, porch, balcony, and a square turret. The house features on the far right side a square tower with steep (gothic styled) turret with crows nest and wrought iron work at the top. The turret is one of the most significant features, with elongated windows, string courses, half-timbered frieze and hipped roof. The centre is made up of an entrance/conservatory and a first floor balcony. The balcony features balustrading and turned, moulded, and tapered columns with a sunburst decorated pediment and finial. The left side of the building has a protruding hexagonal bay window that is featured on both the ground and second floor.

The interior of Somerled House retains authenticity with many features remaining. The house features a Kauri staircase, along with kauri doors, arches, fire surrounds, and other features. A major feature is a domed ceiling with a stained glass lantern in the central hall.

Somerled House is a timber framed structure with an exterior cladding consisting of rusticated timber weatherboards. The roof is constructed of corrugated iron, with wrought iron finishing’s on the roof, front fence, and gates. Stained glass windows are a feature of the façade. The interior is finished in kauri with brass fixtures and fittings.

Somerled House is an important feature of the Terrace streetscape. The building adds character to the street as a good example of the, now diminishing, stock of timber residences that were built for upper middle-class Victorian and Edwardian Wellington. These include Carrigafoyle 1903 (17/295), and houses at 214, 221, 230, 244, 258 and 274 The Terrace that date from the 1890s to the early 1900s and are also listed on the WCC Heritage Inventory.

Somerled house, in conjunction with the other timber houses on the Terrace, helps to mark the Terrace as a centre of life for the elite at the turn of the century. It also helps to demarcate the residential southern end of the Terrace from the commercial northern end.

• 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?

  Somerled House is a good representative example of a grand Victorian House built for the wealthy elite. It is notable for the composition of its main façade, for its ornate scheme of Classical timber ornamentation.

• 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?

  Somerled House is one of a group of large timber houses of the wealthy elite that were built on The Terrace from the 1890s to the early 1900s.

• 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?

  Somerled House, with its distinctive corner tower, and ornate scheme of Classical timber ornamentation, is a local landmark on The Terrace and makes a major contribution to the streetscape.

• Association

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

  This building is associated with Thomas Kennedy Macdonald, a wealthy local  businessman, politician and land agent. This building is also associated with William Turnbull, prominent Wellington architect.

• Association

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

  This building is representative of the wealth and prosperity that characterised this area of Wellington at the turn of the century.

• Archaeological

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

  There is evidence of a pre 1900 building and pre 1900 human activity on the site so is protected under the HPA (1993).

• Technological

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

  This building has some technical value due to the retention of the exterior façade and some internal features. It can provide insight into the ways that materials were used and the construction techniques that were employed in the construction of a large wooden house in the Edwardian period.

• 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 over the past 100 years and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of the streetscape of The Terrace.

• 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 building has authenticity in the retention of its exterior façade and internal features.

• 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 important at a local/regional level due to its associations with well known Wellingtonians, the authenticity of its façade, and the contribution that it makes to the Terrace streetscape.

• Representative

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

  This building is a representative of the wealth and prosperity of the area its owners, and the architectural style and talent of William Turnbull. It is a good representative of buildings from the Edwardian period in its style and scale.

Not assessed

• Alington, Margaret. 'Macdonald, Thomas Kennedy - Biography', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 1-Sep-10. Accessed 28 September 2012
• New Zealand Historic Places Trust Buildings Record Form, HP FILE NO. 12013-504.
• Riddell, Mark. ‘Somerled House 192 The Terrace-Conservation Plan’ Unpublished, 12.10.1999.
• 00053: 83: 4790: 001
• WCC Records
• “Heritage Building-192 The Terrace”. 1998. 1041-06-TER192, Wellington City Council Records.
• HPT Architect Biographies
• Historic Places Trust, “William Turnbull”, Professional Biographies, accessed September 28, 2012.
• ‘Wellington Harbour Board’. Colonist. Volume XLIX, Issue 11871, 27 February 1907.
• ‘New Zealand Politics’. Wairarapa Daily Times. Volume XXVII, Issue 7492, 23 June 1903.

• Inventory Report

Not available