House

• 1890 - 1950
• (00339:141:4); Connection records, 258-309 The Terrace
• 1892
• The house does not appear on the 1892 Thomas Ward survey maps
• 1927
• SR9006813, Bldg Cons<500K, Dwelling, Site Address is 258 The Terrace
• 1931
• (00056:124:B11238); 258 The Terrace, garage; (0432:529:44703); 258 The Terrace1931
• 1963 - 1992
• (00009:1667:45/29/88); Premises, 258, 328, 332 The Terrace
• 1970 - 1994
• (00277:1055:11); Building: 258 The Terrace: D G Holmes
• 1978
• (00001:184:6/499); Building: 258 The Terrace - Estate of T E Holmes
• 1981
• (00058:0:C57696); 258 The Terrace, re-pile;( 00058:0:C58019); 258 The Terrace, convert three flats to dwelling and incomplete flat
• 1989
• (00059:303:E17777); 258 The Terrace, flat additions and alterations - conversion

• 1916
• Mrs J Russell
• 1919
• Mrs Pearce

Not assessed

No.258 The Terrace is a two-storey Edwardian (or earlier) villa that is decorated with a particularly fine palette of Classical ornamentation.

The ground floor features three rectangular bay windows that are decorated with delicately carved (or machined) Corinthian pilasters, and an equally fine timber cornice complete with brackets and dentils. The street façade is dominated by a single bay window at ground floor level that is flanked to the south by an enclosed entrance porch. A first floor balcony runs along the full extent of the east and north facades, it is supported by a pair of unusual decorative brackets at the northeast corner, and by the bay windows and entrance porch. The balcony forms a verandah at ground floor level and is partly covered by a verandah roof along the east (street) façade at first floor level.

The first floor windows include a pair of linked sash windows with curved heads (similar in profile to a gauged brick arch) directly above the ground floor (east) bay. The other first floor (east and north) windows all appear to have been designed or converted into doors.

The building’s main distinguishing feature is its fine timber ‘lantern’ at roof level.

Timber cladding

Timber sash windows

Corrugated mild steel roofing

The Terrace was once known for its stock of timber Victorian and Edwardian villas that were built for the city’s upper middle-class. Although many villas have been replaced by high-rise office buildings at the north end of the street, the south end of The Terrace is characterised by these large dwellings – many of which have since been subdivided into apartments. Notable examples include Somerled House c.1880s (17/294) and Carrigafoyle 1903 (17/295), and the 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.

• 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?

  258 The Terrace is a good representative example of a Wellington villa that is notable for its unusual lantern-light at roof level, and for the particularly fine scheme of Classical ornamentation used to decorate its north and east facades.

• 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 house has considerable group value as one of a set of large Victorian and Edwardian villas that line The Terrace.

• 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 a group of large Victorian and Edwardian villas that define the streetscape of the south end of The Terrace.

• Association

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

  Although this large house was likely to have been built as accommodation for an upper-middleclass family it was used, instead, as a boarding house and divided into flats. It appears to have had an uneventful and representative history that is typical of its neighbours on The Terrace.

• Archaeological

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

  Central City NZAA R27/270, and pre 1900 house

• 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 modern alterations or additions over the past 100+ years and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of The Terrace.

• Local Regional National International

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

  The house has local significance

• Representative

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

  The house is a good representative example of a large Victorian villa

Not assessed

• Dominion, 28 May 1919, Evening Post, 21 February 1916; Evening Post, 30 January 1920; Evening Post, 8 September 1922; Evening Post, 29 August 1923; Evening Post, 13 February 1926; Evening Post, 14 August 1940; Evening Post, 9 March 1944;
• Fearnley, Charles. Vintage Wellington. Dunedin: John McIndoe Ltd. 1970.
• Thomas Ward Survey Map 1892
• WCC Archives

Not available

Not available