Prime Minister’s Residence

260 Tinakori Road, Thorndon, Wellington
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Image: Historic Places Trust
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Cityview GIS 2013
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  • Constructed

    1862 - 1873

  • Architect(s)

    Unknown / Colonial Architect - William Clayton

  • Builder(s)

    Unknown

  • This Italianate style building expresses the grandeur of its role as the prime minister’s residence. It has kept some materials from the original cottage construction and from an 1872-73 redesign.

    Although you can’t see the house from the street, the grounds add interest to a street that is otherwise built up to the footpath. 

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  • close History

    • When the capital city was moved from Auckland to Wellington in 1865, the Crown purchased sections 630 and 631 from Richard Collins for £2900 as a residence for the premier, as the site was close to the new Government buildings. The site already had a small timber cottage upon it that had been built in 1843 by businessman Nathaniel Levin which had been extensively added to by Richard Collins. In 1867 the Premier Sir E. Stafford moved into the house, and was the first of many New Zealand leaders who would occupy the building.

      Premier Sir Julius Vogel and his wife Mary took up residence in 1872, but they found the modest cottage to be too small for their lavish functions so engaged an architect to extend the building. Mary Vogel’s father, W.H. Clayton, the then Colonial Architect, is credited with the extensive alterations, costing £2885, which was completed in 1873. Of the original house, only the southern wing of the original house was retained, and in place of the remainder of the house was a two storey, late Victorian Italianate style timber house with eight bedrooms, enlarged servants quarters, a conservatory, and a ballroom. The house was clad in shiplap weatherboards, the building adorned with decorative elements such as Chicago and bay windows. The less visible rear of the building, where utilitarian areas such as the kitchen and scullery were located, was relatively plain. In 1884 New Zealand’s first lift was installed to transport Sir Julius Vogel, by now suffering from gout, from the dining room to his bedroom above. During the Vogel’s residence, the house was known for its opulent parties and acquired the name ‘The Casino’.

      In 1874 the Crown acquired section 632 once owned by James Hill. Sections 630, 631, and 632 were the last three original town acre sections in Wellington. This 1874 purchase brought the grounds surrounding Premier House to just under 121 square metres, a dramatic contrast to the small, heavily built up sections that otherwise characterised the rest of Thorndon. The grounds underwent extensive landscaping following this purchase. A site plan dated to 1890 shows a kitchen garden, shrubberies, flower beds, and fruit trees. A small house was included on section 632, which had been rented by both Sir George Grey and Edward Gibbon Wakefield, was retained on its site until 1935 when it was replaced with a new residence by the Labour Government.

      When the Labour Party came into power in 1935, the new Prime Minister Michael Savage considered the house to be too ostentatious for him to live in and decided to move into a house on Harbour View Road, and its parliamentary association ended for the time.

      There were rumours at the time that the house at 260 Tinakori Road would be demolished and the property subdivided. This did not occur, and the house was converted into a trainee dental clinic in 1937. It was designed to cope with the overflow of trainee dental nurses that had resulted from the new Government’s expanded health care programme, and the house was to serve as temporary accommodation until a new school could be constructed. It was capable of seating 50 children, and the house functioned as a clinic until 1976, and received the nickname ‘The Murder House’ by generations of children practiced on by the apprentice nurses.

      Following the closure of the clinic, the house was again threatened with demolition and subdivision. Ironically, it was a Labour minister, Michael Basset, who was instrumental in persuading the authorities to comply with the Thorndon Historical Society’s request to have the house reinstated as a ministerial residence. Although there was some push for redevelopment, public outcry meant that the house was restored in 1990 to mark the 150th anniversary of the signing of The Treaty of Waitangi. Many of the 1890s trees were still in place and enough of the original framework of the garden had survived to allow city council gardeners and landscapers to restore it to its former glory. The grounds are considered to be one of the best examples of a Victorian garden in Wellington. The house was again the residence of the Premier, with the first residents since the restoration being Geoffrey and Margaret Palmer. Premier house has housed every subsequent prime minister, with some choosing to have it as a family home, although it has not been occupied full-time by the past two. The house is still used to host VIP guests and is the venue for events such as awards ceremonies. It was one of the few ministerial residences retained by the government following the reformation of ministerial expenses and is maintained as a piece of living heritage.

    • Modifications close

      Not assessed

    • Occupation History close
      • 1879
      • Hon. Dr Daniel Pollen – Colonial secretary and member of the Legislative Council
      • 1883
      • Hon. F. Whitaker – Premier
      • 1887
      • Hon. Sir Julius Vogel
      • 1887 - 1891
      • Sir H.A. Atkinson
      • 1891 - 1893
      • John Ballance
      • 1896 - 1988
      • Sir Walter L. Buller – Ornithologist
      • 1899
      • S. Percy-Smith – Surveyor General and Ethnologist
      • 1901 - 1912
      • Sir Joseph Ward – Prime Minister
      • 1914 - 1925
      • Hon. William F. Massey – Prime Minister
      • 1927 - 1929
      • Hon. Joseph G. Coates – Prime Minister
      • 1928
      • Hon. George W. Forbes – Prime Minister
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      The Prime Minister’s Residence is a grand and impressive style of building, and stands as an excellent representative of the architecture of the period. It is constructed in timber and incorporates the best of the New Zealand carpenter tradition techniques and use of materials. Overall the style is Italianate, with detailing limited to decorated eaves, brackets around the roof line and an elaborate columned entrance. Much of the grandeur of the house is portrayed by the buildings scale.

    • Materials close

      Shiplap weatherboards

      Timber joinery

      Corrugated steel roofing

    • Setting close

      The Prime Ministers residence is situated on three of the remaining original town acres that have not been subdivided in Wellington. The grounds are now considered to be one of the best examples of a Victorian garden in the Wellington region. The house is not immediately visible from the street.

      Premier house occupies a prominent position in the historic Thorndon precinct, helping to define and maintain the historic character of the area. Thorndon is known to have experienced pre 1900 human activity and was occupied by various Iwi in the years before European settlement. Tinakori Road in the 19th and early 20th century developed as a key transport route that linked the Hutt Road, lower and upper Thorndon, and the routes to the western suburbs of Northland and Karori. The street is known for its mix of large houses (generally to the north) and cottages (generally to the south).

  • close Cultural Value

    Premier house has architectural value as an example of the Italianate style and stands as an excellent representative of the architecture of the period. The building expresses well the grandeur of its function as the prime minister’s residence. The redesign in 1872-73 was by one of Wellington’s most prominent architects, William Clayton.

    The house is not visible from the street so has little role in the streetscape, however the grounds are highly visible and provide a great deal of visual interest on a street that is otherwise built up to the footpath and road. It is a landmark on Tinakori Road and contributes to the character and sense of place in Thorndon, and more widely, Wellington.

    This building has significant authenticity and integrity due to the retention of some materials from the original cottage construction and the material from the 1872-73 William Clayton developments.

    • 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?

        Premier house has architectural value as an example of the Italianate style and stands as an excellent representative of the architecture of the period. The building expresses well the grandeur of its function as the prime minister’s residence. The redesign in 1872-73 was by one of Wellington’s most prominent architects, William Clayton.

      • 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?

        Premier house occupies a prominent position in the historic Thorndon precinct, an area made up of pre-1900 buildings, helping to define and maintain the historic character of the area.

      • 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 not visible from the street so has little role in the streetscape, however the grounds are highly visible and provide a great deal of visual interest on a street that is otherwise built up to the footpath and road. It is a landmark on Tinakori Road and contributes to the character and sense of place in Thorndon, and more widely, Wellington.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        Premier House has nationally important historical associations, primarily as the residence of the Prime Minister from 1867-1935, then 1990-present. It was redesigned in 1872-73 by prominent architect William Clayton.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        Premier House is a pre-1900 building, making it likely that archaeological material will be present.

      • Technological

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

        The house is constructed in materials and using techniques common to the period in which it was built. In the 1872-73 redesign, the southern wing of the 1843-67 cottages was retained, there may be some technical value in this fabric if it is still in place. There is also technical value in the lift, and the ballroom floor.

    • 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?

        Premier House is a focus of national identity as the residence of the premier of New Zealand 1867-1935, then 1990-present. It has been the scene of a number of important events and ceremonies throughout New Zealand history.

      • Public Esteem

        Is the item held in high public esteem?

        This building is held in high public esteem as the residence of the prime minister and as a heritage building. This is best exemplified by the public outcry at its demolition in 1935 and again when threatened by demolition and redevelopment prior to restoration in the 1990s.

    • 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?

        This building has significant authenticity and integrity due to the retention of some materials from the original cottage construction and the material from the 1972-73 William Clayton developments.

      • Representative

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

        Premier House is a good representative of the Italianate style as designed by William Clayton and stands as an excellent representative of the architecture of the period.

      • Local/Regional/National/International

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

        The Prime Ministers Residence is a nationally important building due to its significant history accommodating New Zealand’s premiers, prime minister’s, and senior officials, and in this capacity has hosted important events and ceremonies, stretching the political development of New Zealand from colony to dominion. Architecturally it is an excellent representative of the period and the Italianate style as designed by prominent architect Wellington William Clayton. It has technical values for the installation of the early lift system and the ballroom floor. It also has significant social values, and is held in high public esteem having been saved from demolition twice.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      18/ 308 (Heritage Order)

    • Legal Description

      Sec 1 SO 36604

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      1/ Historic Place 1371

    • Archaeological Site

      Pre 1900 Building

    • 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: 10/27/2016 10:08:50 PM