House

304 Tinakori Road, Thorndon, Wellington
Image: Charles Collins, 2015
Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015
Map

  • Constructed

    1902 - 1903

  • Heritage Area

    Thorndon Shopping Centre

  • Architect(s)

    Robert Roy Macgregor

  • Builder(s)

    Thomas Joseph McCarthy

  • The house at 304 Tinakori Road is a good example of an Edwardian villa design that has been adapted to suit the narrow plot width and steep topography of a typical inner-suburb Wellington site.

    The buildings at 296-306 Tinakori Road derive much of their aesthetic value as a group of buildings constructed in a similar style and of a similar age that have had few intrusive modern additions or alterations. The repetition of scale, form and decorative elements contribute to the unity and cohesion of the streetscape. 

    304 Tinakori Road retains significant amounts of its early and original building features and has had few modifications made since its construction, for these reasons, it has authenticity.  


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  • close History

    • 304 Tinakori Road is one of a row of six houses designed and constructed in the first decade of the 20th century. The two central houses at 300 & 302 Tinakori Road were designed by Crichton & McKay for Mrs Blick and the houses at 296, 298, 304 and 306 Tinakori Road were designed by Rob Roy Macgregor for Thomas Joseph McCarthy, in 1902. 

      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), and as the location of Premier House at 260 Tinakori Road that was purchased by the Crown in 1865.  

      The terrace of houses at 296 – 306 Tinakori Road all appear to have been built as speculative housing, and were generally designed to appeal to landlords and their working/ lower middle class tenants.   The location of the buildings must have had much appeal as The Terrace (formerly Wellington Terrace) is situated immediately adjacent to Thorndon’s main shopping area at the intersection of Ascot Terrace and Tinakori Road. Other local amenities include the Botanic Gardens that were substantially complete by 1900, and the tram route (c.1904) from Molesworth Street to the Botanic Gardens that later ran on to Karori.    

      Thomas McCarthy was a carpenter who lived on Tinakori Road, and was the owner of the houses at 304 and 306 Tinakori Road.  This pair of houses is taller than the other pairs to the north, with each being three full storeys above a basement. 304 retains the most original appearance, and shows a distinct San Francisco influence in its styling, decoration, and the use of multi-storey verandahs. 304 has a long, narrow, gabled roof that is hipped at the west end, and has a small rear lean to. The gable end has decorative half-timbering and scrollwork gable brackets. The most striking feature is the three-storey high verandah with fretwork trims and slender timber balustrading. Behind this, the top two storeys each have a 3-sided bay window, with double hung windows to each side and a pair of double hung windows to the street front at each storey, the lower of these storeys projects forward of the top storey. The lowest full storey has a verandah on it and no bay window. The basement is clad in sheet material and reads as a solid plinth to the building. 

      In 1905 McCarthy sold No. 304 to John Rouse. Following this sale, the house went on to change hands a number of times, with the longest standing owners being Victoria and Charles Lambert, who bought it in 1925 and it remained in their hands until Victoria Lambert’s death in 1958. The property was owned from 1973 to 1989 by Graham Peters, who wanted to build a motel over the site of this and nine other houses in the vicinity, but this plan never eventuated. A fire on the third floor of the house, when unoccupied, in 1977 raised some press interest.   

      As with its neighbours, 304 has rarely been lived in by its owners. William Day, a labourer, lived in the house for nearly 30 years (from 1929 to the mid 1950s). Early occupants tended to be mechanics, cleaners, or carpenters, while in later years civil servants were the more frequent tenants.   The building was separated into two titles and is now known as 304A and 304B. 

      In 1965 work began on the construction of the motorway that cut through Thorndon, and this major arterial route changed the character of the northern end of Tinakori Road and the Bolton Street Cemetery.  A consequence of this change was the introduction of measures to protect the remaining older buildings in the area through the local authority’s district scheme that began in 1976, and parts of Thorndon soon became a “Residential ‘E’ Zone”, a “Character Area” in 1993, and the “Thorndon Suburban Centre Heritage Area” under DPC 75 and the “Thorndon Heritage Area” and “Thorndon Urban Conservation Area” under DPC 77.

      The houses from 296-306 Tinakori Road form part of the Thorndon Suburban Centre Heritage Area and are much photographed, sketched and painted . The buildings appear in many blogs,  walking tour routes,   and tourist information sites,   and can be considered to make a strong contribution to the identity and sense of place of Thorndon. They also appear in Charles Fearnley’s “Vintage Wellington” (1970)  where the author wrote in praise of the contribution the buildings make to the “unity and cohesion” of the streetscape.







  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      The group of houses between 296 and 306 Tinakori Road were designed in pairs. The pair of houses at 304 & 306 Tinakori Road is rather taller than the two pairs to the north (at 296/298, and 300/302) – each house is three full storeys high above a basement, and is an architecturally elaborated version of the 296/298 pair (also by Macgregor). Of the two southernmost houses, 304 is the more original in appearance; 306 differs in having a shop and office built in the front yard space and running out to the street frontage of the property. The group of six houses show a distinct San Francisco influence in their styling and decoration and use of multi-storey verandahs.

      304 has a long, narrow, gabled roof that is hipped at the west end, and has a small rear lean to. The gable end has decorative half-timbering and scrollwork gable brackets. The most striking feature is the three-storey high verandah with fretwork trims and slender timber balustrading. Behind this, the top two storeys each have a 3-sided bay window, with double hung windows to each side and a pair of double hung windows to the street front at each storey, the lower of these storeys projects forward of the top storey. The lowest full storey has a verandah on it and no bay window. The basement is clad in sheet material and reads as a solid plinth to the building.

    • Materials close

      Timber weatherboard cladding, sash windows, corrugated m.s. roof

    • Setting close

      This building at No.304 is one of a row of six tall and narrow houses that were built on adjacent sites in 1902. It was originally nearly-identical to its neighbour at 306 Tinakori Road, until the construction of the two storey shop in 1908.

      304 Tinakori Road is part of the Thorndon Suburban Centre Heritage Area that includes the shopping area around the intersection of Tinakori Road, Bowen Street 

      and Glenmore Street. The streetscape is generally made up of two to three storey buildings built to the street edge. The buildings are generally old, and are constructed in a high density on small sections.

  • close Cultural Value
    The house at 304 Tinakori Road is a good example of an Edwardian villa design that has been adapted to suit the narrow plot width and steep topography of a typical inner-suburb Wellington site.

    The buildings at 296-306 Tinakori Road derive much of their aesthetic value as a group of buildings constructed in a similar style and of a similar age that have had few intrusive modern additions or alterations. The repetition of scale, form and decorative elements contribute to the unity and cohesion of the streetscape. 

    304 Tinakori Road retains significant amounts of its early and original building features and has had few modifications made since its construction, for these reasons, it has authenticity.  




    • 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?

        The house at 304 Tinakori Road is a good example of an Edwardian villa design that has been adapted to suit the narrow plot width and steep topography of a typical inner-suburb Wellington site.

      • Group

        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 buildings at 296-306 Tinakori Road derive much of their aesthetic value as a group of buildings constructed in a similar style and of a similar age that have had few intrusive modern additions or alterations. The repetition of scale, form and decorative elements contribute to the unity and cohesion of the streetscape. 

      • 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 forms part of a row of six houses of a similar age and style that make a strong contribution to the identity and sense of place of Thorndon. This can be inferred by the wide distribution of images of these houses in photographs, drawings and paintings, on websites, walking tour guides, and in books.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        The buildings have a typical historical association with the development of the southern end of Tinakori Road from an enclave of working/lower middle class dwellings that later became the part of the first precinct of old buildings to be identified for protection under the first WCC District Plan.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        There is a high risk of accidental discovery of archaeological items on this site as the area is known to have been occupied by various Iwi pre – 1900. It is also part of the Central City NZAA R27/270 site.

    • 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?

        The buildings have remained on site with few intrusive modern alterations or additions for over 100 years and contribute to the identity, sense of place and continuity of the Thorndon Suburban Centre Heritage Area. 

      • Public esteem

        Is the item held in high public esteem?

        296-306 Tinakori Road are a group of buildings that form part of the Thorndon “tourist trail”, and evidence of their popularity include the number of images (drawings, paintings and photographs) of the group that are available in pamphlets, books and online.

    • 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?

        304 Tinakori Road retains significant amounts of its early and original building features and has had few modifications made since its construction, for these reasons, it has authenticity.  

      • Local Regional National International

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

        304 is a locally important building and forms part of a row of six houses of a similar age and style that make a strong contribution to the identity and sense of place of Thorndon. 

      • Representative

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

        The house at 304 Tinakori Road is a good example of an Edwardian villa design that has been adapted to suit the narrow plot width and steep topography of a typical inner-suburb Wellington site.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      18/310.5

    • Legal Description

      Pt Lot 6 DP 700

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not Listed

    • Archaeological Site

      High Risk of accidental discovery Central City NZAA R27/270 The area known to have been occupied by various Iwi pre - 1900

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Not Earthquake Prone

  • close Additional Information
    • Sources close
      • Fearnley, Charles. Vintage Wellington, (Dunedin: John McIndoe Ltd, 1970), Kelly, Michael. “Thorndon Suburban Centre Heritage Area: Tinakori Road” unpublished report compiled for WCC DPC 75.
      • Kelly, Michael, “Thorndon History – timeline” unpublished WCC document for DPC 77
      • Miller, E D N, fl 1978. Houses lining Tinakori Road, Tho Ref: 1/2-080664-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/23238072
      • The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District], (Wellington: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897)
      • Evening Post, 23 May 1894
      • Evening Post, 13 August 1896
      • Evening Post, 7 December 1897
      • Evening Post, 25 January 1897
      • Evening Post, 19 February 1898
      • Evening Post, 31 December 1900
      • MISERABLE McCARTHY. NZ Truth , 8 August 1908
      • THE BALLANCE MEMORIAL. Press, 10 March 1894
      • THE BALLANCE MEMORIAL UNVEILING OF THE STATUE IN PARLIAMENTARY GROUNDS. Evening Post, 7 April 1897
      • Lindsay Shelton, “Doing the right thing for Thorndon”, Wellington.scoop webpage updated 22 April 2009
      • “Location -Tinakori Road” Wotzon webpage accessed October 2012
      • Philip Beadle, “Tutti Frutti” accessed October 2012
      • “Prime Minister’s Residence: 260 Tinakori Road”, NZHPT website accessed October 2012
      • The Thorndon Society Incorporated’, Newsletter 27, 13 September 1977
      • “Walk 5 : Explore Wellington” WCC website accessed October 2012
    • Technical Documentation close

      Not available

    • Footnotes close

      Not available

Last updated: 11/27/2017 11:00:01 PM