Dominion Building

• 1926 - 1928
• Construction
• 1994 - 1996
• major interior renovations

• 1928 - 1976
• The Dominion newspaper
• 1996
• Mixture of commercial and residential

Not assessed

This distinctive building was erected between 1926 and 1928 as a printery and office complex for The Dominion newspaper. Originally seven storeys with a cupola, the building has a floor space of two acres and was apparently modelled on contemporary British and American newspaper offices. The style of the building is transitional, containing stripped-Classical elements, but leaning more to the Chicago style.

The facade is symmetrical, with a prominent central ‘shaft’ that contains the main entry and is capped with a copper-roofed turret. This central shaft sets a strong note of verticality for the building that is echoed in uninterrupted flanking piers and in the mullions and dimensions of the windows. The dark, pressed-metal spandrels of the windows further diminish any horizontality on the shaft. Decoration has been achieved more in the outward display of structure than in applied detail.

High quality building materials were used in the reinforced-concrete construction, including an imported Caen stone frontage, and extensive interior work in Queensland marble. The platform above the main entrance was designed to be used for public addresses and electioneering. The brass discs above the platform were removable so that brackets could be laid to carry a large election-night hoarding.

The building is largely authentic in its external form and detail up to the top floor level. There are several fully-glazed ultra-modern additions at roof level that date from the period when the building was converted to mixed use residential/ commercial office and shops in c.1994 – 1996. The interior was altered extensively at this date.

The aesthetic value of the Dominion building is significant. It is an excellent example of design in the Chicago style. Largely authentic in its form and detail up to the top floor level, several fully glazed ultra-modern additions at roof level are a signal to the present day use of the building as apartments and offices. This has required extensive alteration of interior spaces.

Reinforced concrete structure

Frontage: imported Caen stone

(Part) interior: imported Queensland marble

Copper-roofed turret

Pressed metal spandrel panels

The Dominion Building is situated on a very prominent inner-city corner and is an important element in the surrounding townscape, being seen in views south along Victoria Street, in particular. It is sited on a curve of the street (and the facade of the building follows the curve), is visible from several directions, and is close to the Civic Square. The Italian alder trees and gardens at the front of the building contribute to the stately nature of the building.

• 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 Dominion Building is an excellent example of a Stripped Classical commercial building designed in a Chicago-inspired architectural style. It is notable for the quality of its design, materials and workmanship, particularly the Caen Stone external cladding (now 0ver-painted), marble clad interiors, pressed metal spandrel panels, and steel windows.

• 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 a historical and stylistic companion to the former Evening Post Building on Willis Street, which was occupied by the offices of a prominent, rival newspaper.

• 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 Dominion Building has significant townscape value, making considerable contribution to the character of the downtown area. It is a landmark on Victoria Street, and its form and position on the curved corner makes it visible from several directions.

• Association

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

  The building housed The Dominion newspaper and its printery for almost fifty years. The Dominion was an important newspaper for the city and region of Wellington and this building was synonymous with the name of this newspaper from the time of its construction in 1928 until offices and production moved to nearby Press House in 1976.

  The building was designed by Crichton, McKay and Haughton, a prominent Wellington architectural firm that designed several notable Wellington buildings.

• Archaeological

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

  The building is located in the Central City archaeological site reference NZAA R27/270.

• Technological

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

  The building is of some technical interest given the degree of remaining original materials and building fabric.

• 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 Dominion Building has occupied this key site at the corner of Victoria and Mercer streets for over 70 years and, despite some modern additions and alterations, contributes to the sense of place and continuity of the streetscape.

• PublicEsteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  The building was once held in high public esteem for its association with the Dominion, an important daily newspaper for the rural and urban community in the Greater Wellington Region. This esteem has been diminished somewhat by the relocation of the office and printery of the Dominion newspaper and its subsequent merger with The Evening Post.

• 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?

  Though the building has undergone considerable interior renovations, the building’s exterior has retained a reasonable degree of authenticity.

• Representative

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

  The building is an excellent example of ‘Chicago style’ architecture, especially in Wellington.

• Importance

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

  The building is locally and regionally important for its link to the once very important Dominion newspaper.

Not assessed

• Bulleyment Fortune Architects. ‘Antecedents’. Bulleyment Fortune website accessed April 2013
• Cyclopedia Co. Ltd. “Crichton, William”. In The Cyclopedia of New Zealand: Wellington Provincial District (Wellington: The Cyclopedia Company Limited, 1897). Accessed January 10, 2012
• Irvine-Smith F. The Streets of My City (Wellington: A.H. and A.W. Reed, 1948)
• Kernohan D., and T. Kellaway. Wellington’s Old Buildings (Wellington: VUW Press, 1994)
• McIntyre, W. David. 'Self-government and independence - Political independence', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 13-Jul-12
• New Zealand Historic Places Trust. ‘Crichton, McKay & Haughton - Architectural Partnership’. NZHPT Professional Biographies, accessed May 2013

• Inventory Report
• 1925 drawings
• 1925 amended plans

Not available