House

• 1905
• Alterations to dwelling and addition of porch (00053:115:6361)
• 1933
• Reinstate washhouse (00056:141:B12799)
• 1949
• Alterations premises (00056:363:B27939)
• 1982
• Additions and alterations (00058:0:C58374)
• 1985
• Art studio (00059:0:D1800)
• 1996
• Commercial alterations (00061:200:16353)

• 1905
• Walter and Bessie Shand
• 1936
• Albert William Wheeler
• 1939
• Margaret Hannafan
• 1949
• Chinese Seyip Association of New Zealand
• 1983
• Gurney Nagle Advertising

Not assessed

The Dr. Shand Building was built in Classical style as an inner city residence. 
It is built up to the street frontage, its two-storey masonry façade well embellished with moulded architraves to windows, with brackets and cornice over the first floor windows, and a high parapet. The windows are arranged in pairs on each floor on either side of a single central window which is capped with a triangular pediment for emphasis on the first floor. The only disturbance to this arrangement is that the front door takes the place of the bottom right window, and it also has a triangular pediment rather awkwardly worked into the rectilinear geometry of the other features.

Building technology is typical for the time, with the main structural material being plastered brick, 14” and 9” thick. The foundations are concrete, while the specification calls for totara for wall plates and for the timber joinery. The degree of authenticity of the building is reasonably high, with the front elevation and the structural form intact, but the new use of the interior as a restaurant has resulted in extensive change to the plan arrangements of both floors.

This is a rare example of an inner city residence built right on the street, a reflection of the fact that its original use included that of doctor’s surgery. It is an important reminder that this part of the city, now light industrial in character, was once a high class residential area. Elliott House in Kent Terrace is another example of an early residential / medical building still standing in the area. The building is also rare in that it has retained its entire ground floor façade. As of 1999 the building had retained its original wooden stair case.  

The former Dr. Shand Building is located on the southern side of Vivian Street on the block between Tory Street and Cambridge Terrace.  The street is largely occupied by modern, multi storey buildings which are situated directly on the edge of the footpath. Both the Dr. Shand Building and its western neighbour contribute to this visual uniformity. However this street facing flow is interrupted by the building situated on the eastern side of the Dr. Shand Building which is set back from the road. 

• 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 building has architectural value for its competently designed Classical façade.

• 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 has townscape value as its early twentieth century architecture separates it from the modern architecture of the surrounding buildings. 

• Association

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

  The building is historically significant for its association with Thomas William Hislop, who was the mayor of Wellington when he commissioned the current building to be built for his daughter Bessie and her husband, Dr. Walter Shand. The building is also associated with the Chinese Seyip Association of New Zealand who occupied the building from 1949 to the 1981.

  
  

• Educational

  Does the item have educational value for what it can demonstrate about aspects of the past?

  The building has education value as its architectural layout can offer insights into the way in which an early twentieth century inner city doctor combined both their place of residence with their professional practice. 

Not assessed

• 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?

  The building has retained a significant amount of its exterior façade therefore it has authenticity.

• Rare

  Is the item rare, unique, unusual, seminal, influential, or outstanding?

  The building is rare in that it has still retained its original ground floor façade. As a former doctor’s residence/surgery, the building is also rare as there are only a few remaining in central Wellington. It is the only one in Te Aro.

Not assessed

• ‘33 Vivian Street: Alterations to dwelling.’ 02 February 1905. (00053:115:6361). Wellington City Archives.
• Wellington City Council, “33 Vivian Street,” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. (Wellington City Council, 2001), VIV1.
• Evening Post. Volume CXVIII, Issue 46. 23 August 1934. Page 15.
• Wellington City Council Rate Books. ‘Town Section 262.’
• C.T. 104/211. Land Information New Zealand

Not available

Not available