Woodside

• unknown
• Original plans unavailable: Modifications based on history.
• 1884
• Original Building Construction
• 1930
• Building addition – 10 rooms added to the rear of the building
• 1936
• Building addition – Extension to east and west of building, new toilets (00056: 178: B15660)
• 1951
• Alterations to dwelling (00056: 404: B31067)
• 1978
• Repile dwelling (00058: 1159: C49929)
• 1978
• Alterations to guesthouse and vehicle access (00058: 1171: C50424)
• 2005
• Building restored and relocated to 2 Oak Park Avenue

• unknown
• Not assessed

Not assessed

This building is a large two-storey house built in the Italianate style. It is designed in a typically grand fashion, with the central front door featuring a large pediment and decorative fretwork on the verandah posts and balustrades. The House is finished in wood including the panelling, the tongue and groove flooring, and turned staircase balustrades.

The building was constructed in timber cladding, with a corrugated iron roof, and painted timber joinery. The building exterior has now been fully restored.

This was a building type that was commonly seen in this area at the turn of the century, but the building has been relocated so has lost its original context. In its new setting, this building fits into the area well as there are a number of similarly styled buildings along Buller Street.

• 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?

  Woodside is a good representative example of a large Victorian villa designed in an Italianate style. It is notable for its well-proportioned Classical design, and for its ornate and decorative verandah/balcony.

• 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 one of a group of 13 heritage properties that were thought worthy of relocation and “preservation” as part of the works to form the Wellington Inner City Bypass. The relocation process was contentious and the group-value has been substantially diminished by its move to its new site.

• 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?

  This building has townscape value for the part that it plays in its new setting. It contributes well to the character of the Buller Street area as there are a number of similarly styled buildings that help to create a harmonious streetscape.

• Association

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

  The building has a typical, uneventful, history that is representative of many of its neighbours in the upper-Willis Street area. It was originally constructed as a private residence, but it was later converted into apartments then a boarding house. It was moved in c.2005 as part of works to form the new Wellington motorway onramp.

• Archaeological

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

  This building has been relocated from its original site which had been occupied since prior to the turn of the century. The new site is included in the NZAA Central City Archaeological area R27/270.

• 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?

  This building helps to contribute to a sense of place and continuity in Wellington as it is a physical reminder of the period in which it was constructed and an element of the history of Wellington.

• Sentiment Connection

  Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

  The heritage properties around upper Cuba Street, Abel Smith, Tonks Avenue and upper Willis Street that were affected by the Wellington Inner City Bypass route were a focus of strong community sentiment. This can be seen from the objections raised to the roading scheme including in submissions to the Environment Court.

• 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?

  Although this building has been extensively restored it retains significant integrity as much of the original built fabric survives.

• Local Regional National International

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

  This building is important at a local level for the contribution that it makes to tell the story of Wellington. It is a building that is designed in a style representative of its period and retains a great amount of integrity.

• Representative

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

  This building is a good representative of a Victorian Italianate house. It has value as a representative of a boarding house from the time so it helps to tell the story of early Wellington and the types of living arrangements that were available at the time.

Not assessed

• Wellington City Council, ‘Woodside – 215 Vivian Street’, Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 1995, Wellington City Council 1995.
• Online Sources
• Morrison, Philip and Schrader, Ben. 'Inner-city living - Early inner-city living and its decline', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 13-Jul-12
• NZTA, ‘Wellington Inner City Bypass Construction Newsletter’, Issue 2 March 2005, accessed 04/04/2013,
• Evening Post, Volume XIX, Issue 95, 26 April 1880, Page 4.

• Inventory Report

Not available