Warehouse

1 Blair Street, 286 Wakefield Street

286-288 Wakefield Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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Images: Charles Collins, 2015
Images: Charles Collins, 2015
Images: Charles Collins, 2015
Images: Charles Collins, 2015
Extent: Cityview GIS 2012
Extent: Cityview GIS 2012
‘Corner Victoria and Blair Street,’ 22 April 1907, 00053:135:7585, Wellington City Archives
‘Corner Victoria and Blair Street,’ 22 April 1907, 00053:135:7585, Wellington City Archives 
Map

  • Constructed

    1907

  • Heritage Area

    Courtenay Place Heritage Area

  • Architect(s)

    Alfred Atkins

  • Builder(s)

  • Built in 1907, this building has architectural value as a representative of restrained Edwardian Classicism.

    The building has historical value as it is associated with the development of produce markets and warehouses in an area which, prior to 1898, had formerly been slums.

    The building’s architectural style is homogenous with those on Blair Street and therefore it contributes to the uniform and consistent streetscape. 

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  • close History

    • By the late nineteenth century the area now occupied by the Allen and Blair Streets consisted of slums which were prone to flooding. In 1898 both streets came under Harbour Board control when legislation to allow further reclamation also made the Board the reluctant landlord of areas adjacent to the port. The creation of Blair Street and the new look Allen Street had a significance beyond slum clearance and port expansion. The redevelopment of Allen and Blair Streets was also important because it created an area of vacant land close to the terminus of the Te Aro branch railway, yet some distance from the congested port at Queens Wharf. Here was a golden opportunity to divert activity away from clogged central city streets towards the southern fringe of the commercial area. It was an ideal location for a produce market.

      Daily vegetable markets were held by firms which had operated in the city for many years - George Thomas and Co. began in 1869 and Laery and Co. the following year - but there was no single market place where all the vendors were concentrated. Fresh fruit and vegetables came from a number of places. Chinese growers (who were not permitted to own land) rented sections on the fringes of the city especially in Karori and Miramar, and also grew produce in the Hutt Valley and at Otaki. As the city expanded, suburbs encroached on arable land and the city became increasingly reliant on supplies from further afield. Unfortunately, it took a long time to get produce to the city from places such as Otaki, so it wasn’t fresh when it eventually arrived.

      The opening of the Wellington to Manawatu Railway in 1886 changed that. Fruit and vegetables could now be picked in Otaki in the late afternoon, and railed to the city during the night in time to be on sale at the markets the next morning. This was a significant improvement but there was still one problem to be solved. Lambton Railway Station was located on Waterloo Quay at the northern gateway to Wellington, some distance from the city markets, which meant that produce had to be transported from the station to the markets. The 1893 railway extension south from Lambton Station around the edge of the new reclamation to a new station at Te Aro, allowed produce to be brought right into the city.

      Between 1904 and 1906 buildings sprang up along both sides of Allen and Blair Streets. They were two or three stories high with a variety of street facades, some more ornate than others. Most were of a similar size except the two largest, which extended from one street to the other with vehicle access from both Blair and Allen Streets. This was an ideal arrangement for premises which had to provide space for numerous vehicles to load and unload. Markets were held on the ground floor with offices on the floors above.

      In 1907 architect Alfred Atkins signed off the plans for the building at 286-288 Wakefield Street. From 1910 the building was the warehouse for Nelson, Moate and Co., a tea merchant company. During the 1920s it then became a warehouse for the tobacco import company W.D. and H.O. Wills (New Zealand) Limited. By 1935 it was occupied by Philips Lamps Limited. From the 1940s through to the 1970s it was occupied by the National Electrical and Engineering Company Limited. In 1973 the Wellington City Council transport department took over the building. Since the 1990s the building has houses a series of restaurants and is currently occupied by Thai Chef’s restaurant.


    • Modifications close
      • 1907
      • Erect warehouse (00053:135:7585)
      • 1941
      • Alterations to premises 00056:271:B21997
      • 1945
      • Verandah (00056:310:B24438)
      • 1953
      • Office partitions (00056:453:B34402)
      • 1962
      • Goods and passenger lift (00058:223:C10098)
      • 1965
      • Building alterations (00058:386:C16497)
      • 1973
      • Front entrance (00058:829:C37163)
      • 1973
      • Building alterations (00058:832:C37256)
      • 1973
      • Additions and alterations (00058:839:C37523
      • 1994
      • Earthquake strengthening (00060:189:6789)
    • Occupation History close
      • 1910
      • Nelson, Moate and Company
      • 1925
      • W.D. and H.O. Wills (New Zealand Limited).
      • 1935
      • Philips Lamps Limited
      • 1945
      • National Electrical and Engineering Company Limited
      • 1973
      • Wellington City Council
      • 1990
      • Various restaurants
      • 2009
      • Thai Chef’s restaurant
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      Of all the Blair and Allen Street buildings, this one on the east corner of Blair and Wakefield Streets is perhaps the most prominent. It has a highly visible corner site, is large in plan, and its original architectural detailing, including its parapet, is still intact. It is also technically advanced for its time, being constructed of reinforced concrete post, beam and floor slab system; other materials include ironbark, heart totara for windows, rimu for internal joinery. Both gas and electric lighting were installed.

      The facades of the building follow an ordered system of pilasters with Corinthian capitals rising from the first floor to the cornice, carrying through to give a broken silhouette to the roof parapet. The square headed windows form a geometric pattern with textured stucco plaster panels between. As with most of the buildings in the Precinct, 286-288 Wakefield Street is three stories high which allows its parapets to match up with the adjoining buildings. The design is in the restrained Edwardian Classical style.

      All three floors were large open warehouse spaces, and there was a full basement floor as well. Most of the internal spaces have now been subdivided into offices.

    • Materials close

      Reinforced concrete post, beam and floor slab system.

    • Setting close

      The building is located on the corner of Wakefield and Blair Streets and is within the Blair and Allen Street Precinct of the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. The northern elevation looks out over Wakefield Street and across from this is an open supermarket car park. This open space allows the northern elevation to be seen from streets further afield such as Cable Street. The western elevation faces onto the broad width of Blair Street. The building has an architectural style which is homogenous with its neighbouring buildings on Blair Street and helps to form a uniform and consistent streetscape. Because the buildings in this immediate area are of a similar height the building is not overshadowed by taller structures.

  • close Cultural Value

    Built in 1907, this building has architectural value as a representative of restrained Edwardian Classicism.

    The building has historical value as it is associated with the development of produce markets and warehouses in an area which, prior to 1898, had formerly been slums.

    The building’s architectural style is homogenous with those on Blair Street and therefore it contributes to the uniform and consistent streetscape.

    • 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?

        This building was designed by architect Alfred Atkins in the restrained Edwardian Classical style.

      • 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 part of the Allen and Blair Street Precinct which contains buildings that are coherent in their style, scale, materials and historical use as warehouses.

      • 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’s architectural style is homogenous with neighbouring buildings along Blair Street and helps to form a uniform and consistent streetscape.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        The building is associated with the historic redevelopment of the former slum area surrounding Allen Street and Grainger Street following them being placed under the control of the Harbour Board. As a former warehouse, the building is also historically associated with the produce market which followed the extension of the Wellington-Manawatu Railway to Te Aro in 1893, allowing fresh fruit and vegetables to be brought into the city from outlying regions.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        It is known that there has been pre-1900 human activity on the site; hence the site has potential archaeological value.

      • Technological

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

        The building was technically advanced for its time as it was constructed from a reinforced concrete post, beam and floor slab system.

    • 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?

        Because the building’s architectural style is in keeping with that found in the Allen and Blair Street Precincts it contributes to the precinct’s sense of place.

    • 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?

        The building has retained a significant amount of its exterior fabric which gives it authenticity.

      • Local Regional National International

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

        The building is of local importance as its architecture and history contributes to the overall historic and stylistic value of the Allen and Blair Street Precinct.

      • Representative

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

        The building is a good example of restrained Edwardian Classicism, typical of the kind of architecture in the Allen and Blair Street Precincts.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      16/ 329.1

    • Legal Description

      Lot 19 DP 1302

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not registered

    • Archaeological Site

      Pre-1900 human activity on site

    • 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
      • New Zealand Historic Places Trust Professional Biographies, ‘Alfred Atkins. ’ Accessed 19 September 2012.
      • Stones Directory 1910-1911, 1925, 1935, 1945.
      • Wellington City Council. “Allen and Blair Street Precinct.” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001. ALLEN & BLAIR.
      • Wises Directory, 1967-68, 1971-72.
      • ‘Corner Victoria and Blair Street.’ 22 April 1907. (00053:135:7585).
      • ‘286-288 Wakefield Street, front entrance.’ 16 February 1973. (00058:829:C37163).
      • ‘286 Wakefield Street, earthquake strengthening.’ 20 January 1994.(00060:189:6789).
    • Technical Documentation close
    • Footnotes close

      Not available

Last updated: 7/4/2017 12:49:04 AM