Commercial Building

Wakefield Café (former), Two Souls Bistro

290 Wakefield Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015
Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015
Cityview GIS 2013
Cityview GIS 2013
Map

  • Constructed

    1908

  • Heritage Area

    Courtenay Place Heritage Area

  • Architect(s)

    Unknown

  • Builder(s)

    W.L. Thompson

  • 290 Wakefield Street is a three-storey Edwardian commercial building that is typical of the Blair and Allen Street warehouse precinct. The building is notable for its pleasant and well-proportioned Wakefield Street façade. 

    The building is associated with the former wetlands of Te Aro that were occupied by slum housing in the mid to late 19th century. The area came under control of the Wellington Harbour Board and was subsequently redeveloped as a market precinct. The most notable tenant was the New Zealand Federation of Labour newspaper - the Maoriland Worker. 

    The building is typical of the Blair and Allen Street warehouse precinct and contributes to the identity and sense of place of the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. 

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  • close History
    • The land occupied by the building was part of a slum area of Te Aro taken over by the Wellington Harbour Board in 1898. The Board acquired responsibility for the area as part of a land swap with the Wellington City Council – the outcome of legislation to allow further reclamation of Wellington Harbour. The Board was handed the job of removing the insanitary dwellings, building culverts and new roads, and selling the land.  It took some time to remove all the occupants and demolish their houses and it was not until 1903 that the land could be properly drained.  The original layout of the block was then redesigned; Allen Street was widened and extended to join Victoria Street, which is now Wakefield Street and Blair Street was formed parallel to Allen Street. Between 1904 and 1906 a variety of warehouse buildings were constructed along both sides of Allen and Blair Streets. These warehouses were used for storage and auctions. They were two or three stories high with a variety of street facades, some more ornate than others. In many of the warehouses, markets and auctions were held on the ground floor, with offices on the floors above.  Allen and Blair Streets bustled with vendors, merchants and numerous vehicles loading and unloading produce and other marketable goods.

      This building at 290 Wakefield Street was built to the north of the Blair and Allen Street warehouse precinct. Certificate of Title information indicates that the land was issued to the Wellington Harbour Board for the creation of Allen and Blair Streets and Cambridge Terrace. The site was then leased by the Board to George and Kersley Ltd, who were clothing merchants. The C.T information shows that the building was constructed in 1908 by builder W.L. Thompson and shares a party wall with the building at 286-288 Wakefield Street. It appears that George and Kersley did not occupy the building for long, as by 1910 the building was in use as the Clyde Court Private Hotel with William Lavery as proprietor (Stones 1910-11).  

      In 1913 George and Kersley transferred their lease to the New Zealand Federation of Labour, who in turn transferred it to the Maoriland Worker Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd in 1916. The Maoriland Worker was the newspaper of the NZ Foundation of Labour, which was colloquially known as the ‘Red Feds’. The federation represented the more militant trade unions and believed that it needed its own newspaper as they believed that the mainstream press was dominated by the employers who would not allow for the fair reporting of the views of the workers. The Maoriland Worker was established in 1910 and by 1913 had a weekly circulation of 10,000 copies. 

      Following the newspaper’s occupation of the building, it was leased in 1929 to Toop & Neilson Ltd., who appear to have been soft drink cordial manufacturers.  In 1967 it was leased to Griffin Savage Co. Ltd., a confectionary importing company that had been established in the North Island following World War One.  In 1979 the lease was transferred again to Alfred Montague Adams, John McGowan Magee, and George Denby Domett and was used as a discount tiles shop by 1895 and as Harbour Capital Auto Services by 1990.

      Ownership had remained with the Wellington Harbour Board throughout all of these tenancies, but in 1990 the Certificate of title was transferred to the Wellington Regional Council, which in 1997 transferred it to current owners Westmere Holdings Ltd. The building is now mixed-use, with a bistro on the ground floor and office space on the upper floors.  

      The building has undergone few major alterations throughout the century since its construction and is a typical type of building found in the Allen and Blair Street precinct. 
    • Modifications close
      • 1908
      • Original construction
      • 1947
      • Alterations to roof (00056: 336: B26054)
      • 1964
      • Addition – fire escape (00058: 352: C15136)
      • 1983
      • Alterations to building (00058: 0: C63111)
      • 1990
      • Alterations – office building – partitions (00059: 394: E20466)
      • 1996
      • Alterations and additions – seismic strengthening, conversion to restaurant (00078: 6: 20475, 00078: 21: 23075)
      • 2002
      • Additions and alterations – restaurant refurbishment (00078: 6: 20475)
      • 2002
      • Addition – illuminated sign (00078: 1346: 89420)
    • Occupation History close
      • 1910 - 1911
      • Clyde Court Private Hotel, William Lavery proprietor (Stones 1010- 11)
      • 1915 - 1920
      • Maoriland Worker, newspaper & printing office: J Glover, manager. NZ Federation of Labour J Glover, secretary (Stones 1915-16 & 1920).
      • 1925
      • NZ Worker Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd., J Glover, manager NZ Worker Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd., J Glover, manager (Stones 1925)
      • 1930 - 1935
      • Toop & Neilson Ltd., tea merchants; E R Toop, manager (Stones 1930 & 1935)
      • 1945 - 1962
      • James Pearce & Co. Ltd., knitwear manufacturers (Stones & Wises 1950-51 to 196162)
      • 1967 - 1972
      • Griffin Savage Co's Building, whole merchants (Wises 8 to 1967-68 to 1971-72)
      • 1985
      • Discount Tile (Wises 1985)
      • 1990
      • Harbour Capital Auto Services (Wises 1990)
      • 1999
      • Wakefield Café
      • 2002 - 2006
      • Giuliani’s Grill and Bar
      • 2005 - 2007
      • Eden Café
      • 2005 - 2007
      • Kopi Tiam Café
      • 2013
      • Two Souls Bistro
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      290 Wakefield Street is a three-storey stripped-Classical Edwardian building that is typical of the buildings in the Blair and Allen Street warehouse precinct. The building has wide window openings in the top two floors, while the ground floor appears to have once had vehicular bays. The parapet and cornice are still intact and giant order Corinthian columns rise from the first floor level to support them. It is very compatible with its larger neighbour at 286-288 Wakefield Street having almost matching sets of casement windows.

    • Materials close

      Not assessed

    • Setting close

      290 Wakefield Street is flanked to the west by the similar, if somewhat larger, warehouse at 286-288 Wakefield (WCC ref 16/329.1). This building has two matching facades articulated around a chamfered corner. It is three stories high with an austere ground floor; the principal decoration is to the top two floors and consists of double-height Corinthian pilasters rising to a cornice and reflected above the cornice in the parapet with pinnacles of an Art Nouveau flavour. The walls and spandrel panels are finished with rough-cast plaster between the windows which adds textural interest to the façade. Although 290 and 286-288 Wakefield Streets are similar in height the floor levels are quite different and the elevations do not line through neatly.

      The building to the east of 290 Wakefield Street is the YHA. This building is a non-contributor the Courtenay Place Heritage Area and strongly detracts from the quality of the street-block.

      The wider context for this row of three buildings is the Blair and Allen Street warehouse precinct, and the Courtenay Place Heritage Area.

  • close Cultural Value

    290 Wakefield Street is a three-storey Edwardian commercial building that is typical of the Blair and Allen Street warehouse precinct. The building is notable for its pleasant and well-proportioned Wakefield Street façade.

    The building is associated with the former wetlands of Te Aro that were occupied by slum housing in the mid to late 19th century. The area came under control of the Wellington Harbour Board and was subsequently redeveloped as a market precinct. The most notable tenant was the New Zealand Federation of Labour newspaper - the Maoriland Worker.

    The building is typical of the Blair and Allen Street warehouse precinct and contributes to the identity and sense of place of the Courtenay Place Heritage Area.

    • 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?

        290 Wakefield Street is a three-storey Edwardian commercial building that is typical of the Blair and Allen Street warehouse precinct. The building is notable for its pleasant and well-proportioned Wakefield Street façade.

      • 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 contributes to the Courtenay Place Heritage Area.

      • 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 visual interest that it adds to Wakefield Street and to the Allen and Blair Street precinct. Its architectural style is homogenous with neighbouring buildings and helps to create a uniform and consistent streetscape.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        Historically, this building was associated with New Zealand Federation of Labour newspaper the Maoriland Worker. 


      • Association2

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

        The building is associated with the former wetlands of Te Aro that were occupied by slum housing in the mid to late 19th century. The area came under control of the Wellington Harbour Board and was subsequently redeveloped as a market precinct. 

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        This building is included in the NZAA Central City archaeological area R27/270.

    • 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 building is typical of the Blair and Allen Street warehouse precinct and contributes to the identity and sense of place of the Courtenay Place Heritage Area.

    • 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, and the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

      • Representative

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

        The building is a good representative example of the Edwardian ‘warehouse’ architecture that is typical of Blair and Allen streets.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      16/ 329.2

    • Legal Description

      Lot 2 DP 55914

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      N/A

    • Archaeological Site

      NZAA Central City R27/270

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Not Earthquake Prone

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 10/6/2016 12:21:58 AM