Dominion Training School for Dental Nurses (Former)

Augusta Apartments; site of the earlier Te Aro School; The Dominion Training School for Dental Nurses; 254 Willis Street, 256 Willis Street, 258 Willis Street, 260 Willis Street, 262 Willis Street, 264 Willis Street

254-266 Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015
Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015
Cityview GIS 2012
Cityview GIS 2012
"Evening Post" Photo, Scene outside the railway station this morning as- a large crowd watched the ... [truncated]Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 10, 12 January 1940, Page 5
"Evening Post" Photo. Views of the new Dominion training school for dental nurses, which incorporate... [truncated]Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 113, 14 May 1940, Page 5
"Evening Post" Photo. Views of the new Dominion training school for dental nurses, which incorporate... [truncated]Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 113, 14 May 1940, Page 5
"Evening Post" Photo. Views of the new Dominion training school for dental nurses, which incorporate... [truncated]Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 113, 14 May 1940, Page 5
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  • Constructed

    1938 - 1940

  • Architect(s)

    Government Architect / Government Architect - John Mair

  • Builder(s)

  • The former Dominion Training School for Dental Nurses is a very good example of a building built in a transitional style between Stripped Classicism and modernism.

    It is a local landmark on Willis Street, partly because it is the most substantial building on its block, and partly for the quality of its design and choice of construction materials.  

    Historically, this building is significant both for its association with the provision of dental healthcare and training for nearly 60 years, and as an example of the direct role that central government (especially the first Labour government) played in bettering the health of New Zealanders. 

    The building has technical interest as a purpose built dental training clinic.
     


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  • close History

    • The site of the former Dominion Training School for Dental Nurses was once that of the Te Aro School. The first, Church of England run, Te Aro school was located on Ghuznee Street and opened on the 24th April 1854. The Ghuznee Street school was soon overcrowded and a new state school was designed by Thomas Turnbull in the “Italian” style. It was constructed at 254 Willis Street in 1881 on the site of a row of “old tumbledown cottages”. The new school was designed to accommodate up to 600 students and the old school in Ghuznee Street was re-opened as the Te Aro Infants’ School for children under the age of eight. The Te Aro School District amalgamated with the Mitchelltown School District (Holloway Road, Aro Valley) in 1914 and in May 1914 a meeting of Mitchelltown householders declared “the old, ill designed wooden building [at Te Aro School to be]... unclean and insanitary.” There were soon plans to build a large, new primary school on the site of the old Terrace Gaol that was scheduled for closure. A site adjacent to the gaol was cleared and the Infants’ School moved from Ghuznee Street to the Terrace in 1922. The location of the infants’ school next to a working gaol was not ideal, particularly in an era when capital punishment was carried out in the gaol yard, and the gaol was demolished in 1927. The remaining pupils of Te Aro Primary School (Willis Street) moved to the new primary school on The Terrace in 1932.

      The 1881 school building on Willis Street was demolished in circa 1933 and in 1938 the empty site was gazetted for health purposes, for use as the Dominion Training School for Dental Nurses. Government Architect J. T. Mair designed the building in 1937 and construction began the following year.

      The state funded School Dental Service (SDS) was established in 1921 to provide free dental care to primary schoolchildren. The service was staffed by female dental nurses who trained in a temporary school next to Government Buildings in Wellington, and the first dental nurses graduated in 1923. The service was a world first and was prompted by concerns about the country’s poor dental health. The first school dental clinic (or “murder-house” as they were known colloquially by many primary school students) was constructed in the Hawkes Bay in July 1923, and a further 25 clinics were built in that year alone. Mobile clinics also offered the service to remote schools.

      The new building for the Dominion Training School for Dental Nurses was opened in May 1940 by the Governor General’s wife Lady Galway. Speakers at the opening ceremony included the Prime Minister Michael Savage and the principal dental officer, Colonel J L Saunders, noted the government’s expectation that every child under 12 would be treated by the School Dental Service within the following year.

      When it opened, the building was furnished to the smallest detail with, among other things, a second banister rail and miniature furniture for children. It also featured some modern features for the time, including an electric indicating system to guide patients to the chair, and state-of-the-art chairs. The building was also a training school for dental nurses and many of whom resided at the nearby “Mansions Hotel” on Ghuznee Street that was converted in the 1930s to serve as a hostel for dental nurse trainees.

      In its role as a training school, the clinic treated children from many parts of the Wellington region (and at Premier House when it was converted for that purpose). The Dental Clinic, as it became known, retained that purpose until 1992 when the Wellington Polytechnic, which already ran its journalism course in the building (from 1990), took full possession of the building. The much reduced dental training programme came under the direction of the polytechnic that year, and the building was also used by the Polytechnic’s School of Design.

      Over time the former Dominion Training School for Dental Nurses building has been much modified. Two air raid shelters were built at the back of the building in 1941, but later removed. Considerable changes were made in 1946 and again in 1991 with modifications made for fire safety and means of egress. It was converted to residential apartments in 2005, when two additional part-storeys were constructed on the roof, and the area to the east of the existing basement excavated. A new parking building was constructed to the west of the former Dental hospital, and this is concealed by the tall concrete wall that marks the boundary to the motorway. A two storey Victorian house to the south of the former Dental hospital was demolished to make way for a proposed Southern Augusta Apartment building (this is yet to be constructed - 2012). Karo Drive (the motorway on-ramp) was constructed to the south of the building in 2006 and the building now occupies a wedge of land between Willis Street and Karo Drive (both busy transport routes).


    • Modifications close
      • 1880
      • Te Aro School was built on the site
      • 1933
      • Te Aro School was demolished
      • 1938 - 1940
      • The Wellington Dental Clinic building was constructed
      • 1942
      • Air raid shelters were constructed to the rear of the property
      • 1945
      • Air raid shelters were removed
      • 1946
      • Modifications by Government Architect R.A. Patterson included replacement of doors and flooring in the basement; the addition of a “mother’s room” on the ground floor; and minor alterations to the second and third floors.
      • 1974
      • Fire safety and means of egress were improved.
      • 1990
      • Wellington Polytechnic occupied part of the building
      • 1992
      • Wellington Polytechnic occupied all of the building
      • 2004 - 2005
      • The dental clinic building was converted to apartments and two storeys added to the building with a new parking building constructed to the west.
      • 2006
      • Karo Drive motorway on-ramp was constructed to the west of the building.
    • Occupation History close

      Not assessed

  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      The former Dominion Training School for Dental Nurses building is of reinforced concrete construction. Foundations, columns, beams, floors and roof are all poured in-situ concrete. Windows were specified as steel, floors matai, joinery of kauri and rimu, and the front steps of granite, indicating a building of some quality and durability. The original drawings show service spaces in the basement; waiting room, offices and lecture room on the ground floor; teaching rooms and library on the first floor; and the whole front half of the second floor as the clinic. This space has very tall windows along the east wall facing Willis Street, giving the main elevation one of its distinguishing features, and a high level of natural light to the interior. While the fenestration of the ground and first floors is treated very simply, as holes in a plain wall surface, the tall (six metres high) second floor windows have patterned glazing bars, a decorative frieze under the sills, and a capping above with a moulded cornice and parapet. The front door is subtly emphasised by pilasters and pediment, in slight relief from the main wall surface. The style is stripped Classical, while it verges on the modern in the stark and regular treatment of the main facade.

      The building was technically advanced for its time, with attention given to natural lighting, ventilation and heating (heating was by steam from automatically stoked boilers in the basement). It was carefully detailed, with features such as a second (low) handrail on the stair balustrades for small children. In all, it is a very good example of a specialist building type designed in the office of the Government Architect.

      The building was much altered when it was converted to apartments in 2004-05. External works at this date include the excavation of the front “area” between the basement and the street, and the installation of railings at the street edge. Two additional part floors were constructed on the roof and a new parking block was built behind the existing building, concealed behind the concrete perimeter fence between the site and the Karo Drive motorway onramp (c.2006).

      Much of the building’s interior can also be viewed from the street, and from this it is obvious that new mezzanine floors have been inserted between the first and second floor levels, and between the second floor and roof levels. The new vertical and horizontal divisions used to create the apartments must have altered the grand teaching, and dental surgery spaces irreversibly, and it seems likely that most of the internal fixtures and fittings of the dental school, that were so advanced for their time, have also been removed.

      Although the interior is much altered, the building continues to exude a strong architectural presence and makes a contribution to the streetscape quality of Willis Street.

      Note: this description is an updated version of the WCC Heritage Buildings Inventory 2001 ref Will10

    • Materials close

      Reinforced concrete structure; RC floor slabs with Totara floor battens and Matai T&G flooring; steel windows with bronze stays, cast bronze air vents, copper pipes and flashings; Rimu or Kauri joinery; roof clad in three layers of Trinidad bitumen; front steps NZ granite decorated with terracotta urns.

    • Setting close

      The former Dominion Training School for Dental Nurses building is the largest building on the section of Willis Street between the motorway on-ramp at Karo Drive and the motorway off-ramp at Vivian Street. This busy one-way section of upper Willis Street includes an eclectic mix of architecture from two-storey timber commercial and residential buildings; a large parking lot that serves as a local “Hire Pool” depot and several two storey, low rise, modern commercial buildings.

      The former dental clinic’s nearest neighbour is a small, probably Victorian, two storey timber clad house (formerly Citron Restaurant) that sits between a wide asphalted driveway and a vacant site. To its south is a row of three timber two storey commercial buildings that were relocated as part of the urban motorway works.

      The building to the north of the former dental clinic is a pleasant circa 1930-40s brick apartment building while directly opposite is the Arts and Crafts-style Papua New Guinea High Commission at 279 Willis Street. 



  • close Cultural Value

    The former Dominion Training School for Dental Nurses is a very good example of a building built in a transitional style between Stripped Classicism and modernism.

    It is a local landmark on Willis Street, partly because it is the most substantial building on its block, and partly for the quality of its design and choice of construction materials.

    Historically, this building is significant both for its association with the provision of dental healthcare and training for nearly 60 years, and as an example of the direct role that central government (especially the first Labour government) played in bettering the health of New Zealanders.

    The building has technical interest as a purpose built dental training clinic.

    • 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?

        The former Dominion Training School for Dental Nurses building is a very good example of a building built in a transitional style of stripped Classicism that is almost Modernist. The specialist requirements of its original function as a teaching clinic have been well met in the design, prepared by the Government Architect, with the functional need for good natural lighting, in particular, influencing the design of the main elevation.

      • 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 is a local landmark on Willis Street, partly because it is the largest building in the vicinity, and partly for the quality of its design and choice of construction materials.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        Historically, this building is significant both for its association with the provision of dental healthcare and training for nearly 60 years, and as an example of the direct role that central government (especially the first Labour government) played in bettering the health of New Zealanders. The improvement in the general standard of living in New Zealand after the Depression can be partly attributed to initiatives such as this, which raised public health in this country to world class levels.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        The site is known to have been occupied by a Pre 1900 building, and is sited within the Central City Archaeological site ref NZAA R27/270, but has been somewhat disturbed by the excavation of the basement in 1938-40, and in 2004 – 05. Some remnant undisturbed areas may remain.

      • Technological

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

        The building has technical interest as a purpose built clinic, with some original fabric intact.

    • 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’s Willis Street façade has had few intrusive modern alterations since it was constructed over 70 years ago, and despite it conversion to apartments, the building makes a positive contribution to the sense of place and continuity of Upper Willis Street.

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close

      Not assessed

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      16/ 353 (facades)

    • Legal Description

      Sec 1 SO 20059

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      2/ Historic Place 1350

    • 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

      To be assessed

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 12/8/2016 1:37:31 AM