Manthel Motors’ Building (Former)

• 1913
• Construction of warehouse, corner Taranaki Street and Victoria Street (00053: 176: 9723)
• 1923
• Additions to premises (00055: 15: A1516)
• 1931
• Mezzanine floor added; built by Fletcher Construction Ltd. at a cost of £90.00.
• 1941
• Alterations (unspecified) to Wholesale Furniture Co. shop; cost £75.00.
• 1941
• Verandah added (presumably to part of one elevation); cost £75.00. (00056: 265: B21601, 00056: 266: B21680)
• 1943
• Some £4000.00 of work done in earthquake strengthening; Fletcher Construction Ltd.
• 1948 - 1949
• Substantially refurbished for Manthel Motors. Alterations included many existing walls, stairs and partitions removed. New offices built in northwest corner of building and windows installed in rear for showroom. Internal ramp built from ground floor to first floor. Design by Structon Group, supervision by Bill Lavalle, and construction by Fletcher Construction Ltd., cost £1100.00. (00056: 348: B26845)
• 1963
• £ of unspecified alterations to showroom (00058: 305: C13297)
• 1964
• Alterations to cafeteria. Cost, £1875. (00058: 338: C14531)
• 1988
• Various unspecified additions and alterations for principal lessee A.P. Olsen and others. Collective cost, $47,000.
• 1990
• Office fit out $200,000 (00078: 647: 59814)
• 1999
• Building Strengthening $112,000 (00078: 315: 52632)
• 2001
• Installation of two exterior signs – banners (00078: 810: 79559)
• 2005
• Office Building alterations (00078: 2384: 128873)
• 2007
• Internal office fit out – ground floor $480, 000 (00078: 2614: 164032)
• unknown
• Sources (unless specifically stated):
• unknown
• Building permit Building permit (1948, with plans and specifications, no. B26845, for Manthel Motors Building, WCC Archives
• unknown
• WCC building plan permit card, 186-200 Wakefield St

Not assessed

Not assessed

The Manthel Motors’ Building is a two storey building in the Classical tradition, with well ordered and symmetrical facades to Wakefield Street (13 bays) and to Taranaki Street (7 bays). Exterior embellishments include a balustrade at roof level, a heavily moulded cornice above the first floor windows and a heraldic device to the tops of the columns between windows. The Wakefield Street elevation has two arched pediments. The exterior is reasonably authentic with minor alterations being made to the ground floor fenestration, while the first floor has been relatively unaltered from its original form.

The building is clad in brick masonry, to a traditional Classical design, but with an innovative steel framed structural system. The use of steel structure allows for the relatively large window openings, and for the wide structural bays at ground and first floor, this in turn provides an ‘openness’ of design which is uncommon in this period.

The interiors were originally industrial in character with timber finishes. The roof trusses are of riveted steel and the sprinkler system was reputed as being the first installed in the city. The interiors have been altered several times in the history of the building.

The building occupies a very prominent corner on two wide streets, giving it townscape value in an area that is more suited to cars than pedestrians.

The building is steel framed brick masonry with cement render on concrete foundations. The roof trusses were originally riveted steel. The interior originally had timber finishes although this may have been removed in alterations.

The Manthel Motors’ Building is situated on a prominent corner of two major arterial routes – Wakefield and Taranaki streets. It is a highly visible building and is a landmark in an area that it suited more for cars than pedestrians.

The building forms the book-end to a group of five buildings that make up the eastern ‘street-wall’ on Taranaki Street between Wakefield Street and Courtenay Place. The other buildings in this group are the Edwardian Baroque former Taranaki Street Police Station (WCC 16/278), the fine three-storey Art Deco former NZ Automobile Association Building (1924 - WCC ref 16/280), a new 12-storey apartment building that preserves a part of Te Aro Pa in its subfloor, and ‘Molly Malones’ on the corner of Taranaki and Courtenay Place. The street-wall of two to three storey early 20th century rendered masonry buildings is only broken by the modern apartment block that rather towers over its diminutive neighbours.

The Manthel Motors’ Building is bounded by an empty site/car-parking to the east on Wakefield 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?

  The former Manthel Motors’ Building is a good representative example of an early-20th century stripped Classical ‘warehouse’ style building. It is notable as a rare surviving example of a pre-WWII building that was purpose-built for the display of motor cars.

• 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 small group pre-WWII motor-trade buildings in Wellington. This group includes the nearby NZ Automobile Association Building (WCC ref 16/280) on Taranaki Street, the Colonial Motor Company Building (WCC ref 16/67.3), the Ford Building (NZHPT Cat II ref 3643) on Ebor Street, and the Hope Gibbons Building (WCC ref 16/100) on Dixon Street.

• 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 Manthel Motors’ building is situated on a prominent corner of two major arterial routes – Wakefield and Taranaki streets. It is a highly visible building and is a landmark in an area that it suited more for cars than pedestrians.

• Association

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

  This building is associated with a number of important people and organisations/businesses, and is best known as Manthel Motors – a General Motors’ dealership owned by prominent local businessman, Noel Manthel. Other key individuals, groups and organisations that owned or leased this building include Hatrick and Co. Ltd., which was an extremely successful New Zealand business in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries; with Canadian Knight and Whippet Motor Co., which was an agency of the Willys-Overland Motor Co; and Claude Batten and Co., a successful general importers and merchants firm. Claude Batten was also one of the founders of the RSA and received an OBE for his service to the community.

  The building was designed by well-known local architects, Crichton and McKay.

• Association

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

  This building was purpose built for Hatrick and Co., for the display of motor cars and maintained this role for 76 years. It is associated with the motor industry in Wellington, and is one of only four buildings built for this purpose prior to World War Two. It is an important physical reminder of the early days of New Zealand’s vehicle industry.  

  
  

• Archaeological

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

  Sites of significance to Maori - Te Aro Pa R27/15 and NZAA Central City Archaeological Area R27/270.

• Educational

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

  The building helps to tell the story of the motor industry in Wellington and the commercial development of Wellington.

• Technological

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

  This building was constructed using common techniques and materials of its time. It is of some technical value for the integration of the 1923 additions to the 1917 building. It is also of some value as it is steel framed, an early response to the threat of earthquakes.

• 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 Manthel Motors’ Building (exterior) has had few intrusive alterations or additions over the past 90+ years and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of Taranaki and Wakefield streets.

• Public Esteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  This building is held in high public esteem for its association with a number of prominent businesses, in particular Manthel Motors. It is still widely known as the Manthel Motors’ building.

• 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 the interior has been considerably altered the exterior retains significant original fabric.

• 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 of considerable local importance due to its historical significance and associations with prominent Wellingtonians and the development of Wellington. It is of significant townscape value and is a representative of an industrial building designed in the stripped Classical style by a prominent local architect. It is a significant element Taranaki/Wakefield Street streetscape and is one of few buildings left in the central city related to the pre-WWII motor industry.

• Rare

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

  The building is a relatively rare surviving example of a pre-WWII motor trade building in Wellington.

• Representative

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

  The building is a good representative example of a stripped Classical ‘warehouse’ style commercial building.

Not assessed

• Cyclopedia Co. Ltd, “Crichton, William,” in The Cyclopedia of New Zealand: Wellington Provincial District (Wellington: The Cyclopedia Company Limited, 1897), accessed January 10, 2012,
• Dictionary of Scottish Architects Biography Report for James Hector McKay, Dictionary of Scottish Architecture website accessed May 2013
• Bulleyment Fortune website accessed July 2012

• Inventory Report
• 1913 drawings
• 1920 drawings

Not available