Houses

206 The Esplanade, 208 The Esplanade, 210 The Esplanade

206, 208, 210, & 212 The Esplanade, Island Bay, Wellington
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206, 208, 210, & 212 The Esplanade (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)
206, 208, 210, & 212 The Esplanade (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)
206 The Esplanade, Island Bay (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)
206 The Esplanade, Island Bay (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)
208 The Esplanade, Island Bay (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)
208 The Esplanade, Island Bay (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)
210 The Esplanade, Island Bay (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)
210 The Esplanade, Island Bay (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)
212 The Esplanade, Island Bay (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)

212 The Esplanade, Island Bay (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)

Extent: Cityview GIS 2013
Extent: Cityview GIS 2013 
Map

  • Constructed

    1906 - 1909

  • Architect(s)

    Unknown

  • Builder(s)

    M. Sullivan

  • These houses are typical examples of speculator housing and have architectural value as contemporaneous villas representative of housing during the early part of the 20th century. 

     
    These houses contribute greatly to the townscape in Island Bay as they create a homogenous streetscape along The Esplanade. Each building is similar, yet different, and have been designed harmoniously with one another. 

    These houses have historical significance for the period in which they were all associated with Italian fishermen and their families. The role of the Italian community on Island Bay is an important one in the history and development of the suburb.

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  • close History

    • These houses appear to be typical examples of the speculator housing that can be found dating from the early part of the 20th century, and it could be assumed that their histories would also be as modest. These timber villa’s, however, have historic significance above that of the average villa through their association with the Italian community in Island Bay, each having been owned and occupied by Italian fishermen and their families. These houses are an interesting representative grouping and physical reminders of the social development and history of Island Bay.

      Speculative developer John McManeman purchased land on The Esplanade in thee early 1900s and planned to build four houses on four subdivided titles. The houses were not built at the same time, but completed over a three year period. The first was begun early in 1906 and the builder of all four houses was M. Sullivan.

      Around 1900, a number of Italian ex-gold miners began fishing at Island Bay living in nearby homes. It is since this time that these houses have come to be regarded as Italian ‘fisherman’s cottages’, and all four have been associated with the Island Bay Italian community. 206 and 208 were owned by Italians from early on, while others were later acquisitions. While never large in number, the Italian community in Island Bay continues to be influential, with a great many involved in the fishing industry. During the Depression, the fishermen created the Fisherman’s co-operative, to sell the fish that they caught and it is reported that the fisherman fished and worked for three months without pay to get the business on its feet.

      Two of the best known inhabitants of the cottages were Giuseppe Greco at 206, who arrived in Wellington in 1906 aged 16 and Santo Saffiote at 208, both of whom were fishermen. They and their families lived in the villas for decades. 210 was initially owned by Robert Fordyce but it was purchased by Giuseppe and Francis Muollo in 1931. The house was sold again in 1972 following the death of Francis Muollo. No. 212 passed into the hands of Raffiello Greco in 1945 and has remained in the Greco family ever since. In more recent years most of the houses have had a reasonably frequent turnover of occupants.

      The houses have remained in reasonably authentic condition, with each undertaking some small external changes. The most apparent of these is at No. 206, which has had a conservatory constructed on the front façade. 

    • Modifications close
      • 1905 - 1905
      • Queens Drive [206 The Esplanade], cottage (00043:8:640)
      • 1906 - 1906
      • Queens Drive [208 The Esplanade], cottage (00043:10:704)
      • 1908 - 1908
      • Queens Drive [210 The Esplanade], residence (00043:30:1656)
      • 1908 - 1908
      • Queens Drive [212 The Esplanade], cottage (00043:31:1680)
      • 1971 - 1971
      • 206 The Esplanade, additions & alterations (00058:750:C33918)
      • 1983 - 1983
      • 208 The Esplanade, additions and alterations (00058:0:C63133)
      • 1990 - 1990
      • 206 The Esplanade, conservatory (00059:382:E20026)
      • 1994 - 1994
      • 208 The Esplanade, plumbing (00060:182:6582)
      • 1997 - 1997
      • 210 The Esplanade, repile (00078:97:33113)
      • 2000 - 2000
      • 208 The Esplanade, installation of free-standing fireplace (00078:355:63420)
      • 2005 - 2005
      • 206 The Esplanade, installation of free-standing fireplace (00078:1526:129364)
    • Occupation History close

      Not assessed

  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      These houses are bay villas constructed in timber. Typically, two square bay windows flank the central entrance and a decorated canopy between the bays creates an entrance porch. The bays are capped by ornate gabled roofs. The roofline is articulated by eaves brackets. While the houses have more or less the same floor plan, there are some variations. 206 has only a single bay and 212 has an angled southern bay to improve the views to the sea and to help turn the bend in the road. Interestingly this variation of the bay windows is not shown on the submitted drawings of the houses and may have been an on site decision designed to make best use of the sites.

    • Materials close

      Timber weatherboards

      Timber joinery

      Corrugated roofing

    • Setting close

      These villas create a continuous streetscape of contemporaneous bay villas along the Esplanade. They are a prominent feature in the Island Bay townscape.

  • close Cultural Value

    These houses are typical examples of speculator housing and have architectural value as contemporaneous villas representative of housing during the early part of the 20th century.

    These houses contribute greatly to the townscape in Island Bay as they create a homogenous streetscape along The Esplanade. Each building is similar, yet different, and have been designed harmoniously with one another.

    These houses have historical significance for the period in which they were all associated with Italian fishermen and their families. The role of the Italian community on Island Bay is an important one in the history and development of the suburb

    • 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?

        These houses are typical examples of speculator housing and have architectural value as contemporaneous villas representative of housing during the early part of the 20th century.

      • 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?

        These houses have significant group value for their homogeneity, their age, scale, building type and construction, as well as for their history from the period in which they were all owned by Italian fishermen.

      • 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?

        These houses contribute greatly to the townscape in Island Bay as they create a homogenous streetscape along The Esplanade. Each building is similar, yet different, and as a group they have been designed harmoniously with one another.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        These houses have historical significance for the period in which they were all associated with Italian fishermen and their families. The role of the Italian community on Island Bay is an important one in the history and development of the suburb.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        These houses were constructed post 1900, but are in an area known to be associated with pre 1900 human activity as well as associated sites of significance to Maori. Archaeological risk is unknown.

      • Technological

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

        These villas have been constructed in materials and using techniques common to the period, there is some technical interest in the ways in which they have been designed to from a group of similar, yet different, dwellings and the way that each support the continuity of the group.

    • Social Value close

      • PublicEsteem

        Is the item held in high public esteem?

        These houses have a high social value and due to their long association with the Italian community in Island Bay are held in high public esteem as an interesting representative grouping of homes that Italians have lived in and of the social history of the 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?

        These houses remain in reasonably authentic condition having had few external modifications with the most significant addition being the conservatory added to No. 206.

      • Representative

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

        These houses are representative of speculator housing from the early 20th century.

      • Local/Regional/National/International

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

        These houses are important at a local level for their value as representatives of speculator housing, their association with the Italian community in Island Bay, for the visual contribution that they make to the streetscape, and for their historic significance.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      4/ 407

    • Legal Description

      206 – Lot 4 DP 3522; 208 – Lot 3 DP 3522; 210 – Lot 2 DP 3522; 212 – Lot 1 DP 3522

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not listed.

    • Archaeological Site

      Associated Maori Sites of Significance

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Outside Earthquake Prone Policy

  • close Additional Information
    • Sources close
      • 00058:750:C33918; 206 The Esplanade, additions & alterations 16 Sep 1971
      • 00059:382:E20026; 206 The Esplanade, conservatory 1990
      • 00078:1526:129364; 206 The Esplanade, installation of free-standing fireplace 2005
      • 00043:8:640; Queens Drive [206 The Esplanade], cottage 01 Dec 1905
      • 00060:182:6582; 208 The Esplanade, plumbing 25 Oct 1994
      • 00078:355:63420; 208 The Esplanade, installation of free-standing fireplace 2000
      • 00058:0:C63133; 208 The Esplanade, additions and alterations 26 Sep 1983
      • 00043:10:704; Queens Drive [208 The Esplanade], cottage 02 Feb 1906
      • 00043:30:1656; Queens Drive [210 The Esplanade], residence 09 Oct 1908
      • 00078:97:33113; 210 The Esplanade, repile 1997
      • 00043:31:1680; Queens Drive [212 The Esplanade], cottage 10 Nov 1908
      • Wellington City Council. Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: unpublished heritage assessment. Wellington City Council, 2001.
    • Technical Documentation close
    • Footnotes close

      Not available

Last updated: 12/8/2016 2:23:26 AM