House

• 1928 - 1928
• 298 Oriental Parade, dwelling (00056:56:B5420)
• 1966 - 1966
• 298 Oriental Parade, dwelling additions and alterations (00058:422:C180)
• 1967 - 1967
• 298 Oriental Parade, alterations to ground floor reception area (00058:520:C25201)
• 1968 - 1968
• 298 Oriental Parade, dwelling additions – shed (00058:579:C27447)
• 1988 - 1988
• 298 Oriental Parade, outhouse and garden shed (00059:171:D8612)

Not assessed

Not assessed

This house is an unusual building in Wellington, being built in brick with features of the English Cottage revival style. Elements of the style are the broad gable – extending the full width of the house – with deep barge overhang and projecting under-purlins; the second floor is set within the slope of the roof; the cantilevered balcony separating the first and second floors and the small paned windows and fanlights.

The house is three storeys high, the façade of the two living floors are at right angles to the side boundaries while the line of the ground floor follows the angle of the road. The ground floor contains two garages with a modern recessed marble clad entrance on the right occupying the space of a third, the original entrance remains intact on the south side of the house. The first floor is asymmetrical with a prominent bay window occupying half the width of the house, and French doors with fanlights on the left. The second floor is symmetric on the roof and has central French doors with a hood and a full width cantilevered balcony with a decorative wrought iron balustrade.

The original entrance on the south side is flanked by circular leadlight windows, and the other principal window type is a flat arched leadlight. The ridge of the gabled roof runs back from the street with cross gables intersecting part way along the roof, it is clad in Marseille tile. In plan the house was originally divided into reception rooms, kitchen and laundry on the first floor and bedrooms on the second. There was also a billiard room behind the garages.

Brick

Concrete

Marseille tile roof

The house at 298 Oriental Parade is built into the slope of the hill, with an addition extending well back to an outside (first floor level) courtyard. It is built close to the house to the north, and most of the side elevation windows are found on the southern elevation, which is set back from the south boundary. It is set amongst other low-rise houses, brick ones amongst them, at the northern end of Oriental Bay and is seen against the green backdrop, scattered with houses, of Mount Victoria. Its carefully scaled form and association with the adjoining houses contributes to, and is enhanced by this setting.

The wider setting of this house is Oriental Bay, a mixed environment of apartment towers, town-house developments, small blocks of flats, and single residential dwellings. The bay is the pre-eminent feature of the area and is separated from the buildings by Oriental Parade and the concrete sea-wall that anchors the landward end of the beach.

• 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?

  Architecturally this house is of value as a relatively rare and competently executed example of the English Cottage Revival style built in brick in Wellington city.

• 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 house at 298 has significant group value as its form and interesting details give it a strong presence in the group of period buildings that define the sweep of Oriental Bay.

• 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 house is of townscape value as it is one of Oriental Parade’s most distinctive buildings. Its carefully scaled form and association with the adjoining houses contributes to, and is enhanced by this setting.

• Association

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

  This house is also associated with the wave of building owners who constructed large and expensive houses in Oriental Bay during the 1920s, firmly establishing the prestige of the area. 

• Association

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

  The house at 298 is a substantial house that reflects the status of its first owner, William Kemball, and for this is has historical value. It is also associated with the Japanese Embassy, as it was its home for 17 years. 

• Archaeological

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

  This house is included in the NZAA Central City Archaeological Area R27/270.

• Technological

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

  This building has technical interest for its concrete and brick construction.

• 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?

  This house contributes to the sense of place and continuity on Oriental Parade due to the retention of its original features and its long standing place on the street.

• 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?

  This house has a high level of authenticity in its exterior form and detail.

• Representative

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

  This house is a representative of the English Cottage Revival style executed in brick and concrete. It is a good example of a residential building of medium scale and is a rare application of this style in Wellington.

• Importance

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

  This house is of local significance for its historical associations, its contribution to the townscape, its exterior authenticity, and the place that it holds in an important group of period buildings on Oriental Parade.

Not assessed

• Murray, Russell. 298 Oriental Parade – House. Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 53, 2005.
• Archives: 1928 298 Oriental Parade, dwelling (00056:56:B5420)
• Archives: 1966 298 Oriental Parade, dwelling additions and alterations (00058:422:C1804)
• Archives: 1967 298 Oriental Parade, alterations to ground floor reception area(00058:520:C25201)
• Archives: 1968 298 Oriental Parade, dwelling additions – shed (00058:579:C27447)
• Archives: 1988 298 Oriental Parade, outhouse and garden shed (00059:171:D8612)

• Inventory Report

Not available