Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club (Former) Clubhouse

Clyde Quay Boat Harbour, Oriental Bay, Wellington
Former Clubhouse, Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)
Former Clubhouse, Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club (Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015)
Map

  • Constructed

    1919 - 1919

  • Heritage Area

    Clyde Quay Boat Harbour Heritage Area

  • Architect(s)

    Unknown

  • Builder(s)

    Unknown

  • While it is a modest structure and of undistinguished outward appearance, this building is the remnant of the first purpose-built Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club club-rooms on the boat harbour and has a long history on the site – it has some historic significance for that.

    In its present use it has amenity value for the boating fraternity.

    The building has high group value with the other boat harbour buildings and structures.

  • Downloadable(s)

    Download this content as PDF

  • close History

    • The Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club (RPNYC), established in 1883 as an arm of the Star Boating Club, was Wellington’s first yacht club. It was originally based at Pipitea Point in Thorndon. When the Clyde Quay boat sheds were built members moved over to the new facility. The club did not have the necessary resources to build a clubhouse straight away and had to wait until after World War I. In 1919 the club applied to the Wellington Harbour Board for permission to built clubrooms at the eastern end of the harbour. Permission was granted and the new clubhouse was opened the same year. Two years later a canteen was opened, and the same year the club was granted a royal warrant.

      In 1942, with full co-operation of the club, American servicemen took over the harbour and converted the clubhouse into a malaria hospital for convalescent soldiers, which included the addition of a top storey. However, it was soon considered unsuitable for this purpose and a new hospital was built (today’s RPNYC clubhouse).

      The building was returned to the club in 1944. The upper storey was removed from the clubhouse and it returned to its original role. The club obtained a lease on the second hospital in 1955 to use as clubrooms, and thereafter the old room was predominantly used to store boats. It was somewhat shortened later on to create space for the adjoining Freyberg Pool (1962-63).

      In 1998 the old Clubhouse was completely renovated and became the office of the RPNYC Sailing Academy. The Sailing Academy was established in 1993 and had been, until this point, operating from the north end of the Overseas Passenger Terminal (demolished 2012).

    • Modifications close
      • 1919 - 1919
      • Building constructed
      • 1942 - 1942
      • Second storey addition, converted to a hospital for American servicemen
      • 1944 - 1944
      • Additional storey removed
      • 1962 - 1963
      • Shortened to create space for Freyberg Pool
      • 1998 - 1998
      • Renovated for the RPNYC Sailing Academy
    • Occupation History close
      • 1919 - 1942
      • RPNYC Clubhouse
      • 1942 - 1944
      • Hospital for American Servicemen
      • 1944 - 1958
      • RPNYC Clubhouse
      • 1958
      • Storage
      • 1998
      • RPNYC Sailing Academy Office
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      The former Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club club-house is a very modest timber framed building, rectangular in plan and a single storey in height.

      It is clad in rusticated weatherboards with an almost flat long-run roof. Several timber casement windows remain, but most of the window and door joinery is now aluminium and differs significantly from the original pattern. Little original fabric remains, although the original tongue and groove timber floor can be seen inside and presumably the original framing survives.

    • Materials close

      Timber, aluminium joinery.

    • Setting close

      To the east, it directly abuts the structure of the Freyberg Pool; a flight of steps to the west separates it from the Coene sheds.

      The Clyde Quay boat harbour is a distinctive and unique Wellington landmark, set on the inner harbour beneath the hills of Mount Victoria. Bounded by the Freyberg Pool to the east and the (now demolished) Overseas Passenger Terminal to the west, it is a notable heritage area for its unique and quite authentic collection of heritage buildings, structures and objects. Until recently, it was the only marina in the inner Wellington harbour.

  • close Cultural Value

    While it is a modest structure and of undistinguished outward appearance, this building is the remnant of the first purpose-built Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club club-rooms on the boat harbour and has a long history on the site – it has some historic significance for that.

    In its present use it has amenity value for the boating fraternity.

    The building has high group value with the other boat harbour buildings and structures.

    • 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?

        This modest structure of undistinguished outward appearance has been heavily modified over the years.

      • 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 has high group value with the other boat harbour buildings and structures in the Clyde Quay Boat Harbour Heritage Area.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        The former clubhouse has a historic association with both the development of the harbour itself and boating in Wellington city.

        The building has some historic association with WWII  and was used, briefly, as a convalescent hospital for U.S. soldiers. 

      • Association

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

        This building is the remnant of the first purpose-built Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club club-rooms on the boat harbour and has a long history on the site – it has some historic significance for that. 

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        Risk unknown – reclaimed land

    • 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?

        This building makes a minor contribution to the sense of place and continuity of the Clyde Quay Boat Harbour Heritage Area.

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close

      • Importance

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

        This building is of local importance, as it contribute to the Clyde Quay Boat Harbour Heritage Area.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      12/ 464

    • Legal Description

      Section 1 SO 24076

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not listed

    • Archaeological Site

      Risk unknown – c.1905 reclaimed land

    • 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: 11/27/2016 9:29:35 PM