Electrical Junction Box

• c.1904 - c.1905

Not assessed

Not assessed

The box appears to be constructed of cast iron, about two feet wide, 18 inches deep, and three feet high, with a pyramidal top and a lockable door. The cast iron box surmounts a concrete base. It is a small and unimposing piece of street furniture and is an excellent example of one of the most invisible and ubiquitous pieces of street furniture in urban environments.

Cast iron, concrete

This Electrical Junction box is located at the corner of Adelaide Road and Stoke Street in the suburb of Newtown. The area is mainly single storey residential properties.   

• 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 Electrical Junction Box follows a simple design and is constructed in cast iron. It has architectural value for its design, materials, and craftsmanship.

• 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 Electrical Junction Box is a small and unimposing piece of street furniture and is an excellent example of one of the most invisible and ubiquitous pieces of street furniture in urban environments. It contributes character to an otherwise ordinary residential street.

• Association

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

  The junction box is primarily associated with the second period of Wellington’s tramway development, between 1902 and 1964, and the electrification of the system. 

• Archaeological

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

  The risk of accidental discovery is unknown. 

• Technological

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

  There is technical value in this historic object as it is one of few remaining in the city; its cast iron construction is of value, as well as the isolator system that it contains.

• 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 Electrical Junction Box situated at the corner of Adelaide Road and Stoke Street has had a long standing place as a piece of street furniture that was associated with the development of the tramway. It adds significant visual interest and character to an otherwise ordinary residential area.

• Rare

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

  This is the only electrical junction box listed with the Wellington City Council; there are no representatives on the HPT register. It has some rarity value for this reason.

• Representative

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

  This is an excellent representative of an electrical junction box dating to the beginning of the 20^th century. 

• 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 object appears to have had no alterations made; it has significant authenticity and integrity of materials, design, craftsmanship, and setting.

• Local/Regional/National/International

  Is the item important at a local, regional, national, or international level?

  This is a locally important object that holds a history much greater than its size. It has aesthetic, historic, scientific, and social values, as well as being a rare example of an electrical junction box recognised by an authority. It is also an excellent representative of its kind and has a high level of authenticity and integrity.

Not assessed

• ‘I Spy Lucy Boxes’, accessed 19 December 2013
• Wellington City Libraries, ‘Trams in Wellington, 1878-1964’, accessed 19 December 2013

• Inventory report

Not available