Karori Tunnel

• 1897 - 1901
• Construction
• 2011 - 2011
• Seismic strengthening

Not assessed

Not assessed

The Karori Tunnel is the oldest of Wellington’s road tunnels and the construction techniques and design is representative of its period. As a Late Victorian tunnel, it is an unusual object type, and compared with other road and rail tunnels in Wellington, the Karori Tunnel has a much larger aperture and much more robust brickwork.  The tunnel is approximately 75m long and the apex of the portal is 5.5m above the road, and the width at road level is 7.5m. There is a horizontal concrete beam that stiffens the top of the portal face; this is 8m above the road surface.

The brick work arch of the tunnel is at least seven brick stretcher courses thick in the lower part. The lower part below the spring line is stretcher laid and 65cm thick, the upper part, where the bricks are still visible, is also stretcher laid. The sides are plastered up to the spring line (where the wall starts to curve inwards) and there is a narrow raised pedestrian walkway in concrete on the northern side.

The portals comprise the plastered brick of the tunnel arch with an infill concrete wall that is flush with the exterior curve brickwork carried out to the adjacent cliff faces on either side. The whole of the portal, including the face of the brickwork, has been plastered, and there are plaster quoins on the face surrounding the tunnel entry. At the apex of the tunnel is the numerals ‘1900’, and on the western portal face is a raised cartouche, and there is a similar cartouche on the eastern portal.

The Karori Tunnel is cut through fault line gravels and bedrock at a narrow waisted saddle in a ridge with steep slopes to the east and west. The hill was once known as ‘Bakers Hill’, and Raroa Road was the Pohill gully-Karori Road. The tunnel connects the suburb of Karori with Wellington city.

• 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?

  Constructed between 1897 and 1901, the Karori Tunnel is Wellington’s oldest road tunnel. The construction of the tunnel was reported as being carried out in the standard way for the time and when compared with other road and rail tunnels in Wellington, the Karori Tunnel has a much larger aperture and much more robust brickwork.

• 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 Karori Tunnel is one of a group of tunnels constructed in the first half of the 20th century designed to link Wellington city with other suburbs. The Hataitai Tunnel, Northland Tunnel, Seatoun Tunnel, and the Mt Victoria Tunnel can be seen as a part of a group with the Karori Tunnel as they are of similar ages, uses, history, and built using similar materials and techniques.

• 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?

  It makes a significant contribution to the Chaytor streetscape and loosely defines an exit and entrance point to Wellington

• Association

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

  The Karori Tunnel is the oldest road tunnel in Wellington and provides a physical reminder of the early development of Wellington city and the problems that were faced in opening up links between the city and the suburbs. 

• Association

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

  The Karori Tunnel had a difficult beginning which is well documented in newspapers of the day. It is associated with a number of important early Wellingtonians including; Thomas Ward and James Fulton, as well as with the Karori Borough Council.

• Archaeological

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

  The Karori Tunnel has been designated as an archaeological site: NZAA R27/412. Excavations were carried out during site monitoring and a number of artefacts associated with the tunnel and early life in Wellington were found. 

• Educational

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

  The Karori Tunnel has significant educational value for the insight that it can provide into the ways in which tunnels were constructed in the Victorian period. It can also provide insight into suburban development, transport development, and the development of the tramways in Wellington

• Technological

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

  The Karori Tunnel is of technical interest for the construction techniques that were used and the ways in which the engineers addressed the problems of the site, in particular the difficult soil types and the issue of slips.

• 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 Karori Tunnel is an important historic object that has become a feature in the Wellington community, particularly for those who use public transport on a regular basis. The Tunnel contributes significantly to the sense of place and continuity in Wellington and acts as an important link between the city and the suburbs.   

• Representative

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

  The Karori Tunnel is a good example of a tram tunnel built at the turn of the century. It is built in materials, to a design, and using techniques appropriate to the period and can be understood as one of a group of similar tunnels in Wellington. Of this group, the Karori Tunnel is the oldest.

• 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?

  The Karori Tunnel portals have been altered significantly due to the need for seismic strengthening. The original portal faces, including the raised lettering and cartouches, could not be removed, so plaster moulds were made, and the originals were covered in with a reinforced concrete portal face. New capping beams were constructed above the portal face and buttresses.

• Importance

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

  The Karori Tunnel is a locally important historic object due to its long history linking city and the suburb of Karori. It makes a significant contribution to the Chaytor streetscape and loosely defines an exit and entrance point to Wellington city. As one of a group of tunnels it presents an interesting element of Wellington's suburban development. It retains significant amounts of original materials despite the loss of original features and materials in recent seismic strengthening.

Not assessed

• Frances, Helen. ‘Small tunnel, mighty activity.’ Architecture Now. 14 December 2012
• Historic Places Trust. ‘James Fulton’, Professional Biographies
• Jones, Kevin L. ‘Archaeological monitoring of seismic strengthening work on the Karori Tunnel (R27/412)’, Interim report for the Wellington City Council, 31 July 2012.
• ‘Is There a Corner in Fat Sheep?’ Evening Post. 27 March 1899, page 6
• ‘The New Road to Karori.’ Evening Post. 10 December 1897, page 6
• ‘Collapse of the Karori Tunnel.’ Evening Post. 8 February 1899, page 5
• ‘Appeal Court’. New Zealand Herald. 31 October 1900, page 5

• Inventory report

Not available