Colonial Motor Company Building (former)

• 1920
• Original Construction
• 1986
• Building additions and alterations – retrofit of building, exposure of concrete frame, addition of façade in mirror-glass curtain wall, earthquake strengthening, and addition of floor
• 1990
• Demolition of 1913 CMC building
• 2005
• Alterations – interior fit out – new partitions, level 2
• 2006
• Internal addition and alterations – installation of 2 doors in foyer, including card readers and emergency exit buttons. Internal alterations/refurbishment – combine dental surgeries
• 2007
• Installation of Woosh wireless telecommunications transmitter
• 2008
• Internal alterations – internal office, laboratory fit out
• 2009
• Additions and alterations to upper level of building, addition of new door and access ladder
• 2010
• Building addition – interior fit out for new hair salon on ground floor
• 2011
• Commercial refurbishment of building front, main entry, and lift cars
• 2013
• Commercial seismic upgrading – installation of 14 No. steel braces

• unknown
• Not assessed

Not assessed

Although the CMC building has a much-modified primary elevation to Courtenay Place, the secondary elevation to York Street remains in near-original condition.

From the south, the building rises as a tall nine-storey box, from the narrow service lane of York Street. This elevation is decorated with an attractive string-course above the first floor windows that is punctuated at each column by a stylised Art Deco plaque. The façade is undecorated until the cornice above the sixth-floor windows which is ‘supported’ by stylised brackets. Above the cornice line, the two end bays project forward from the wall, and each frame a single seventh and eighth floor window. These bays are topped with a stepped parapet that is decorated with a mix of Art Deco and stylised Classical motifs. The word ‘Ford’ is set on the central stepped parapet.

From the north the building shows only a vague resemblance to the production factory of the past. The c.1986 retro-fit has exposed the concrete frame, and sheathed the front façade in mirror-glass curtain walling. Major works in this period include the addition of a roof-extension to the CMC building and the demolition of its c.1913 northern neighbour.

The building is a steel framed structure, fully encased in concrete. Modern additions include a mirror glass curtain wall.

The building is set back from the street frontage and only possesses minor streetscape values. It fits well with other buildings in the area in terms of size, but the Modern mirror glass façade is not particularly harmonious. The southern elevation is in near-original condition but is set on a narrow lane and, as such, has little townscape value.

The CMC building contributes to a rich collection of heritage buildings in the area. It is a part of a group of buildings that are related to the industrial and manufacturing heritage of Wellington. It is associated with other buildings of the motor vehicle trade such as the Ford Workshops in Ebor Street, the Hope Gibbons Building, and Manthel motors - both the latter buildings were also designed by J. M. Dawson. 

• 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?

  The Colonial Motor Company Building is a rare local example of a ‘flatted-factory’ building designed for the car assembly industry. Although its main, Courtenay Place façade has been much-modified, it is notable for its York Street façade - which is in near-original condition.

• 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?

  This building contributes to the creation of a group of historic buildings in the central city that are associated with the motor trade and Wellington’s industrial heritage.

• Association

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

  This building is associated with J. M. Dawson, a prominent architect who designed a number of buildings in Wellington.

  
  

  Historically it is associated with the Ford and Colonial Motor Company and the motor vehicle trade. This building was designed specifically to be a vertical assembly plant, with boxed parts arriving on the top floor and finished cars leaving from the ground. This association makes this building important in the industrial and manufacturing history of Wellington. 

  
  

• Archaeological

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

  This building is a part of the NZAA r27/270 Central City archaeological area.

• Technological

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

  This building is of technical value due to its innovative construction with a heavy steel frame and high load bearing floors.

• Public Esteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  This building has historic association with the Ford and Colonial Motor Companies and this may provide it with some public esteem.

• 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 is associated with the industrial and manufacturing history of Wellington, in particular the motor vehicle industry. CMC maintains an office in the building at present (2013) which gives this building some sense of continuity/traditional use value.

• 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?

  Although this building has had a retrofit, it still maintains original materials, and the façade on the York Street frontage is significantly unmodified.

• Local Regional National international

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

  This building is of local importance due to the contribution that it makes to the history of Wellington. It is associated with industry and manufactures, which few buildings in the central city are, in particular motor vehicle assembly. It contributes to a rich collection of heritage buildings in the area.

• Rare

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

  The building is an example of a ‘flatted’ or vertical factory, which although relatively common in some overseas cities, is a rare in New Zealand

• Representative

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

  This building is a good example of a functional and commercially influenced building design. Its heavy steel frame and high floor loading give this building technical importance.

Not assessed

• Historic Places Trust Professional Biographies, ‘J.M. Dawson’, accessed 17/04/13,
• Wellington City Council. “89-95 Courtenay Place,” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Precincts. Wellington City Council, 2001
• ‘Cars ready for despatch from the plant at 89 Courtenay Place, Wellington, accessed 17/04/13, http://www.colmotor.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=4
• Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. Ref: PA1-q-144-057. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22452064
• 0005320211189
• “Heritage Building – 89-95 Courtenay Place”, 2007, 1041-06-COU89

• Inventory Report

Not available