Morgan’s Buildings

• 1922 - unknown
• Building constructed (00055:2:A188)
• 1928 - unknown
• Reinstate fire damage (00056:48:B4664)
• 1928 - unknown
• Additions and alterations (00056:67:B6470)
• 1964 - unknown
• Alterations (00058:365:C15629)
• 1974 - unknown
• Partitions and sauna (C41376)
• 1978 - unknown
• Coffee bar additions and alterations (00058:1131:C48851)
• 2012 - unknown
• Seismic strengthening and renovations, including replacing windows and new shop fronts.

• 1923 - unknown
• Howard’s furniture
• 1923 - 1937
• MacDuffs Ltd, crockery importers MacDuffs Ltd, crockery importers (Stones 1925, 1930, 1935)
• 1937 - c.1980
• Janis Ladies' and Gents' hairdressing salon (later Janis Beauty Salon & George Janis Hairstylist) (Stones1940,1945, Wises1950-51, 1955,1961-62,1967-68,1971-72,1975, 1980)
• 1985 - 1990
• Not listed
• 2011 - unknown
• Welcome takeaway (149 Vivian), Peaches & Cream Adult Shop (199 Cuba)

Not assessed

Morgan’s Building is a simple three storey brick and plaster-faced building over a concrete structure, executed in a Stripped Classical idiom with simple and restrained detailing. In style, this is something of a transitional building. There is a vestigial Classicism in the treatment of the brick piers at the junction of the entablature - a suggestion of stripped capitals. A strip of decorative moulding above the second floor windows reads like dentils. But there is also a directness of structure and materials evident in the facade, and a concern for practical fenestration, which leans toward new styles without quite breaking from the past. A steel fire escape affects the appearance of the chamfered corner between the building’s two street façades.

The construction is load-bearing brick masonry on the street facade, and reinforced concrete at the side and rear. Reinforced concrete columns and steel joists support a concrete floor on the first floor and timber floor joists on the second floor. Steel joists support the rafters of the ceiling.

Morgan’s building occupies a prominent site on the corner of Cuba and Vivian Street.

This block of Cuba Street has a startling entrance at the southern end of great architectural and cultural contrast. It sets the extremely dignified former National Bank building (now up-market restaurant Logan Brown) opposite the Morgan’s building.

The remainder of the block has undergone considerable change in the last 5 years which has impacted on the overall integrity of the heritage streetscape. There are however some individual buildings that have high heritage value and remain a strong presence in the streetscape.

From Morgan’s Building at the north-east corner the former Orsinis restaurant separates Morgan’s building from the former Railton Hotel and former People’s Palace.

• 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?

  Morgan’s building is a good representative example of an inter-war commercial building built in Stripped Classical style. This building retains a high level of architectural authenticity, despite changes to the windows and shop fronts.

• 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 is one of a group of historic commercial buildings which make a positive contribution to the character of the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• 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?

  The building occupies a prominent site on the corner of Cuba and Vivian Street, providing a contrast to the opposite former National Bank building at the entrance on this block, and making a distinct contribution to Cuba Street.

• Association

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

  The building has historic value for its connection to the Cooper family, and for its association with the notable Auckland-based architect Llewellyn Piper.

• Archaeological

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

  The building is located in the Central City archaeological site, reference NZAA R27/270.

• 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 part of a group of historic commercial buildings on Cuba Street which contribute to the sense of place and continuity of the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• 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 façade of this building remains largely intact with a high level of original building fabric.

• Representative

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

  The building is representative of 1920s commercial architecture and history found on Cuba Street.

• 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 for its contribution to the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• Coleridge, Kathleen A. “Carpenter, Robert Holt – Biography”, from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated September 1 2010,
• Cyclopedia Co. Ltd, “Cooper, Frederick: Nurserymen,” in The Cyclopedia of New Zealand: Wellington Provincial District (Wellington: The Cyclopedia Company Limited, 1897), accessed October 19, 2012,
• Jones, Martin. Warkworth Town Hall (Historic Places Trust, 2007),
• Kelly, Michael, and Russell Murray, Cuba Street Heritage Area Report (Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006), 42.
• Northcote Point Walk: North Shore City heritage trails (North Shore City Council, 2002),
• The Wellingtonian interview: George Janis, the grandfather of hairdressing, March 18, 2010, accessed October 19, 2012,
• Wellington City Council, “199 Cuba Street,” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. (Wellington City Council, 2001), CUBA 29.
• Wellington City Council, Cuba Street Heritage Area spreadsheet (block 5). (Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006).
• Wellington City Council, Built Heritage Incentive Fund: March 2012 Round
• Newspapers: “Death of Mr. Frederick Cooper.” Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 40, 17 February 1908, Page 8
• Newspapers: “Obituary,” Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 124, 18 February 1908, Page 7
• Newspapers: Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 17, 20 January 1923, Page 7
• Newspapers: “Mr F.R. Cooper,” Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 9, 12 January 1925, Page 8
• Newspapers: “Big Fire In City,” Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 5, 7 January 1928, Page 14
• Newspapers: Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 8 June 1932, Page 4
• Newspapers: Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 67, 20 March 1937, Page 10
• Archives: “197-199 Cuba Street, building,” June 5, 1922, 00055:2:A188, Wellington City Archives.

• Inventory Report
• 192 plans

Not available