McDonald Building

• 1902
• Site purchased by Edward Balcombe Brown
• 1916
• 21 year lease from E.B. Brown to James McDonald
• 1920
• Party wall No.129380 (236/360) covenant
• 1927
• Eliza Mary Balcombe Brown and Frederic John Courtenay, solicitor listed as owners
• 1937
• Lease from E.M.B. Brown and Frederic John Courtenay, solicitor to James McDonald term 21 years
• 1942
• Earthquake damage to parapets
• 1947
• Transfer to James McDonald
• 1969
• Transmission to James Joseph McDonald
• 1971
• Transfer to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Diocese of Wellington
• 1977
• Transfer to the BNZ Offices Provident Association at Wellington
• 1977
• Alteration to suit NZSO
• 1993
• Transfer to Mark Whitaker Levett of Wellington
• 1993
• Alterations to shops and former billiards hall
• 1994
• Transfer to Barrie James Skinner of Wellington and Mark Whitaker Levett of Wellington.
• 1995
• BUILDING HERITAGE ITEM (DISTRICT PLAN): Details migrated from RHS #882, (Restrictions and Hazards System - RHS System 1991-2006) on 28-06-2006, SR 9200882
• 2010
• Bdg StrengthInv Section 124 Notice issued, Notice Exp 22/2/2025

Not assessed

Not assessed

The original architectural drawings for the McDonald Building show it as eight bays wide and two storeys high. It is not known when the decision to make it three storeys was made, but the front facade to Willis Street today certainly looks as though it was intended to be built as three storeys, with architectural features on the first and second floors matching closely. Although the windows are casements, and therefore modern for the date of construction, the heavily bracketed cornice at roof level and the ornamental parapet give the building an Edwardian character that had been popular a decade earlier and this is likely to have been one of the last buildings to be constructed in this style in Wellington.

The original layout of the building was three shops on the ground floor with a passage at the south end through to the single-storey portion which was at the back, a billiard room with space for 15 tables. This space was spanned by five unusually profiled angle-iron trusses, with ventilators and skylights set in the roof. The floors above the shops were laid out as offices, and are now apartments.

Construction was in load-bearing masonry, 9” (23cm) and 14” (35.5cm) thick walls, with reinforced concrete beams at each floor level, and concrete floors. The verandah is hung from the wall, while the decorative plasterwork on the facade above the verandah (window architraves, cornices, brackets and parapet) match that shown on the original drawings. (The drawings are dated 25 June 1919.) The front building (originally shops and offices) is therefore authentic in its architectural detail. The rear building (originally the billiards hall) has been much altered, the ground floor is currently used for carparking (2012) and the original roof space was converted to apartments in 1994.

The McDonald Building has important townscape quality, especially in the view looking north along Willis Street where it is seen in conjunction with the former St George Hotel and Henry Pollen house. The facade has a strong rhythmic quality, a modest scale and a level of decorative interest that combine to make it an inner city commercial building of considerable interest.

Brick masonry walls (external walls and probably internal load bearing walls)

Concrete foundations and ground floor

Concrete 1st floor on RC concrete beams

Timber roof structure to front building, steel roof trusses to rear billiards hall

The McDonald Building is located south of the intersection between Willis Street, Manners Street and Boulcott Street, and this street block to Dixon Street is where Willis Street is transformed from “golden mile” retail and office space to an area of office buildings with a diminished street presence. There are, however, many fine heritage buildings in the precinct including the NZHPT category I listed St John’s church (1885); 134 Willis Street (1854), said by NZHPT to have been constructed in 1859 and thought to be one of the oldest commercial buildings in Wellington; the Hotel St George (1929) that effectively “turns the corner” from Boulcott to Willis Street; St Mary of the Angels (1919-22) on Boulcott Street; and the timber French Second Empire styled Dr Henry Pollen house (1902).

The McDonald Building plays a significant role in determining the townscape qualities of the important Willis Street/ Manners Street/Boulcott Street intersection. At this corner, a number of period buildings and others of modest scale (including the Willis Street Village) bring a comfortable pedestrian quality to the dense inner-city commercial environment. The decoration and patterning of the main facade make it a building of visual appeal and a good example of late Edwardian commercial architecture.

• 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 McDonald Building is a three storey Classical style commercial building that although it was designed in 1919 is reminiscent of earlier, Edwardian, architecture. The facade has a strong rhythmic quality, a modest scale and a level of decorative interest that combine to make it an inner city commercial building with strong aesthetic value.

• 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 McDonald Building plays a significant role in determining the townscape qualities of the important Willis Street/ Manners Street/Boulcott Street intersection. At this corner, a number of period buildings and others of modest scale (including the Willis Street Village) bring a comfortable pedestrian quality to the dense inner-city commercial environment.

• Association

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

  The McDonald Building has some historic association with James McDonald, a figure of minor historical significance in Wellington in the 20th century.

• Assocation2

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

  The billiard saloon that occupied the building for many years, the retail and office tenants, and the NZ Symphony Orchestra which occupied it for 14 years, have all given the building some social significance
  

• 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?

  The building’s Willis Street façade, particularly above verandah level, has had few intrusive modern alterations and additions over the past 90 years and makes a positive contribution to the sense of place and continuity of this area of Willis Street.

• 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 building’s Willis Street façade, particularly above verandah level, has had few intrusive modern alterations and additions over the past 90 years and makes a strong positive contribution to the sense of place and continuity of this area of Willis Street.

Not assessed

• Cooper M. 1998, ‘Conservation Plan for the McDonald Building’, VUW School of Architecture.
• NZHPT Glossary
• Permit OC 10930, WCC Archives
• Thomas Turnbull and Son, WCC Archives ref 00053_0_10930-plans
• Images
• Old Identities (Albert) Hotel, on the corner of Boulcott and Willis Streets, Wellington. Tyree Studio: Negatives of Nelson and Marlborough districts. Ref: 1/2-011618-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
• Photograph taken by George Henry Swan in 1851.Swan, George Henry, 1833-1913. Swan, George Henry 1833-1913: View of Upper Willis Street, Wellington, from the corner of Boulcott Street. Ref: PA7-21-38. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
• Union Bank of Australia, Wellington. Travers, William Thomas Locke, 1819-1903: Negatives. Ref: 1/1-000731-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
• Willis and Boulcott Streets, Wellington, with the Hotel St George under construction. Raine, William Hall, 1892-1955: Negatives of New Zealand towns and scenery, and Fiji. Ref: 1/1-018060-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
• Newspapers and periodicals
• DEATHS. Evening Post, 5 February 1918
• MARRIAGE. Marlborough Express, 4 June 1892
• LANDLORD'S ACTION Evening Post, 27 November 1936
• MARRIAGES. Evening Post, 17 April 1911
• SIR WILLIAM FOX'S WILL. Marlborough Express, 14 July 1893
• THE LATE MR. P. J. GRIFFIN Evening Post, 19 March 1932

Not available

Not available