Brooklyn Library (Former)

• c.1894
• Land gifted to the Melrose Borough Council for a public hall or similar.
• 1905
• Library constructed
• 1960
• New library constructed at the corner of Harrison and Cleveland streets
• 1962
• Old library adapted to suit Playcentre
• c.1979
• Chimney removed
• 1980 - 1981
• Re-piled, re-lined, new north door & porch
• 1997 - 1998
• New verandah, deck, sleeping room, WCs and kitchen it is likely that the small addition to the northwest corner of the building was added at this date.
• 1999 - 2001
• External works and landscaping SR 56180, SR 80414, SR 29516, SR 29517
• c.2005
• Extension to north verandah / deck

• 1905
• Brooklyn Library
• 1962
• Brooklyn Playcentre

Not assessed

The Brooklyn Playcentre, formerly the Brooklyn Library, is a single storey timber building, well endowed with decorative features considering its size. It has a hipped roof, and two prominent windows with pediments that break into the roof line as small gables. The windows flank the central porch and front door, the porch supported by two Doric columns and surmounted by a heavy timber balustrade with turned balusters. All this detail is reminiscent of stonework, the masonry-like character enhanced by the cladding of wide rusticated weatherboards with quoin blocks at the corners. The windows in the original library room are unusual with a fixed bottom pane and a hopper (bottom hung opening light) over, other windows to the old residential areas are standard sashes. Although the original picket fence has been replaced, the building retains a high level of authenticity for its form and for the retention of much of the exterior detail and built fabric. The interior has been much altered, but functions well in its new use as a Playcentre.

Harrison Street is a small blind street with a number of cottages of similar age to that of the Playcentre. The streetscape value of the building is small, but it is one of a compatible group of modest timber buildings on the west side of the street. It is in good condition, with recent repairs and painting of the exterior.

Timber framing

Rusticated timber weatherboards

Corrugated mild steel roof

Brooklyn Playcentre occupies part of a large sloping site that was set aside for the construction of a community hall in c.1894. Other buildings on the site include the community centre hall to the west, a playground, a scout hall to the south of the Playcentre/former library building, and community gardens that runs along the extent of the far southern boundary.

The former library’s main facades are viewed from Harrison Street, a street that is characterised by a mix of Victorian/Edwardian single storey cottages and villas. The former library’s nearest neighbour to the south is the fine single storey c.1910 scout hall and to the north there is a low-level car-park and then a single storey cottage. Harrison Street is a quiet no-exit street and along the cottages and villas are a WCC housing block to the south of the short street, school playing fields to the south-east, and shops/commercial buildings/low rise apartment buildings and the mixed use library/WCC housing block to the north.

• 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 former Brooklyn Library is the oldest purpose-built branch library in Wellington and is a particularly fine example of a small municipal building. It is notable for the elaborate decorative scheme of Classical ornamentation that is unusual for such a diminutive building.

• 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 has group value for its contribution to the group of community buildings that occupy this large, WCC owned, site.

• Association

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

  The building was designed by the City Engineer, WH Morton, and served as the first branch library for the suburb from 1905-1960. It has been occupied by the Brooklyn Playcentre for the past 50+ years.

• Archaeological

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

  Unknown risk

• 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 has had few intrusive modern alterations or additions (with the notable exception of the eastern fence, and the northern verandah & play area) over the past 100+ years and contributes to the sense of place and continuity for suburban Brooklyn.

• PublicEsteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  The building is likely to be held in high public esteem for its contribution to the Brooklyn Community Centre ‘precinct’ and as a distinctive and attractive heritage building.

• Sentiment - Connection

  Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

  The building is a focus of community sentiment and connection for its association with the many families that have attended the Brooklyn Playcentre over the past 50+ years.

• Importance

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

  The building has local significance.

• 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 exterior has had few intrusive modern alterations (with the notable exception of the eastern fence, and the northern verandah & play area) and much of the original built fabric survives.

• Rare

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

  The building is the oldest remaining purpose built branch library in Wellington City and its suburbs.

• Representative

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

  The building is a particularly good representative example of a WCC designed Edwardian municipal building.

Not assessed

• CT WN25B/403
• ‘Brooklyn Public Library: The Opening Ceremony’, Evening Post, 17 February 1905, 2,
• Fell, Georgina. ‘22 Harrison Street, former Brooklyn Library (Brooklyn Playcentre) Conservation Plan’, unpublished conservation plan prepared by VUW MMHS student (2011)
• IPENZ Engineering Heritage, ‘Morton Buttress Dam’ IPENZ website, accessed July 2013
• Fell (2011), ‘Morton, William H’ NZHPT Professional Biography, NZHPT website accessed July 2013
• Murray, Russell. Email to Barbara Fill dated 30 March 2005. WCC Heritage files.
• ‘Playcentre – History’, Playcentre website accessed July 2016
• Vickers, J and Fitchett, AJ. Early Brooklyn Revisited. Wellington: Northland Print, 1998.
• WCC Heritage Inventory 2001 ref HARR1

• Inventory Report
• 1904 drawings

Not available