House

61 Holloway Road, Aro Valley, Wellington
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Image: Charles Collins, 2015
Image: Charles Collins, 2015
Extent: Cityview GIS 2013
Extent: Cityview GIS 2013
Map

  • Constructed

    c.1880

  • Architect(s)

    Unknown

  • Builder(s)

    Unknown

  • This house is a fairly modest timber gabled structure that has had various lean to additions made at the side and rear. The western façade is decorated in the typical Italianate style used in Wellington during the late 19th century.

    This house is an important part of the local community and makes a contribution to the wider setting of Holloway Road. It contributes significantly to the sense of place and continuity in the Aro Valley.

     
    This house has had a modest and typical history for a residential dwelling in Wellington. It is associated with the early settlement of Mitchelltown and with Henry Mitchell who built a number of cottages for his workers.

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  • close History

    • Holloway Road, as an area, has had a long and interesting history. Situated in Mitchelltown in the Aro Valley, the area is typical of Wellington with its steep and uneven topography and sheltered valley spaces. Maori originally settled at the western end of the valley, utilising the Waimapihi Stream. In 1839 the land was purchased by the New Zealand company and European settlement followed.

      John Mitchell arrived in Wellington in November 1841 with his wife Mary and their six children. By 1850 the family had purchased land in Tawa, which was sold in 1854 enabling the family to purchase 215 acres at the top of the Aro Valley.

      Much of this land was steep hills covered in Rimu, Rata, and Matai, and Mitchell set about clearing the land, selling the timber to locals. By 1873 the land was predominantly cleared and was being used to run sheep.

      John Mitchell established the land as a family business, and his sons William, James, and Henry each had shares. Henry Mitchell bought out his brothers shares in the business and he is responsible for Holloway Road as it is seen today. Henry proceeded to subdivide the property to accommodate several building sites and then built thirty cottages of varying sizes, some single rooms while others had up to ten. Mitchell used these cottages as accommodation for his workers, preferring to lease the properties rather than sell them. Holloway Road was in many ways a ‘working mans village’, and has similar beginnings as the Aro Valley workers cottages, Tonks Grove, and Tinakori Road; despite the addition of some larger buildings in the 1900s and some modern development, the road remains in an almost original state.

      Mitchell sold a thirty acre parcel to Robert Tait who also used the land to build houses, creating what is now known as Taitville. Mitchelltown today still resembles a small outlying town, with Holloway Road as one of its primary streets.

      The pre 1900 community flourished, with the population being enough to sustain two grocers, butchery, and a school. Several small dairy herds, poultry runs, and vegetable gardens provided the essentials for the locals. In the early 1900’s some of the smaller buildings were demolished to make way for some larger two storey buildings. In 1914 one hundred and eight men were enlisted to serve in World War One from Mitchelltown, of which 19 were killed and 31 were wounded. In 1920 the community erected a memorial to these soldiers at the junction of Holloway Road and Aro Street.

      In the 1920s there were 92 properties in the valley, and two local identities owned 24 of these. William Haines (butcher) and John Brosnahan (carpenter) were landlords to many of the locals, helping Mitchelltown to retain its working class character. The economic downturn and subsequent depression in the 1930s saw poverty rise to new levels, tenant turnover was extremely high, community spirit was difficult to maintain, the shops began to close, and the dwellings soon began to fall into disrepair.

      Following World War Two and the rise of the state house in other areas of the city saw the legacy of Mitchelltown’s working past further lost. By 1963 complaints were being heard and newspapers such as The Evening Post were reporting that the Mitchelltown dwellings had become slums, and city councillors noted that the area illustrated an advanced stage of urban decay and advocated for their demolition and replacement with modern buildings. This did not occur, and the area continued to deteriorate.

      In the 1980s Victoria University proposed a sports facility for Holloway Road, which would be possible only with major earthworks, to which the residents of the area were vehemently opposed. The residents of Holloway Road became well known for their protests which stopped many planned demolitions.

      This area remains well preserved and is significant as a complete nineteenth century working class settlement. There have been few additions made to the streetscape and it remains almost unchanged from the time that the majority of these houses were constructed.

      The history of this cottage is not well documented but it is likely that it was constructed for Henry Mitchell as a workers cottage some time in the 1880s. It is likely that this property was sold into private ownership when Mitchell began subdividing Section 10, and by 1904 the owner was listed as being J. Haines, a butcher, although it appears that Haines did not occupy the property, but leased it out to tenants. In April 1963 the house was purchased by three European immigrants: Anton Fischer, a plasterer, Willy Alseben, a bricklayer, and Uwe Stiebert, a bricklayer. In March of 1964 Alseben sold his share to the other two owners, and in July 1965 Stiebert passed sole ownership to Fischer. Fischer remained the owner until 2007, when it was purchased by Mr and Mrs Daellenbach. The house is now registered to Budy Limited.


    • Modifications close
      • unknown
      • (original plans cannot be accessed)
      • 1952
      • 61 Holloway Road, porch (00056:432:B32935)
      • 2007
      • 61 Holloway Road, removal of some external and internal walls; new kitchen and bathroom; extension to existing dwelling; re-roof (00078:2968:165576)
    • Occupation History close
      • unknown
      • Not assessed
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      This house is a simple gabled structure that has had various lean to additions made at the side and rear. The western façade is decorated in the typical Italianate style used in Wellington during the late 19th century. The façade is pleasantly proportioned with a central bay window. Wooden panelling, quoins, and a decorative bargeboard add to the depth of the façade. A round disk, covered in tin plate, has been fixed to the façade above the bay window. The weatherboards are chamfered both top and bottom and are fixed dead vertical, newer bevel back weatherboards are used elsewhere on the building.

      The entrance is located on the north façade half way along the original structure. There are additions that extend from the original fabric to both the north and east (constructed at different stages). The additions are constructed in a variety of materials including timber, tin, and plaster. The front door leads to a small entrance hall which opens to both the front and back room. The back room leads into the back porch which runs along the back of the house to the bathroom and also provides access to the yard behind the house.

    • Materials close

      Timber weatherboards

      Chamfered bevel back weatherboards

      Coloursteel roofing (?)

    • Setting close

      This house is found on the eastern side of Holloway Road and is easily seen in the street. The setting of this house is enhanced by its placement against mature bush. The broader setting is of old timber houses, located mainly at the valley floor. This house is an element in the historic area of Mitchelltown and the wider Aro Valley area and has high group value with the many other domestic buildings of the era in Holloway Road.

  • close Cultural Value

    This house is a fairly modest timber gabled structure that has had various lean to additions made at the side and rear. The western façade is decorated in the typical Italianate style used in Wellington during the late 19th century.

    This house is an important part of the local community and makes a contribution to the wider setting of Holloway Road. It contributes significantly to the sense of place and continuity in the Aro Valley.

    This house has had a modest and typical history for a residential dwelling in Wellington. It is associated with the early settlement of Mitchelltown and with Henry Mitchell who built a number of cottages for his workers.

    • Aesthetic Value close

      • 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?

        This house is a fairly modest timber gabled structure that has had various lean to additions made at the side and rear. The western façade is decorated in the typical Italianate style used in Wellington during the late 19th century.

      • 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 house is an important element in the historic area of Mitchelltown and the wider Aro Valley area and has high group value with the many other domestic buildings of the era in Holloway Road.

      • 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?

        This house has townscape value due to its position with the other houses on Holloway Road.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        This house has had a modest and typical history for a residential dwelling in Wellington. It is associated with the early settlement of Mitchelltown and with Henry Mitchell who built a number of cottages for his workers.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        This building was constructed pre 1900, so is of archaeological value.

    • Social Value close

      • 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 house is an important part of the local community and makes a contribution to the wider setting of Holloway Road. It contributes significantly to the sense of place and continuity in the Aro Valley.

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close

      • 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?

        This house has had few listed modifications made and retains a relatively authentic quality. It has authenticity of style, craftsmanship, materials, and setting.

      • Local Regional National International

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

        This house is locally significant for its architectural, townscape, and group values, its historic associations, its archaeological and technical values, and its authenticity.

      • Representative

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

        This house is a good representative of a 1880s workers cottage, built in materials and using techniques common to the period. It has had a modest and representative history for a residential building.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      11/ 150

    • Legal Description

      Lot 1 DP 20197

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      2/ 4131

    • Archaeological Site

      Pre 1900 construction

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      Yes

    • Funding Amount

      $3,000.00

    • Funding Details

      November 2007 - A grant of $3,000 was awarded in contribution towards work including roof flashing and weatherboard replacement, reinstatement of baseboards, and painting.

      Funding Type: Preservation/Other.

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Not Earthquake Prone

  • close Additional Information
    • Sources close
      • Mawdsley, Mark. ‘61 Holloway Road Conservation Plan’. Prepared for Victoria University, 2007.
      • 1952 61 Holloway Road, porch (00056:432:B32935)
      • 2007 61 Holloway Road, removal of some external and internal walls; new kitchen and bathroom; extension to existing dwelling; re-roof (00078:2968:165576)
      • Certificate of Title WN341/283
      • Certificate of Title WN675/2
      • Certificate of Title WN788/32
      • Certificate of Title WN788/33
    • Technical Documentation close

      Not available

    • Footnotes close

      Not available

Last updated: 10/6/2017 2:10:15 AM