Court of Appeal Building

• 1907
• Corner Ballance Street and Stout Street [43-47 Ballance Street], Civil Service Club (00053:142:7887)
• 1908
• 43-55 Ballance Street, office premises (00053:145:8070)
• 1987
• 43-47 Ballance Street, Department of Justice - court building - partial demolition (00059:131:D7432)
• 1996
• 43 Ballance Street, courtroom fit-out (00078:1217:440)
• 2003
• 43 Ballance Street, level 7, late consent for alteration to toilets to remove shower and create two toilets for female judges (00078:1099:101575)
• unknown
• 43 Ballance Street, office building alterations (00078:1797:101525)
• 2004
• 43 Ballance Street, additions and alterations, level 6 (00078:1329:116838)
• 2005
• 43 Ballance Street, interior partition changes - level 2 prisoner interview rooms (wellington district court) (00078:1843:127680)
• 2009
• 43-59 Ballance Street, Commercial- fit out to level 5 and annexes (00078:2876:185525)

• 1907 - 1918
• 1918 Civil Services Club, Bank of New Zealand
• 1918
• Present Ministry of Justice – Courts

Not assessed

The external facades of the old Court of Appeal have been subsumed into the much larger, c.1990s, court buildings to form one of Wellington’s less successful façade retention schemes.

The old building occupied a corner site at the intersection of Stout and Ballance streets and was a particularly fine example of an Edwardian Classical building in the ‘palazzo’ style. The surviving facades are of rendered brickwork with reinforced concrete lintels and footings. The building has a basement, although the original basement windows and grills have since been infilled, as has the cart-dock to the Stout Street façade. The ground floor walls are rusticated and the windows have arched heads with label moulds and tall stylised keystones. The main entrances from Stout and Ballance streets are both particularly fine; topped with triangular pediments on cantilevered consoles.

The first floor windows are rectangular in shape with curved pediments and moulded architraves. The second floor windows are separated from the first by a string course and are rectangular with prominent keystones. The parapet features a wide overhanging cornice supported by modillions, and decorated with dentils.

The corner of the building is particularly well defined with a curved panel of rusticated render that runs from dado level above the old basement windows up to the old roof-level cornice. This is flanked at first and second floor levels by rendered quoins.

The overall effect is somewhat marred by the prominent brick ventilators on the Stout Street façade, and the grim one-way glass in the modern metal window frames.

Rendered brick

Concrete footing and lintels

The former Court of Appeal (now District Court), despite the additions, maintains a presence on the streetscape, and makes an important contribution to Stout Street Heritage Area. The Stout Street Heritage Area includes the Supreme Court, the Public Trust, the Departmental Building, and the former State Insurance building, and is located in close proximity to the Old Government buildings and the Government Precinct and is prominent in views from the Waterfront to the Parliamentary Precinct.

• 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 facades of the old Court of Appeal are a remnant part of a fine Edwardian Classical ‘palazzo-style’ building. The aesthetic value of the facades has been somewhat diminished by their integration into the much larger, c.1990s, new Court of Appeal 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 contributes to the Stout Street Heritage Area and has group value with its near neighbours for their shared sense of scale, design, and history.

• 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 has some townscape value for its prominent site at the corner of Stout and Balance streets. This has been somewhat diminished by its integration into the much larger modern Court of Appeal building.

• Association

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

  This is a significant building due to its historical relationship with the Justice Department and with New Zealand’s legal history. It housed the first permanent Court of Appeal in New Zealand, and retains a similar function as the District Court. It is also associated with prominent architect Joshua Charlesworth.

• Archaeological

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

  This building was constructed in 1907 and was among the first constructions on the Thorndon reclamation. It is included in the NZAA Central City Archaeological area.

• 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 an important part of the Wellington community and makes a contribution to the wider setting of the Central City, and to its immediate setting the Stout Street heritage area. It contributes significantly to the sense of place and continuity in Wellington.

• 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 facades are a remnant part of the old Court of Appeal building.

• Representative

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

  The building is a good representative example of an Edwardian Classical ‘palazzo’ style commercial/civic building.

• Importance

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

  This building is locally significant for its architectural and group values, while its historic associations are nationally significant as the home of the first permanent Court of Appeal in New Zealand.

Not assessed

• Historic Places Trust. ‘Joshua Charlesworth.’ Professional Biographies. Accessed 25 October 2013.
• Wellington City Council. ‘Stout Street Heritage Area.’ Prepared for Plan Change 48. Wellington City Council, 2006.
• Archives: 1907 Corner Ballance Street and Stout Street [43-47 Ballance Street], Civil Service Club (00053:142:7887)
• Archives: 1908 43-55 Ballance Street, office premises (00053:145:8070)
• Archives: 1987 43-47 Ballance Street, Department of Justice - court building - partial demolition (00059:131:D7432)
• Archives: 1996 43 Ballance Street, courtroom fit-out (00078:1217:440)
• Archives: 2003 43 Ballance Street, level 7, late consent for alteration to toilets to remove shower and create two toilets for female judges (00078:1099:101575)
• Archives: 2003 43 Ballance Street, office building alterations (00078:1797:101525)
• Archives: 2004 43 Ballance Street, additions and alterations, level 6 (00078:1329:116838)
• Archives: 2005 43 Ballance Street, interior partition changes - level 2 prisoner interview rooms (wellington district court) (00078:1843:127680)
• Archives: 2009 43-59 Ballance Street, Commercial- fit out to level 5 and annexes(00078:2876:185525)

• Inventory Report
• 1907 plans

Not available