Wellington Harbour Board Head Office and Bond Store (Former)

• 1892
• Building construction
• 1904
• Alterations to the top floor of the Queens Bond Building (00053:106:5922)
• 1998
• Maritime Museum redevelopment (00078:362:39101)
• 2001
• New internal partition walls and new office layout – third floor of the maritime museum (00078:603:73266)
• 2003
• Installation of three shipping containers as entrance features (00078:1160:103275)
• 2009
• Removal and addition of partition walls on level 3 (00078:3148:198666)

• 1892
• Wellington Harbour Board
• 1972
• Wellington Maritime Museum
• 1999
• Museum of Wellington City and Sea

Not assessed

The former Harbour Board Head Office and Bond Store was designed as a dual-purpose building, as bond-store and office premises, requiring a utilitarian character but also one to impress. The architect has chosen a stripped down French Renaissance or Second Empire style, which admirably suits the purpose of functionality and elegance. The construction is load-bearing brick masonry on reinforced concrete foundations and piles. The roof is clad in corrugated iron.

This three-storey building has two obvious components - the two storey base and the mansard roof. The base is divided into nine squares or rectangles on each floor over the long elevation, and three squares at both ends of the building. The mansard roof features rather elegant dormer windows complete with small triangular pediments, and is capped by nine flagpoles, each with an ironwork surround which were called “widows’-walks” or “captain’s-walks”. The flagpoles are a very appropriate maritime feature.

The facades demonstrate a good balance between horizontal and vertical elements, with strong, plain cornices between levels and a plain entablature between upper floor and roof. There is little decoration as such apart from the ironwork on the roof and the carved panels over the main entrance on the north elevation. The visual harmony of the building derives from the rhythms and proportions set by the bays and windows. Inside the building there is a magnificent staircase and boardroom.

The Head Office building is a major landmark on the Wellington waterfront, one of a group of stylistically varied buildings that have been successfully converted to new uses. The building has been base-isolated and earthquake strengthened.

The construction is load-bearing brick masonry on reinforced concrete foundations and piles.

The former Harbour Board Head Office and Bond Store is a major work by a prominent Wellington Architect. It has extremely high townscape values; it marks the entrance to Queen’s Wharf and is easily seen from inner city streets around Post Office Square. It is one of a precinct of historic maritime buildings, being opposite the former wharf offices (also designed by Frederick de Jersey Clere), and close to Shed 5. More broadly it is related to the masonry Sheds 11 and 13. This group of buildings tell the story of Wellington’s maritime history and the commercial development of Wellington’s port.

• 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 Wellington Harbour Board Head Office and Bond Store is a fine example of a Victorian civic building. It is a sophisticated piece of architectural design that is elegant and unembellished for the time, and is a major work of an important Wellington, Frederick de Jersey Clere.

• 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 building is one of a group of stylistically varied buildings that are related to the maritime history of Wellington that have been successfully converted to new uses. Together with the Wharf Offices building, Shed 5, and Sheds 11 and 13, this building is related to the commercial development of the port. It makes a strong positive contribution to the Post Office Square 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?

  This building has high townscape values as it marks the entrance to Queen’s Wharf and is a major landmark on the Wellington waterfront.

• Association

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

  This building is associated with the Wellington Harbour Board and, as their former head-office, has great historic value for the city. The building is a potent reminder of 100 years of port and maritime history.

• Archaeological

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

  This building is constructed on reclaimed land and is in a area that was occupied prior to 1900. It is also included in the NZAA Central City archaeological site R27/270.

• Technological

  Does the item have technological value for its innovative or important construction methods or use of materials?

  This building has technical value due to the structural system, built upon piles on reclaimed land, and from the high quality finishes that remain in the interior and on the exterior. The refurbishment of the interior has been well-managed and retains many original features.

• 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 has had few intrusive modern alterations over the past 110+ years and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of the Post Office Square Heritage Area and the Wellington waterfront.

• Public Esteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  The former Wellington Harbour Board Offices and Bond Store is a fine / high profile local landmark that is likely to be held in high public esteem.

• Sentiment Connection

  Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

  This building is likely to be a focus of community sentiment as it now houses the Museum of Wellington, a museum dedicated to telling the story of Wellington and connecting the present to the past.

• 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 building retains authenticity and integrity as it retains much of its original fabric and significant features.

• Local Regional National International

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

  This building is important at a local and national level as it is a significant building on the Wellington waterfront, is the second oldest building in the precinct, and is architecturally important. It is associated with over 100 years of activity at the port.  

• Rare

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

  This building is an outstanding example of Frederick de Jersey Clere’s work, it is a landmark, has a high level of traditional and cultural value, has technical value, and is associated with the commercial development of Wellington as a port city.

Not assessed

• NZHPT professional biographies. ‘Frederick de Jersey Clere’. Accessed 27 March 2013.
• Wellington City Council. Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001
• WCA 00053-106-5922
• Ref: 1/1-001016-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.

• Inventory Report
• 1904 drawings

Not available