Commercial Building

• 1899
• Corner Ingestre Street and Marion Street [134 Vivian Street], shop and dwelling (00053:57:3614)
• 1965
• 134136 Vivian Street, building alterations (00058:418:C17869)
• 1989
• Vivian Street, business additions and alterations (00059:324:E18367)
• 1989
• Vivian Street, sign (00059:324:E18372)
• 1989
• Vivian Street, business additions and alterations – shop (00059:342:E18824)
• 1990
• Vivian Street, business additions and alterations – restaurant (00059:427:E21429)
• 1991
• Vivian Street, business additions and alterations (00059:491:E23536)
• 1994
• Vivian Street, sign (00060:183:6610)
• 2000
• Vivian Street, plumbing alteration (00078:2380:63496)

• unknown
• Not assessed

Not assessed

This building at 134 Vivian Street was built as a mixed use commercial development. The westernmost unit on Vivian Street was two-storey shop/residence, the ground floor corner unit was a ‘lock-up’ shop, and the first floor housed a private hall.

The exterior of the building was designed in a style that is typical of the many timber shop/residences that once lined Cuba Street, but the Vivian Street façade is overlaid with an eclectic mix of applied decoration that includes Gothic pointed-arch louvres, and exotic (perhaps Moorish or even minaret-inspired) finials. The corner of the building sits under a pronounced parapeted gable with a simple return gable further along on the Marion Street façade. The Marion Street façade has been altered and plain windows have been replaced with cantilevered bay windows at first floor level. Ornate matching verandahs and finials have also been removed from the building.

The construction is timber on concrete foundations and piles, with brick firewalls separating the three establishments. The timber of the ground floor was specified as Totara, all other timber being rimu. The roof was clad in corrugated iron.

This building is situated in the Cuba Street Heritage Area on the corner of Vivian and Marion Streets. The unique design of the building has made it a landmark for the Cuba Street precinct. This block contains an eclectic mixture of buildings, from nondescript large modern structures, to some significant heritage buildings at or near the Cuba Street intersection.

• 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?

  134 Vivian Street is a much altered Victorian building that was designed to house a shop/dwelling, ‘lock-up’ shop, and private hall. Although many of the original features have been lost, the remnants of the original design show that this was once a splendid, if somewhat eclectic, Victorian commercial development.

• 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 Cuba Street 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?

  The building is located on a prominent corner site, along a busy arterial route, and is a minor local landmark.

• Association

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

  The building has historic value for its association with the strong growth and development of Cuba Street during the Edwardian period, which resulted in the building of many fine commercial buildings.

• Archaeological

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

  This building is included in the NZAA Central City Archaeological Area R2/270, is in an area known to have had pre 1900 human activity, and known to have sites of significance to Maori. The likelihood of archaeological materials being present is likely.

• 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 part of a group of Edwardian commercial buildings which contribute to the sense of place and continuity of the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• 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?

  Despite many modifications, the exterior of this building retains a significant amount of original material. This building has authenticity and integrity of materials, design, workmanship, 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 building is of local importance for its contribution to the Cuba Street Heritage Area. 

Not assessed

• Wellington City Council, “134 Vivian Street”, Wellington Heritage Building Inventory: Non Residential Buildings, (Wellington City Council, 2001), CUBA 54.
• ‘Advertisements’, Evening Post, Volume LXV, Issue 126, 29 May 1903, Page 4, accessed 5 August 2013,
• ‘Advertisements’, Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 171, 10 October 1903, Page 24, accessed 5 August 2013,
• Advertisements’, Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 115, 17 May 1911, page 6, accessed 5 August 2013,
• ‘Fire in Wellington’, Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LV, Issue 8582, 16 October 1906, Page 5, accessed 5 August 2013,
• Corner Ingestre Street and Marion Street [134 Vivian Street], shop and dwelling (00053:57:3614)
• 134-136 Vivian Street, building alterations (00058:418:C17869)
• 134 Vivian Street, business additions and alterations (00059:324:E18367)
• 134-136 Vivian Street, sign (00059:324:E18372)
• 134 Vivian Street, business additions and alterations – shop (00059:342:E18824)
• 134 Vivian Street, business additions and alterations – restaurant (00059:427:E21429)
• 134 Vivian Street, business additions and alterations (00059:491:E23536)
• 134 Vivian Street, sign (00060:183:6610)
• 134 Vivian Street, plumbing alteration (00078:2380:63496)

• Inventory Report
• 1899 drawings

Not available