Wellington Town Hall

• 1902 - 1904
• Original Construction
• 1906 - 1906
• Organ installed
• 1923 - 1923
• Clock installed in tower
• 1934 - 1934
• Tower and other exterior features removed from hall
• 1937 - 1937
• Town Hall re-roofed
• 1943 - 1943
• Ventilation system installed to concert chamber
• 1943 - 1945
• Further external features removed and seismic strengthening carried out
• 1948 - 1948
• Extension to reception room on first floor constructed
• 1991 - 1992
• Building refurbished and strengthened. Concert chamber demolished and replaced by conference/reception rooms, Ilott Concert Chamber constructed

• unknown
• Wellington City Council

Not assessed

Joshua Charlesworth’s winning design for the Wellington Town Hall was a moderately exuberant Classical composition with Edwardian flourishes, complete with a very tall and prominent clock tower and elegant vertical proportions. The principal entrance was from Wakefield Street, sheltered under a massive Corinthian portico beneath the clock tower. Built of rendered masonry with a corrugated iron roof behind the parapets and timber joinery, the carefully composed neo-Classical exterior, designed much in the manner of contemporary English civic buildings, was complemented with rich decoration and high quality finishes on the interior as befitted a first-class civic facility.

In 1934 the clock tower and most of the high level decoration on the building was taken down as a precaution, following the experiences of the Napier earthquake. Further earthquake-risk amelioration measures were carried out in 1942.

A refurbishment programme completed in 1992 strengthened and altered the building, with the loss of the former Concert Chamber, Wellington’s finest men’s toilets, the use of the original main entrance and various other important original features. The main hall, organ, and eastern stair are the principal remaining heritage elements of the interior.

The close proximity of the MFC to what is now the main entrance is to the detriment of the townscape values of both buildings. Due to the elevated ground level in the square, the strong basalt base of the north façade is barely seen and the building consequently has a somewhat uneasy relationship with the ground on this side.

Nevertheless, this is the most important building on the square and is held in high public esteem. Both the care taken with the design and the civic importance of the building is strongly evident in its elegant proportions, patterns of window openings and mouldings and enrichments and the aspirations and pride of the city that built it are manifest in the carefully restrained exuberance of the design. This building makes a significant positive contribution to the qualities of the area.

The interior of the building is somewhat better preserved, and more complete, than the exterior. The main hall and entranceway are well designed and characteristic of their times. The entry to the main auditorium is between two branches of the elegant bifurcated stair. Ceilings are ‘Wunderlich’ stamped zinc throughout and are found in a variety of patterns. The intricately tiled floors of the main entrance foyer and passageway were repaired in the 1991/2 renovation and remain a tour de force making an immediate festive impression. The tiles are patterned in black, white, soft blue, and ochre and are a splendid example of Victorian encaustic tile work.

The internal spaces were originally arranged in a simple rectangular shape, but in the 1991/2 refurbishment the plan changes blocked off the original south corridor opposite the north corridor to allow for the new concert chamber. A new corridor was formed skirting the outside south eastern wall of the auditorium which meets up with the original south corridor, stair and ‘vestibule’. The new concert chamber was formed at the ground floor level from the original corridor, building inspectors’ and city engineers offices on the south east corner of the building.

The main hall is twice as long as it is wide, and its height three fifths its width. The organ stands in a 12 foot recess above the stage. The acoustics of the main hall are well recognised. The Toomath report (referenced in history) contains a section by R. J. Satory, an acoustic physicist, which states that the hall is among the ten best in the world for ‘Romantic’ music. The issue of damage to the acoustics of the building was a major issue in the 1991/2 refurbishment – fortunately this did not turn out to be the case. Satory noted that the original concert chamber was less than ideal, the space is currently arranged as the Mayoral chambers on the first floor and a seminar suite on the upper floor – although as of 2014 the mayor is housed in temporary chambers.

The construction is primarily load bearing brick masonry laid in cement mortar. The brickwork is not revealed as such but has been plastered, stucco adorned, and lined to simulate a stone building. Columns, cornices, and other embellishments were moulded in concrete. Externally a plinth is formed with deeply rusticated rock-faced blocks of Malmesbury blue stone from Melbourne (painted). The entire exterior surface was coated in grey cement plaster. The solid brick walls stand on concrete strip foundations carried on concrete piles.

The roof trusses across the major spaces are ‘engineered’ queen-post types, made out of massive Oregon timbers joined by steel plates. The floors, framing, and roof framing are all in timber. The roof was originally corrugated galvanised iron; it was replaced in the 1930s similar materials and painted with bitumastic paint prior to being laid.

Internally many ceilings are pressed metal ceiling tiles, flooring to the main entrance are of encaustic geometric floor tiles, while the main stair has a cast iron balustrade.

The Town Hall is set at the periphery of the Civic Square between the Brutalist Michael Fowler Centre (1983), and the Old Administration Building (Municipal Office Building – MOB, 1951).

The Civic Centre Heritage Area is a large city block bounded by streets on all sides – Jervois Quay, Harris, Victoria and Wakefield Streets. The proposed heritage area contains a significant open public space that is bordered by the principal buildings. There are two buildings of high heritage value, one older building of heritage significance and two modern buildings that contribute to the character and quality of the open space and the Michael Fowler Centre.

The square itself is a particularly special public space in Wellington, formed for civic purposes by the closure of Mercer Street and the construction of an elevated outdoor piazza at the floor level of the former public library and the Town Hall. The square is framed and defined by the surrounding collection of civic buildings. The public use of the square reinforces the importance of the building collection and the buildings in turn emphasise the public role and form of the open space.

• Archaeological

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

  Although the building was constructed post 1900, it is situated in the NZAA Central City Archaeological Area R27/270 and sited on reclaimed land R27/456. There is significant potential for archaeological material to be present.

• 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 Wellington Town Hall is a landmark building that defines part of the southern boundary of Wellington’s Civic Square. The square is the pre-eminent public space in central Wellington, and is widely used by Wellingtonians and visitors alike.

• 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 Town Hall contributes to the Civic Centre Heritage Area. Although it is relatively newly established and contains a number of buildings and features of recent vintage, the area contains and is defined by a collection of important civic buildings, two of which have very high heritage values.

• Association

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

  The Town hall, with its concert hall, concert chamber and reception room, council chambers and municipal offices, have been a central to the governance and cultural life of Wellington for over 100 years. 
  

• Association

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

  The Wellington Town Hall has been associated with a number of important people and organisations over the past century. It was built in the term of office of mayor John Guthrie Wood Aitken (1841-1921), during a period of development that included the construction of the Te Aro Baths and installation of the electric tram network. The foundation stone was laid by The Duke of Cornwall and York, later to become King George V, and the building was the most significant work of architect Joshua Charlesworth. 

• Archaeological

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

  Although the building was constructed post 1900, it is situated in the NZAA Central City Archaeological Area R27/270 and sited on reclaimed land R27/456. There is significant potential for archaeological material to be present.

• Educational

  Does the item have educational value for what it can demonstrate about aspects of the past?

  There is educational value in the design of the Town Hall as it was originally designed with the basement below the water table. The need to prevent water ingress was an element of the design. The Town Hall can also provide insight into the history of Wellington architecture, the design of Australasian Town Halls in the early 20th Century, and the history of the Wellington City Council.

• Technological

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

  The building has technological value for the high quality of its design, materials and craftsmanship. Materials of particular note are the Malmsbury Bluestone on the exterior, the Wunderlich pressed metal ceiling tiles, the encaustic floor tiles, the cast iron balustrading, and the fine carved timber posts to the stairs.

• 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 Wellington Town Hall, as a performance venue, contributes to Wellington’s self-proclaimed identity as New Zealand’s ‘cultural capital’. It is the symbolic and physical centre of local government, and houses the Mayoral Offices.

• Public Esteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  The building is likely to be held in high public esteem as a popular venue and performance space, and for the versatile auditorium that has international recognition for its fine acoustics. It has maintained its original use values and is still one of the principle venues for civic and public functions, concerts, and other events and as the home of local government.

• Sentiment/Connection

  Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

  The building is likely to be a focus of community sentiment and connection as a popular venue that has hosted everything from school/community festivals, to orchestral and chamber music concerts, to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. As such, a wide cross section of the community have attended events at the venue and are likely to have a strong connection to this place.

• Symbolic/Commemorative/Traditional/Spiritual

  Does the item have symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual or other cultural value for the community who has used and continues to use it?

  The Town Hall has commemorative value as it houses a number of plaques recognising officers of the Council and others who have contributed to the city and to the building.

• 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?

  Although there have been some major alterations made to the interior including:

  • demolition of original concert chamber and replacement with the Mayoral suite; reconfiguration of the  ground floor to allow for new concert chamber; demolition of western additions and its replacement with a two level ambulatory;

  And to the exterior including:

  • removal of tower and modifications to the main portico; removal of pediments, parapet balustrades and pinnacles; adaptations to the main cornice; re-roofing; removal of embellishments such as Corinthian capitals and smaller Ionic capitals and their replacement with Tuscan capitals;

  There remains much of the original building structure and fabric of the major spaces and elevations.

  The refurbishment work of 1991/92 saw the restoration of a number of spaces, the repair of original features such as the main foyer floor tiles and cast iron balustrades contributing greatly to a sense of integrity in the building. 

• Rare

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

  The Wellington Town Hall has rarity due to the quality of the acoustics in the main auditorium.

• Representative

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

  The Wellington Town Hall is a representative of civic building design of the time in New Zealand and Australia in terms of style, scale, form, and function. The construction and materials are representative of the technologies available in the period but are of a particularly high quality.

• Importance

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

  The Wellington Town Hall is a nationally significant building. It has maintained its original use values and is still one of the principle venues for civic and public functions, concerts, and other events and as the home of local government.

Not assessed

• Burgess, Dave. ‘Wellington’s $60 million question’, The Dominion Post, 14/02/2014 Michael Kelly et al, ‘Civic Centre Heritage Area’ WCC unpublished heritage report for DPC 48, 2006
• Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 143, 19 June 1901, Page 2, accessed 17 June 2013.
• Historic Places Trust, ‘Joshua Charlesworth – Architect’, NZHPT Professional biographies. Accessed 17/06/2013.
• Kelly, Michael et al, ‘Civic Centre Heritage Area’ WCC unpublished heritage report for DPC 48, 2006
• Soundtrack for second Hobbit film to be recorded by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra at Wellington Town Hall’ New Zealand Symphony Orchestra press release 12 July 2013
• Toomath, William. ‘Wellington Town Hall’. Newsletter of the Wellington Regional Committee of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Volume 2, Number 2, September 1979
• Wellington City Council. ‘A Town Hall fro the 21st Century’. Compiled by Judy Siers for the Wellington City Council, 1992.
• Wellington City Council. Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001.

• Inventory report
• 1901 Cuba Street elevation drawing
• 1901 ground plan
• 1901 first floor plan

Not available