Shed 11

• 1860
• Reclamation to create the land around Featherston, Brandon, and Johnston Streets and Customhouse Quay.
• 1901 - 1903
• Reclamation to create a strip of land to the east of Customhouse Quay.
• 1904 - 1905
• Sheds V & W Sheds V & W (11 & 13)constructed on this strip of land
• 1922
• Sheds renamed (11 & 13)
• 1938
• Sheds (11 & 13)Marseille tile roof removed and replaced with “russet coloured” asbestos sheet, removal of offices at the south end of Shed 11, and construction of a new door in south wall.
• 1970
• Sheds (11 & 13) were no longer in use
• 1985 - 11
• Shed 11 converted to art gallery use, building strengthening work.
• 2002 - 2003
• New roof, flashing and guttering
• 2012
• Building strengthened

Not assessed

Not assessed

Sheds 11 and 13 were built as a matching pair of industrial warehouse buildings. Each shed is 51.9 metres long by 10.3 metres wide and has ten large doors, one at either end and four on both harbour and city elevations. The end doors are hinged, and the sliding doors on the east and west elevations are capped with Dutch-style lintels that are shed’s key decorative elements.

The interior was one large storage space, although originally there were timber-framed partitions for several stores and offices. Shed 11 had a Waterman’s Store, Tolls Office and Fireman’s Hose Store. These have been replaced with toilets and service rooms at either end of the building. It appears from the specifications that Shed 13 had a Scavenger’s Room.

The main construction material is load-bearing brickwork laid with a cement mortar and reinforced with galvanised hoop iron laid between courses. The brickwork rests on a composite concrete/steel foundation beam, itself supported on totara piles with wrought-iron caps driven into the seabed.

The roof is supported on 14 timber scissor trusses spanning the width of the building. The skylight extends almost the full length of each building, stopping short of the main walls to allow for the hips of the main roof. A broad coved eave to the main roof is tinted stucco plaster on steel mesh. Timbers used in the building include totara, Baltic pine, matai, rimu and Oregon. Decorative finishes to the exterior take the form of lintels over doors, window surrounds and column capitals and are in ochre-tinted plaster. Medallions of the WHB crest are in tinted “pressed cement” and have been painted.

Composite concrete and steel ring beam foundations constructed on totara piles with wrought iron caps.

Load-bearing brick masonry walls

Timber roof trusses

Sheds 11 and 13 are an integral part of the line of wharf buildings that define the harbour/city interface. To the east of the buildings is Customhouse Quay, a six lane arterial transport route that runs around the perimeter of the Wellington Waterfront “public recreation area”. And Sheds 11 & 13, and the railings and gates to the north and south of both buildings form the boundary between harbour and city.

Although the sheds were originally located at the water’s edge the land to the east has since been reclaimed and developed into a restaurant / leisure precinct. The development includes many modern buildings including the new Meridian office building to the north and the Queen’s Wharf events centre and commercial zone. The Sheds are located in the Post Office Square Heritage Area that includes the following heritage buildings and items.

Wharf Offices (Shed 7 / Wharf Office Apartments, 1896)

Head Office and Bond Store (Museum of Wellington - City and Sea, 1891-92)

Shed 11 (1904-05)

Shed 13 (1904-05)

Clarrie Gibbons Store (and traffic island, 1912)

Huddart Parker Building, 2-6 Jervois Quay (1924)

Tower Building, 50 – 64 Customhouse Quay (1936)

Intercontinental Hotel, 2 Grey Street (1988)

Todd Corporation Building, 95 Customhouse Quay, (1987)

Chapman Tripp Building, 1-13 Grey Street (1976)Queens Wharf gates (1899), 

Telephone box (c.1938) 

Postal box (dating from between 1879 and 1910). 

• 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?

  Sheds 11 and 13 are a pair of robust industrial buildings that derive aesthetic value from the form and solidity of their brick construction. This is highlighted by decorative motifs, most particularly the Dutch-style lintels over the main doors.

• 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?

  Shed 11 is part of a group of former Wellington Harbour Board buildings that form a cluster around Queen’s Wharf and are part of the Post Office Square Heritage Area. It has strong group value for its similarity and proximity to Shed 13.

• 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?

  Sheds 11 and 13, and the adjoining railings have townscape value as they define the boundary between the Wellington Waterfront and the city beyond.

• Association

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

  Sheds 11 & 13 were built by the Wellington Harbour Board, and were designed by William Ferguson (an important engineering figure nationally).

• Association

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

  The buildings have a historic association with transport and shipping industries, and have played an important role in the trading and commercial life of Wellington.

• Archaeological

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

  Pre 1900 building; Pre 1900 reclaimed land; Central City NZAA R27/270

• 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?

  Sheds 11 & 13 saw over 70 years of active use and have been an integral part of the Wellington waterfront for over 100 years. They make a strong positive contribution to the sense of place and continuity of the Post Office Square 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?

  Shed 11 has been adapted to form an art gallery and storage space and has had some alterations to the interior. The exterior has had few significant alterations with the exception of the roof that was replaced in the 1930s and again in the early 200os.

Not assessed

• Bowman I. Wellington Maritime Museum Conservation Plan. Wellington Maritime Museum. 1994.
• Cochran C. Sheds 11 and 13: A Cultural Heritage Assessment. Prepared for Lambton Harbour Management, Wellington. 1996.
• Evans M.E. Research Report, Harbour Board Buildings. Prepared for Buildings Classifications Committee, NZHPT, 1975.
• NZ Portrait Gallery website accessed August 2012
• Stace, F. Nigel. 'Ferguson, William - Biography', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 1-Sep-10
• Wellington Harbour Board Annual Report, October 1939.
• WCC Archives ref “1970 Berthage Plan”
• WCC Heritage Building Inventory 2001 ref Wate2
• WCC Post Office Square Heritage Area report for DPC 48

• Inventory Report

Not available