Druids’ Chambers

1 Woodward Lane, 3 Woodward Lane

1-5 Woodward Street, Wellington Central, Wellington
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  • Constructed

    1924 - 1925

  • Builder(s)

  • The Druids’ Chambers is a good representative example of a stripped Classical building of the mid-1920s, well-ordered in its composition and a competent piece of architectural design by a well known Wellington architect, Llewellyn Williams.

    The United Ancient Druids Lodge, established in Wellington in 1879 as the Excelsior Lodge, was a large Masonic order. Through its Friendly Society it was a major provider of social services to its many members and was an institution of considerable historic significance. Its members were drawn from many sectors of New Zealand society and the Wellington Grand Lodge, known as Druids’ Chambers, was their headquarters. Despite diminishing influence and a reduced membership in later years the society remained a significant organisation until wound up in 1995.

    It is significant in the townscape as it marks the corner of Lambton Quay and Woodward Street. As one of the last period buildings on the landward side of Lambton Quay, it provides a valuable reference to the history of growth and change along the original shoreline.


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  • close History
    • A Druids Lodge was active in New Zealand as early as 1852, but the first New Zealand branch of the United Ancient Order of the Druids, founded in Australia, was established in Wellington in 1879 as the Excelsior Lodge No 11. Within a short period, lodges had been built all over the country.

      The Druids was a Masonic order but, in common with many such organisations, it also ran a benevolent society, providing support for needy member families through the contributions made by members. This was particularly important in the days before the introduction of government social security and has been regarded as the single most important function of the lodge. Payments were made for medical, hospital and pharmaceutical expenses, maternity benefits, funerals and death benefits.

      The Druids got off to a slow start in developing the benevolent fund. Investments and payments were put in the hands of individual lodges and stayed in their control until 1920. By that time the society had built up a substantial financial base and consolidated control of its fund finances in its headquarters in Wellington. With its future financially secure, the Druids began planning a Grand Lodge Building in Wellington. The building was designed by Llewellyn Williams and built by J. W. McKeon. Work began in 1924 and the building was opened in June 1925. The building was thereafter the home of the Druids, as well as a host of tenants.

      The building, and its owners, was the subject of intense scrutiny in the early 1990s when lawyer Bruce Curran was charged with embezzling millions of dollars of the society’s funds. The society was forced to sell the building in 1994 and became a tenant in its old property. The order was wound up in 1995. Its historical record is now in the Alexander Turnbull Library.


  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      The Druids’ Chambers is a seven storey building with a narrow (one bay) frontage to Lambton Quay and a long (six bay) frontage to Woodward Street. It is stripped Classical in style, with three principal divisions to the street elevations: base, shaft and cap that suggest a Chicago-style influence. The base is two storeys high, rusticated in simulation of stonework, with abstracted keystones over the ground floor windows and a cornice at second floor level. The shaft is four storeys high with simplified pilasters rising through the four storeys and separating bands of steel-framed windows. The cap of the building, above a strong, pronounced cornice, reads as a horizontal band, with windows and emblematic relief panels alternating. The original overhanging cornice was removed at an unknown date – perhaps as a response to the 1931 Hawkes Bay or 1942 Wellington/Wairarapa earthquakes.

      The building is unusual as it has its main façade to the narrow lane of Woodward Street, with just a single bay to the prime thoroughfare of Lambton Quay. The building is a tall and narrow ‘book-end’ that appears to anticipate the development of Lambton Quay from low-rise Victorian and Edwardian shop/residences to a major commercial thoroughfare with tall office buildings with ground floor retail units. This optimism was perhaps misplaced and the building has always been somewhat taller than its southern neighbours on Lambton Quay.

      Uses have also remained unchanged. Retail space on the ground floor has an entrance from Lambton Quay, and office use in the floors above has an entrance, lift and stairs opening from Woodward Street.

    • Materials close

      The structure of the Druids’ Chambers is in-situ reinforced concrete, post and beam with concrete floors. It has some technical interest for this reason, particularly as there have been no significant structural alterations. Both the retail and office entrances have been altered, although the office entrance retains some of the original marble lining. The plaster on concrete exterior finish of the building remains in remarkably authentic condition This can be ascertained from the original drawings, held by the Wellington City Council, which are signed by Llewellyn Williams, Architect and Structural Engineer, and dated 5 December 1923.

    • Setting close

      Druids’ Chambers is an unusual ‘bookend’ to the Lambton Quay at its intersection with Woodward Street. The building has always towered above its diminutive neighbours to the south, and this is slightly incongruous to the street-wall of low-rise developments and podiums that otherwise dominate this part of Lambton Quay. The heritage building is, however, a dignified formal composition that has townscape value for the way in which it occupies a prominent corner site. Its neighbour to the immediate north of Woodward Street is a ten-story 20th century office that serves a similar townscape function.

      Druids’ Chambers has its principal façade to the narrow lane of Woodward Street, and wraps around the street-corner to Lambton Quay in a similar style. It is flanked to the south by a modern, and relatively bland, three-storey ‘podium’-style retail/ commercial building. The streetscape value of this collection of buildings is, however, enhanced by the location of Midland Park on the opposite side of Lambton Quay. The park, a popular gathering spot for Wellingtonians, especially with the office workers employed in the area, affords people a clear view of the Druids’ Chambers building.

      The wider context is the ‘Golden Mile’ CBD thoroughfare that is the city’s main pedestrian route. The building is similar in style to several Chicago-style inspired buildings on Lambton Quay – particularly the former DIC Department Store (WCC ref 17/183) and the T&G Building (WCC ref 17/185) to the southeast. The western side of Lambton Quay has seen relatively more development in the past few decades and Druids’ Chambers is one of the last period buildings between the Cenotaph and Cable Car Lane on the landward side of the old shoreline.

      The location of Druids’ Chambers on the corner of Woodward and Lambton and opposite Midland Park combined with its architectural character makes Druids’ Chambers a local landmark on one of the city’s main pedestrian routes.


  • close Cultural Value

    The Druids’ Chambers is a good representative example of a stripped Classical building of the mid-1920s, well-ordered in its composition and a competent piece of architectural design by a well known Wellington architect, Llewellyn Williams.

    The United Ancient Druids Lodge, established in Wellington in 1879 as the Excelsior Lodge, was a large Masonic order. Through its Friendly Society it was a major provider of social services to its many members and was an institution of considerable historic significance. Its members were drawn from many sectors of New Zealand society and the Wellington Grand Lodge, known as Druids’ Chambers, was their headquarters. Despite diminishing influence and a reduced membership in later years the society remained a significant organisation until wound up in 1995.

    It is significant in the townscape as it marks the corner of Lambton Quay and Woodward Street. As one of the last period buildings on the landward side of Lambton Quay, it provides a valuable reference to the history of growth and change along the original shoreline.

    • Aesthetic Value close
      • 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 Druids’ Chambers is a good representative example of a stripped Classical building of the mid-1920s, well-ordered in its composition and a competent piece of architectural design by a well known Wellington architect, Llewellyn Williams.

      • 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 has some group value for its similarity in style and scale with the nearby former DIC Department Store (WCC ref 17/183) and the T&G Building (WCC ref 17/185).

      • 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?

        It is significant in the townscape as it marks the corner of Lambton Quay and Woodward Street. As one of the last period buildings on the landward(west) side of Lambton Quay, it provides a valuable reference to the history of growth and change along the original shoreline.

    • Historic Value close
      • Association

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

        The United Ancient Druids Lodge, established in Wellington in 1879 as the Excelsior Lodge, was a large Masonic order. Through its Friendly Society it was a major provider of social services to its many members and was an institution of considerable historic significance. Its members were drawn from many sectors of New Zealand society and the Wellington Grand Lodge, known as Druids’ Chambers, was their headquarters. Despite diminishing influence and a reduced membership in later years the society remained a significant organisation until wound up in 1995.

    • Scientific Value close
      • Archaeological

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

        The building is located in the Central City archaeological site reference NZAA R27/270.

      • Technological

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

        The building has technical interest for its concrete frame construction.

    • Social Value close
      • 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?

        Druids’ Chambers has retained its original use of retail space and office accommodation, and the building retains much of its original external form. It contributes to the sense of place and continuity of Lambton Quay.

      • Sentiment Connection

        Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

        Druids’ Chambers may continue to be a focus of sentiment and connection for its former members.

      • 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?

        Though the society was wound up in 1995, Druids’ Chambers may continue to hold spiritual and cultural value for the society’s former members.

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close
      • 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?

        Druids’ Chambers retains a high level of authenticity in its exterior form and decoration.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail
    • District Plan Number

      17/ 362

    • Legal Description

      Pt Sec 487 TOWN of Wellington

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      2/Historic Place 3615

    • Archaeological Site

      Central City NZAA R27/270

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Not Earthquake Prone

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 12/8/2016 1:39:16 AM