House

59 Wright Street, Mount Cook, Wellington
Map

  • Constructed

    c.1903

  • Architect(s)

    Hawthorn and Crump

  • Builder(s)

  • The building was removed from the schedule in the Wellington City 2024 District Plan.

    57, 59, 61 and 63 Wright Street are a row of four Edwardian villas that were built by well known local builders, Hawthorn and Crump

    Although it seems likely that none of the houses (or their occupants) have had a notable or unusual history, the group of houses can be seen as representative of the development of the Newtown/Mount Cook area.


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  • close History
    • These four houses on Wright Street are likely to have been built in c.1901 by well-known local builders Hawthorn and Crump.  Evidence to support this date includes that the buildings are not visible on the c.1892 Thomas Ward Map, and that No. 59, 61 & 63 make their first appearance in the 1901 street directories. No. 57 appears to have been built at the same time as its neighbours, but was destroyed by arson as it neared completion. The arsonist appears to have lit two fires, one in the basement of No. 57, and one in the basement of Mr Iremonger’s house at No.55.    No. 57 was rebuilt and was occupied by 1903, when it first appears on the street directories.  

      Mr Iremonger’s house at No.55 is interesting as, although it is not listed on the WCC District Plan, it was also built by Hawthorn and Crump in c.1901  for approximately £600. Iremonger was a painter and paperhanger who worked as a contractor on many Hawthorn and Crump building sites.  It is possible that both the plan and the construction costs for Iremonger’s house are typical of the other Wright Street properties developed by Hawthorn and Crump. 

      Hawthorn and Crump were building contractors who were active in the years between 1897 and 1908.  Colin Campbell Crump  and John Thomas Hawthorn also traded as the Kensington Estate Company in partnership with property speculator Harry Crump from 1902  – c.1908, with the intent to develop land in Abel Smith and Kensington Streets, Te Aro. Both Colin Crump and John Thomas Hawthorn were involved in local politics and Colin Crump later became mayor of Onslow in 1914.  

      The houses at 53, 55, 57 & 59 Wright Street were registered by the NZHPT in 1982, but were removed from the register in 1994 as they were found to have insufficient significance to merit registration. They were not included in the 2005 NZHPT Wright Street Historic Area.
    • Modifications close
      • 1901
      • (00053:70:4288); 59 Wright Street, dwelling
      • 1980
      • (00058:1270:C53876); 59 Wright Street, upgrade 2 flats & one carpark
      • 1998
      • (00078:847:41075); 59 Wright Street, additions and alterations to premises
    • Occupation History close
      • 1901
      • Wm Jas Adamson - Telegraphist
      • 1902
      • Wm Jas Adamson - Telegraphist
      • 1903
      • Wm Jas Adamson - Telegraphist
      • 1904
      • Wm Jas Adamson - Telegraphist
      • 1905
      • Wm Jas Adamson - Telegraphist
      • 1910 - 1911
      • Wm Jas Adamson - Telegraphist
      • 1912 - 1913
      • Thomas Snow
      • 1917 - 1918
      • Hedley John Crewes - Typist
      • 1925
      • Hedley John Crewes - Typist
      • 1935
      • Hedley John Crewes - Typist
      • 1940
      • Hedley John Crewes - Typist
      • 1945
      • Charles Florence Nicholls – Harbour Board employee
      • 1957
      • Colin Gray - clerk
      • 1961 - 1962
      • Mrs Grace Martin
      • 1967 - 1968
      • Ms Hilda Kingi
      • 1971 - 1972
      • Ronald Hutchings
      • 1975
      • Anthony C Hall
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      Difficult to assess as the buildings are not visible from the street

    • Materials close

      Timber structural frame

      Corrugated mild steel roof cladding

      Rusticated timber weatherboard

    • Setting close

      Houses 57, 59, 61 & 63 are located on the undulating residential streetscape of Wright Street in Mount Cook. The street is comprised of an interesting mix of houses, many of them dating from the early decades of the 20th century. Near neighbours are the fine Italianate / San Francisco- style houses at 56, 58, 60, 62  & 64 which stand at the highest point of the street - near the south end - with No. 64 being the southernmost one. 

  • close Cultural Value
    57, 59, 61 and 63 Wright Street are a row of four Edwardian villas that were built by well known local builders, Hawthorn and Crump

    Although it seems likely that none of the houses (or their occupants) have had a notable or unusual history, the group of houses can be seen as representative of the development of the Newtown/Mount Cook area.

    • 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?

        57, 59, 61 and 63 Wright Street are a row of four Edwardian villas that were built by well known local builders, Hawthorn and Crump.

      • 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 buildings have some value as a group of buildings that are similar in scale, age & history.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

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

        Although it seems likely that none of the houses (or their occupants) have had a notable or unusual history, the group of houses can be seen as representative of the development of the Newtown/Mount Cook area.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

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

        Central City NZAA R27/270.

    • Social Value close

      Not assessed

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close

      Not assessed

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      6/363.7

    • Legal Description

      PT Sec 707 Town of Wellington

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Listed from 1982 – 1994, currently not listed (2013)

    • 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

      Outside Earthquake Prone Policy

  • close Additional Information
    • Sources close
      • Evening Post, 20 November 1902, Page 8
      • Evening Post, 7 April 1908, Page 1
      • LOCAL AND GENERAL. Evening Post, 22 May 1897, Page 4
      • O’Brien, Rebecca. Letter from the NZHPT to Barbara Fill (undated but c.2005)
      • PERSONAL MATTERS Evening Post, 30 April 1914, Page 7
      • THE WRIGHT-STREET FIRE. ARSON BY SOME PERSON OR PERSONS UNKNOWN. Evening Post, 3 August 1901, Page 2
      • WCC Archives ref (00053:70:4254) application to build a dwelling at 55 Wright Street by Hawthorn and Crump for Mr Iremonger, February 1901
    • Technical Documentation close
    • Footnotes close

      Not available

Last updated: 4/29/2025 3:20:16 AM