Evans Bay Sea Wall

• c.1920
• Construction

Not assessed

Not assessed

The Oriental Parade Sea Wall appears to be a relatively simple early civil engineering structure constructed in locally made concrete blocks. It appears in most places to be constructed to a similar design as the Oriental Parade Sea Wall, with a curved face to the sea and overtopped by a heavy concrete coping.  

Concrete

• 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 Evans Bay Sea Wall is an important early civil engineering structure in the Wellington region designed to protect the shoreline and the reclamations. It is a simple work that deals with an exposed location and severe maritime environment so has a high amenity value. 

• 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 has a distinctive form and profile and a strong continuity of line along Evans Bay Parade.
  

• 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?

  When taken together with the Island Bay Sea Wall, Lyall Bay Sea Wall, and the Oriental Parade Sea Wall, the Evans bay Sea Wall is one of a number of early civil engineering structures constructed to deal with the issues presented by the maritime environment. These Sea Walls create an interesting group of early protection works in Wellington.
  

• Association

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

  The Evans Bay Sea Wall is associated with urban expansion and road developments and the requirements that this produced. The Sea Wall contributes significantly to the historic character of Evans Bay and is associated with the development of the city, early engineering works, and urban design that was focussed upon the beautification of the city. 
  

• Educational

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

  The Sea Wall has educational value for what it can demonstrate about early civil engineering and urban design in Wellington. 

• Technological

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

  There is some technical value in the construction of the Evans Bay Sea Wall for its design to protect the coastline and the reclamations, as well as dealing with an exposed maritime location. 

• 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 Evans Bay Sea Wall is an important historic object for Wellington City which has become a feature of Evans Bay Parade and the road between Oriental Parade and Kilbirnie. It helps to define the foreshore and separates it from the street. It contributes significantly to the sense of place and continuity along Oriental Parade.
  

• Representative

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

  The Evans Bay Sea Wall is a good example of an early engineering and urban design project in Wellington City. It is built in materials and to a design that appear to have been common during the period of its construction. It is also a part of a group of Sea Walls that were built as early protection works in Wellington. 

• 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?

  The Evans Bay Sea Wall retains significant integrity and appears to have had no alterations made to it. 

• Importance

  Is the item important at a local, regional, national, or international level?

  The Evans Bay Sea Wall is important at a local level due to its associations with early civil engineering and urban design in Wellington city. It has townscape, historic, educational, technical, and social values, as well as being a representative of its type and retaining a high level of integrity. 

Not assessed

• ‘City Works’. Evening Post. 9 October 1922, Page 8. Accessed 10 December 2013
• ‘The Sea Front Drive’. Evening Post. 1 September 1923. Accessed 10 December 2013

• Inventory report

Not available