Former H.E. Shacklock Warehouse 9-11 Tory Street Summary of heritage significance Images: Charles Collins, 2015 9 11 Tory Street is a much altered c.1908 warehouse. The building was increased to three-storeys in the c.1920s and subdivided in c.1999. The façade was much altered in c.1999 and many Classical, Art Nouveau-style and modern contemporary elements were added. Although the overall composition is lively and interesting, much of the original form, and built fabric has been lost and the building is difficult to interpret. This building is associated with early Wellington commerce in the Courtenay Place area. It is associated with the successful New Zealand Firm H.E. Shacklock. The building is one of a row of five heritage buildings on east side of Tory Street between Wakefield Street and Courtenay Place that were built between 1900 and 1930. These buildings have coherence for their age, history and patterns of use, and architectural style, and all contribute to the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. 1
District Plan: Map 16, reference 314/2 Legal Description: Lot 1, 2, 3, 4 DP 89701 (separate titles) Heritage Area: Courtenay Place Heritage Area HPT Listed: - Archaeological Site: NZAA Central City Archaeological Area R27/270 Other Names: - Built: 1908 Key physical dates: Additional floors: 1925 & 26 Façade alterations: c.1999 Architect / Builder: Former uses: Commercial Current uses: Commercial Earthquake Prone Status: Not EQP SR 179558 Extent: Cityview GIS 2013 2
1.0 Outline History 1.1 History Nos. 9-11 Tory Street was first built as a single-storey warehouse, of which only the wide arched ground floor window and door openings still remain. The building was subsequently subdivided and increased in height by two-storeys. It is now an eclectic mix of styles with elements of Classical, Art Nouveau-style ironwork, and contemporary steel framed bay windows. The building was originally constructed by Isaac Clark and Son in 1908 for H.E. Shacklock Ltd., to designs by Wellington architect E.W.G Coleridge. 1 The building was first used as a single-storey showroom for the successful national company H. E. Shacklock Ltd., selling cast iron ranges, and eventually New Zealand s first electric ranges in 1925. 2 The success of the company saw a storey added to the building in both 1925 and 1926. 3 Between 1926 and the late 1990s, the building had several owners and occupants, but no building applications or alterations were carried out until 1999. By this time the building was in use as offices and commercial space. It was then divided into four unit titles, making the building s address 9, 9A, 11, and 11A. The subdivision is visible on the façade. The first unit includes the two northernmost bays this is the least altered part of the old building. The c.1999 alterations were confined to the removal of a cart-dock doorway & the alterations to a ground floor window. The building may well have rendered, the frames around the first and second floor windows, and the parapet cornice added at this time. The central bay was adapted in c.1999 to a fanciful modern interpretation of Art Nouveau complete with an elaborate parapet, decorative metalwork, and a projecting shell-shaped balcony. The two southernmost bays are two similarly tall and narrow units, each with a projecting two-storey, steelframed oriel window in a contemporary style, and again this appears to date from c.1999. While the overall composition of the new elements is interesting, the changes greatly detract from the heritage and streetscape value of the group. 4 1 WCA 00053:148:8232 2 John H. Angus. 'Shacklock, Henry Ely', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 30-Oct-2012, accessed 8 November 2013, http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2s15/shacklock-henry-ely 3 WCA 00056:4:B326; WCA 00056:10:B932 4 Michael Kelly and Russell Murray, Courtenay Place Heritage Area Report (Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006), 27. 3
1.2 Timeline of modifications (original plans - 00053:148:8232) 4
1908 9-11 Tory Street, store (00053:148:8232) 1925 9-11 Tory Street, additional storey (00056:4:B326) 1926 9-11 Tory Street, additional storey (00056:10:B932) 1999 9-11 Tory Street, alterations (00078:477:59777) 1999 Elevations of 5-7, 9-11 & 13 Tory Street as existing. 5 2000 9-11 Tory Street, office fitout (00078:630:61552) 2000 9-11 Tory Street, internal fitout for cafe, retail and design studio (00078:727:68234) 2000 9-11 Tory Street, unit 3 - interior office / commercial fitout (00078:782:67637) 2001 9-11 Tory Street, office fit-out, amendment (00078:637:71754) 5 Ian Smith Feasibility for Strengthening WCC file 1041-06-TOR13 (1998) 5
1.3 Occupation history Not assessed 1.4 Architect E.W.G. Coleridge (F.R.I.B.A)?- 1938 E.W.G. Coleridge was a Wellington architect who was for 15 years the Wellington district secretary and treasurer for the New Zealand Institute of Architects. 2.0 Physical description 2.1 Architecture Nos. 9-11 Tory Street was built as a single storey warehouse and increased in height to three-storeys in the mid 1920s. The building was much altered in c.1999 when it was subdivided into four units. The northernmost unit is two bays wide and three storeys high, the three units to the south are a single bay wide. The street façade for all four units has been much altered. At the ground floor, each unit has matching segmental arched windows with architrave mouldings and a small key stone joined to a simple string course. The façades differ greatly at the first floor and above the northernmost, and most original, has four large architraved windows, two at each floor, disposed symmetrically below a heavy two-layered cornice. The architraves, rendered finish, and cornice/parapet details all appear to date from c.1999. The next unit to the south has been adapted for use as apartments and includes a distinctive belled balcony with Art Nouveau-style steelwork railings (this motif is further expressed in the main entry with a Guimard-esqe swirl of organically flowing steel). It is framed with a shallow pilaster on either side, each terminated above the pediment in a ball. At the top centre of this façade there is an arched opening that contains further decorative steelwork. This fanciful Art-Nouveau inspired façade also appears to date from c.1999. The two southernmost units have also been much-altered and each features a twostorey contemporary steel and glass box oriel window that projects out over the pavement. While interesting, these c.1999 alterations greatly detract from the heritage and streetscape value of the original warehouse building. 2.2 Materials Not assessed 6
2.3 Setting This much altered building is part of a row of five heritage buildings that line the eastern side of Tory Street between Wakefield Street and Courtenay Place. Its neighbour to the north is the fine, albeit much altered former NZ Acetylene Gas Lighting Co. building (1917 - WCC ref 16/314.1), a three-storey eclectic Edwardian building that has been somewhat overwhelmed by a c.2000 two-storey addition. To the immediate south is the fine, if diminutive, Edwardian Classical two-storey C.W. Martin Building at 13 Tory Street (1905 WCC ref 16/314.3). Further south are the fine Edwardian four-storey former Perth Chambers/British Car House (1905 WCC ref 16/314.4), and the diminutive substation at 21 Tory Street (1924 contributor to the Courtenay Place Heritage Area 16/21). The contrast between the east and west sides of Tory Street could not be more pronounced, with a large, undistinguished car parking building opposite. The buildings can be seen in the wider context of the Courtenay Place Heritage Area a fine collection of Victorian, Edwardian, and early 20 th century commercial buildings that now form part of one of Wellington s premier entertainment precincts. This part of Tory Street marks several boundaries. It is on the edge on the Courtenay Place Heritage Area, and at the interface between the city and the waterfront area. Sources Angus, John H. 'Shacklock, Henry Ely.' From the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 30-Oct-2012. Accessed 8 November 2013, http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2s15/shacklock-henry-ely Kelly, Michael, and Russell Murray. Courtenay Place Heritage Area Report. Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006. Wellington City Archive 1908 9-11 Tory Street, store (00053:148:8232) 1925 9-11 Tory Street, additional storey (00056:4:B326) 1926 9-11 Tory Street, additional storey (00056:10:B932) 1999 9-11 Tory Street, alterations (00078:477:59777) 2000 9-11 Tory Street, office fitout (00078:630:61552) 2000 9-11 Tory Street, internal fitout for cafe, retail and design studio (00078:727:68234) 2000 9-11 Tory Street, unit 3 - interior office / commercial fitout (00078:782:67637) 2001 9-11 Tory Street, office fit-out, amendment (00078:637:71754) Smith, Ian. Feasibility for Strengthening WCC file 1041-06-TOR13 (1998) 7
Criteria for assessing cultural heritage significance Cultural heritage values Aesthetic Value: 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? 9 11 Tory Street is a much altered c.1908 warehouse. The building was increased to three-storeys in the c.1920s and subdivided in c.1999. The façade was much altered in c.1999 and many Classical, Art Nouveau-style and modern contemporary elements were added. Although the overall composition is lively and interesting, much of the original form, and built fabric has been lost and the building is difficult to interpret. 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? Despite the c.1999 alterations the building contributes to the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. 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 is one of a row of five heritage buildings on east side of Tory Street between Wakefield Street and Courtenay Place that were built between 1900 and 1930. These buildings have coherence for their age, history and patterns of use, and architectural style. Historic Value: Association: Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation? This building is associated with early Wellington commerce in the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. It is associated with the successful New Zealand Firm H.E. Shacklock. Association: Is the item associated with an important historic event, theme, pattern, phase, or activity? Scientific Value: 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. Educational: Does the item have educational value for what it can demonstrate about aspects of the past? Technological: Does the item have technological value for its innovative or important construction methods or use of materials? Social Value: Public esteem: Is the item held in high public esteem? 8
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? 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? This building was constructed in 1908 and has been in continual commercial use, on the same site, since. Like many of the other heritage buildings in the Courtenay Place Heritage Area, this building contributes a sense of place and continuity to the area as a place of Wellington commerce, from early in the city s history to now. Sentiment/Connection: Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection? Level of cultural heritage significance Rare: Is the item rare, unique, unusual, seminal, influential, or outstanding? Representative: Is the item a good example of the class it represents? 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? This building has been significantly altered since the time of its construction. At the ground floor, each façade matches, but above this they are significantly different. The interiors have also undergone several refits, changing it from a single building to four unit titles. Local/Regional/National/International Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level? This building is of local importance for the contribution it makes to the Lower Tory Street streetscape, and to the wider setting of the Courtenay Place Heritage area. 9
3.0 Appendix Research checklist (desktop) Source 1995 Heritage Inventory 2001 Non-Residential heritage Inventory WCC Records building file WCC Records grant files (earthquake strengthening, enhancement of heritage values) Research notes from 2001 Non-Residential heritage Inventory Plan change? Heritage Area Report Heritage Area Spreadsheet Heritage items folder (electronic) HPT website HPT files Conservation Plan Searched Heritage Library (CAB 2) Y/N Comments Background research Insert any relevant background information into this section. This may include: Additional plans, such as those for alterations Chunks of text from other sources such as Cyclopedia of NZ, Papers Past Additional images 10