This building was constructed for the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited (CML), a major Australasian insurance and investment company, which was originally established in Melbourne in 1873. Melbourne was a city that had grown prosperous on gold and a series of co-operative organisations, based on mutual benefit, were formed during the second half of the 19th century. By the end of 1874 the company had established offices in the other capital cities of the Australian colonies. CML branches were then established in Fiji (1876), South Africa (1883) and New Zealand (1884). In 1886, CML entered the British market. CML opened branches in many New Zealand cities and towns, often designed in the house oeuvre, which drew on the Spanish Mission style, other examples include the now demolished CML Building on the corner Customhouse Quay and Willeston Street, Wellington. The Hastings CML building was constructed for CML in 1939 to a design by the noted Wellington architectural practice, Swan and Lavelle. This building extends understanding of the work of Swan and Lavelle, combining elements of a number of styles in a well-considered and unusual way. CML had bought the land from the Bank of Australasia in 1938. CML was a consistent performer, remaining intact through several depressions and it outlasted many other competitors. In 1996, it was demutualised and listed on the Stock Exchange the following year. It merged with the Commonwealth Bank in 2000 and the name CML largely disappeared from the commercial scene. CML sold their Hastings office to Pamela Mary Stewart of Melbourne in 1979. She was described as a secretary and remains the owner of the building. Building plans indicate that CML planned to occupy the southern corners of the ground and first floors of the building. The company planned to use their section of the ground floor as a reception area and offices, and their section of the first floor for further offices. CML planned to lease the shop fronts on the north west side of the ground floor and other areas on the ground and first floor of the building that they were not occupying. In addition to CML, who occupied the building between 1939 and 1988 (as a tenant after 1979) at which time they moved offices to 206 Queen Street East, the building has been occupied by a variety of tenants over the years. Known tenants include: •A merchant and importing company, Satterthwaite & Co Ltd, occupied the eastern corner of the ground floor (adjacent to CML's offices) between approximately 1952 and 1968. •A china and glassware retailer, Sim and Co, occupied the middle shop (shop 2) on the ground floor between approximately 1953-1968. •The Union Steamship Company likely occupied the shop in the northern corner of the ground floor (shop 1) from approximately 1962 to 1967. •Minh Ta Design, occupied the first floor of the building between approximately 1989-1993 (giving rise to the building being referred to in some publications as the Minh Ta building). An optometrist's has occupied part of the north western section of the ground floor since 1967. The practice began in approximately 1905-1907, originally operating as Shattky and Webber at Webber's Building (also on Russell Street). Ernest Shattky practiced with his two sons Derek and Herbert. After returning from World War Two Derek Shattky continued to practice with his father (his brother, Herbert Shattky, left the practice to train as an architect) and Neil Donaldson would join the practice after Ernest Shattky died. The practice would become known as Shattky and Donaldson in approximately 1966 and moved to the CML Building in approximately June or July 1967. The practice subsequently took on Mark Eagle in 1979, becoming known as Shattky, Donaldson and Eagle in 1984 and then took on Donaldson's son Phil in 1987. The practice has continued to be very much a father and son affair with Mark's son Tim recently joining the practice. During their time in the CML building the practice has enlarged its premises. Originally occupying the northern corner of the ground floor (shop 1) the practice extended its premises towards the south west (into shop 2), in approximately the 1980s; then, during a major refit in the 1990s, the practice expanded further by extending its premises into the rear of the building (the southern and eastern corners). The practice joined Visique in 2001 and is now known as Visique Shattky on Russell. A jeweller's has also occupied part of the north western section of the ground floor for much of this period. Willem H Wilm, occupied the corner shop (shop 3) between 1966 and 1983. Narborough Jewellers then occupied it between approximately 1988 and 1993 and Baldwin's Jewellers, the current tenants, have occupied this since that time. A yoga studio and other groups make up the remaining current tenants, occupying the first floor.

The CML Building is situated on a prominent corner site within the Hastings Central Business District. Directly opposite the building, on Eastbourne Street East, is the Hastings Municipal Women's Rest and beyond that Civic Square. Directly opposite the building, on Russell Street, is the Palmerston North-Gisborne Railway line. To the north of the building heading towards the main shopping area are other shops and businesses at ground level. Exterior: The CML building is a two-storey structure, distinguished by an octagonal corner turret with flanking wings extending north along Russell Street and east along Eastbourne Street. The turret has a column at each corner, the columns extending beyond a parapet to give a stepped profile; a tiled roof of near-conical shape rises from within the parapet, and is capped with a flagpole. The two wings of the building are quite plain, but are discreetly trimmed with a moulded sill under the windows and a band of fluting and zigzag patterning at the top of the parapet; an enlarged version of the zigzags (slightly reminiscent of tukutuku weaving patterns) ornaments the top of the parapet of the tower. A Maori theme is also discernible in stylised koru and lattice designs worked in panels on the Eastbourne Street side of the building. The building is hence a mixture of styles: Stripped Classical (in the columns and plain wall surfaces), Spanish Mission (in the turret roof and clay tiles), and Art Deco (in the geometric patterning, some of which borrows from Maori tradition). A verandah extends along the Russell Street façade and a short distance around the corner. It has a new wide fascia, but the underside of the verandah is lined with what appears to be the original sheet material with half-round battening. Steel windows are still in place, and there is a terrazzo shop front with chromed window frames, again presumed to be original. Although now painted, the concrete was originally finished with coloured plaster with racked joints in imitation of stonework. Interior: The north west section of the ground floor, once divided into three shops, now consists of two shops, Visique Shattky on Russell and Baldwin's Jewellers. Visique Shattky originally occupied one of the three shops on this site, expanding into the shop to the south west and later towards the rear of the building. The interior of Visique Shattky includes a retail space, examination areas and dispensing rooms, storage areas and office space. Baldwin's occupies the Russell and Eastbourne Street corner of the building. It retains the shape and size of the original shop on this site. On Eastbourne Street is an arched entryway (the original entry to the CML part of the building). This gives entry to the rear of Baldwin's and to the first floor. Of note in the entryway are the original tiles and doors. The first floor is accessed via an internal, and original, staircase. Access was not gained to the tenanted rooms on the first floor. Access was gained to the rooftop, which is normally locked. From the rooftop views of the surrounding area and the turret roof can be gained.