Australian Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited Head Office (Former), opened in 1928, has architectural and historical significance. A leading example of the Chicago School style, it makes an important contribution to the streetscape of central Wellington, and retains architectural authenticity, particularly on the exterior. As the head office of a major Australian insurance company it possesses historical significance. Additionally, the building has housed many businesses, larger and small, over the decades, and prior to its hotel conversion, was an accessible office space for community and non-profit groups.
The human presence in Wellington began with the explorer Kupe, who travelled to Aotearoa New Zealand from Hawaiki, the ancestral Polynesian homeland of Māori. Following permanent settlement in Aotearoa, the rangatira Tara, son of Whātonga and the eponymous ancestor of Ngāi Tara, travelled south from Māhia Peninsula and settled at what came to be known as Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the great harbour of Tara. They were later joined by Ngāti Ira; other iwi who made a home there included Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Māmoe. Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Mutunga migrated south from Taranaki in the 1820s and early 1830s during a period of great upheaval associated with the introduction of Pākehā muskets into te ao Māori. Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Mutunga established Kumutoto Pā at the mouth of the Kumutoto Stream (which runs down present-day Woodward Street).
Following Pākehā settlement in 1840, land was reclaimed from the harbour including, in 1859, the land on which the Australian Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited (T&G)’s New Zealand head office and Wellington branch would be constructed. The site was previously occupied by the Oddfellows Hall (demolished 1882) and timber commercial buildings. The new eight-story T&G building was designed by Australian architectural firm Anketell and Kingsley Henderson in the distinctive ‘house style’ developed for the company, and construction was supervised by local firm Mitchell and King. Classical in style with components such as the plain windows demonstrating transitional elements, the building shows the impact of the influential Chicago School. Modern construction techniques, including a steel framework and reinforced concrete foundations, were employed.
Completed in 1928, the ground, first and fifth floors were occupied by T&G, with the remainder leased to a variety of tenants, including lawyers, accountants and dentists. The company occupied more floors over succeeding decades but the highly compartmentalised internal space meant the building always housed many different tenants. In 1983 T&G merged with insurance company National Mutual and all staff moved out the following year. Real estate firm Harcourts was the major tenant from then until 2010. Following the building’s acquisition by property developer Mark Dunajtschik in 2000, office space was made freely available to the likes of community groups, non-profit organisations and small businesses, in exchange for one month’s notice of tenancy end. Once such tenant was Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand, a national advocacy and peer support group for intersex people. founded by Mani Mitchell in 1996. This was one of first groups of its kind in the world, while Mitchell was the first out intersex person in Aotearoa New Zealand. The building was converted to the Doubleday Hilton Hotel, which opened in 2018. While the numerous offices were replaced by hotel rooms, the lobby retains its original features, including the marble staircase and lifts.
The human presence in Wellington began with the explorer Kupe, who travelled to Aotearoa New Zealand from Hawaiki, the ancestral Polynesian homeland of Māori. Following permanent settlement in Aotearoa, the rangatira Tara, son of Whātonga and the eponymous ancestor of Ngāi Tara, travelled south from Māhia Peninsula and settled at what came to be known as Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the great harbour of Tara. They were later joined by Ngāti Ira; other iwi who made a home there included Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Māmoe. Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Mutunga migrated south from Taranaki in the 1820s and early 1830s during a period of great upheaval associated with the introduction of Pākehā muskets into te ao Māori. Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Mutunga established Kumutoto Pā at the mouth of the Kumutoto Stream (which runs down present-day Woodward Street).
Following Pākehā settlement in 1840, land was reclaimed from the harbour including, in 1859, the land on which the Australian Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited (T&G)’s New Zealand head office and Wellington branch would be constructed. The site was previously occupied by the Oddfellows Hall (demolished 1882) and timber commercial buildings. The new eight-story T&G building was designed by Australian architectural firm Anketell and Kingsley Henderson in the distinctive ‘house style’ developed for the company, and construction was supervised by local firm Mitchell and King. Classical in style with components such as the plain windows demonstrating transitional elements, the building shows the impact of the influential Chicago School. Modern construction techniques, including a steel framework and reinforced concrete foundations, were employed.
Completed in 1928, the ground, first and fifth floors were occupied by T&G, with the remainder leased to a variety of tenants, including lawyers, accountants and dentists. The company occupied more floors over succeeding decades but the highly compartmentalised internal space meant the building always housed many different tenants. In 1983 T&G merged with insurance company National Mutual and all staff moved out the following year. Real estate firm Harcourts was the major tenant from then until 2010. Following the building’s acquisition by property developer Mark Dunajtschik in 2000, office space was made freely available to the likes of community groups, non-profit organisations and small businesses, in exchange for one month’s notice of tenancy end. Once such tenant was Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand, a national advocacy and peer support group for intersex people. founded by Mani Mitchell in 1996. This was one of first groups of its kind in the world, while Mitchell was the first out intersex person in Aotearoa New Zealand. The building was converted to the Doubleday Hilton Hotel, which opened in 2018. While the numerous offices were replaced by hotel rooms, the lobby retains its original features, including the marble staircase and lifts.
