The Moorings stands on land which was granted to Edward Toomath in 1873 and which changed hands a number of times before it was taken up by Swan in 1905. He built himself a family home on it. Swan had a passion for the sea. He was Commodore of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club (1906-7) and owned one of the world's largest collections of photographs of ships. Following his death in 1936 the house was leased as a boarding house and gas rings were installed in the bedrooms. Guy and Hubertina Famularo bought the building in 1964 and in 1965 sold it to the present owners who continue to use it as a family home. A major upgrading has been undertaken as a result of which it is now structurally sound. A motorway proclamation was issued in 1966 and as a result ten nearby houses were bought and demolished by the Ministry of Works and Development. Had the owners of the Moorings given way under pressure to sell the building would certainly be gone now and the Residential E Zone would be without one of its most important buildings.
Location
List Entry Information
Overview
Detailed List Entry
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
1437
Date Entered
6th June 1990
Date of Effect
6th June 1990
City/District Council
Wellington City
Region
Wellington Region
Legal description
Lots 1 & 2 Deeds Plan 5 & Pt Secs 520 521 Town of Wellington