This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. The Bank of New Zealand building at 98-102 Customhouse Quay occupies part of the first major reclamation of the Harbour, that of 7 acres carried out by the Wellington Provincial Government. It was built for the National Mutual Life Association to the design of Thomas Turnbull and was completed in 1884. It was purchased by the Bank of New Zealand in 1963. The building represents a remarkable display of confidence by the National Mutual Life Association. It is an early masonry building for Wellington, being built at a time when timber construction (long employed for its earthquake resistant qualities) was only just beginning to lose prominence. It is also a very imposing classical design of three stories, separated by ornate cornices. The ground floor is heavily rusticated with round headed windows; the first floor has alternating triangular and segmented window pediments and the second floor has narrow round headed windows. Both facades are richly embellished with urns, lions and gorgons heads, festoons of fruits, decorated corbels, capitals and friezes. The interior contains a fine staircase of cast iron and timber construction. The building is important in the townscape, having a coherent scale and character with both its neighbours. It is a beautifully crafted building of imposing Classical design, now very rare in Wellington.
Location
List Entry Information
Overview
Detailed List Entry
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
213
Date Entered
4th April 1983
Date of Effect
4th April 1983
City/District Council
Wellington City
Region
Wellington Region
Legal description
Lot 1 and 2, DP 85253