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© Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga 2026.
 
Wains Hotel

310 Princes Street, DUNEDIN

Private

Historic Place Category 1

List No. 2236

Quick links:
List GalleryLocationDetails
Wains Hotel, Dunedin. CC0 Licence. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org | Pseudopanax | 08/02/2023 | Public Domain
Wains Hotel, Dunedin. CC BY-SA 4.0 Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org | AnnWoolliams | 31/08/2023 | Ann Woolliams - Wikimedia Commons
Wains Hotel, Dunedin. Building detail, wing-spread eagle. Image courtesy of www.flickr.com | Derek Smith - travelling-light | 28/08/2010 | Derek Smith
Wains Hotel, Dunedin. Building detail shows the figures of King Nepture and a mermaid. Image courtesy of www.flickr.com | PhilBee NZ - Phil Braithwaite | 04/04/2012 | Phil Braithwaite
Wains Hotel, Dunedin. [Brown, Ewing & Co. and Wains Hotel, Princes Street, Dunedin], New Zealand, by Burton Brothers studio. Te Papa (C.012311) | No Known Copyright Restrictions
Wains Hotel, Dunedin. CC0 Licence. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org | Pseudopanax | 08/02/2023 | Public Domain
Wains Hotel, Dunedin. CC BY-SA 4.0 Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org | AnnWoolliams | 31/08/2023 | Ann Woolliams - Wikimedia Commons
Wains Hotel, Dunedin. Building detail, wing-spread eagle. Image courtesy of www.flickr.com | Derek Smith - travelling-light | 28/08/2010 | Derek Smith
Wains Hotel, Dunedin. Building detail shows the figures of King Nepture and a mermaid. Image courtesy of www.flickr.com | PhilBee NZ - Phil Braithwaite | 04/04/2012 | Phil Braithwaite
Wains Hotel, Dunedin. [Brown, Ewing & Co. and Wains Hotel, Princes Street, Dunedin], New Zealand, by Burton Brothers studio. Te Papa (C.012311) | No Known Copyright Restrictions

List Entry Information

Overview

Status
Listed

List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1

Access
Private/No Public Access

List Number
2236

Date Entered
26th November 1987

Date of Effect
26th November 1987

City/District Council
Dunedin City

Region
Otago Region

Legal description

Pt Sec 31 Blk VI Town of Dunedin

Detailed List Entry
Significance

Historic Significance

Historical Significance or Value The hotel was an expression of the wealth of Otago's gold mining period. Job Wain's opulent Victorian interior matched the façade in style and was grand enough to make the hotel famous throughout Australasia.

Physical Significance

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE The façade is typical of the development of this classical style in New Zealand. TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK SIGNIFICANCE An important Victorian façade close to the Queens Gardens precinct of Victorian buildings.

Construction Professional

Name

Roestenburg, M

Type

Sculptor

Biography

No biography is currently available for this construction professional

Construction Details

Start Year

1879

Type

Original Construction

Construction Materials

Materials used are Port Chalmers breccia for the pediment, Oamaru stone for the walls, triple brick for interior bearing walls and slate for the roof.

Notable Features

The carved figures of Neptune and other classical figures over the doors.

Physical Description

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION (Style) The style of the façade decoration is Italianate Classical Renaissance. MODIFICATIONS Modernisation in recent years has completely transformed the interior and no vestige of its Victorian grandeur remains. Except for fire escapes the façade is relatively unmodified.

Reference

Information Sources

Galer, 1982

L. Galer, Bricks and Mortar, Allied Press Ltd, Dunedin, 1982.

Report Written By

This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.

Further Information

Current Usages

Former Usages

General Usage:: Accommodation

Specific Usage: Hotel

Themes

Web Links

Overview

Status

Listed

List Entry Status

Historic Place Category 1

Access

Private/No Public Access

List Number

2236

Date Entered

26th November 1987

Date of Effect

26th November 1987

City/District Council

Dunedin City

Region

Otago Region

Legal description

Pt Sec 31 Blk VI Town of Dunedin

Status

Listed

List Entry Status

Historic Place Category 1

Access

Private/No Public Access

List Number

2236

Date Entered

26th November 1987

Date of Effect

26th November 1987

City/District Council

Dunedin City

Region

Otago Region

Legal description

Pt Sec 31 Blk VI Town of Dunedin

Significance

Why is this place significant?

Historic Significance

Historical Significance or Value The hotel was an expression of the wealth of Otago's gold mining period. Job Wain's opulent Victorian interior matched the façade in style and was grand enough to make the hotel famous throughout Australasia.

Physical Significance

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE The façade is typical of the development of this classical style in New Zealand. TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK SIGNIFICANCE An important Victorian façade close to the Queens Gardens precinct of Victorian buildings.

Why is this place significant?

Historic Significance

Historical Significance or Value The hotel was an expression of the wealth of Otago's gold mining period. Job Wain's opulent Victorian interior matched the façade in style and was grand enough to make the hotel famous throughout Australasia.

Physical Significance

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE The façade is typical of the development of this classical style in New Zealand. TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK SIGNIFICANCE An important Victorian façade close to the Queens Gardens precinct of Victorian buildings.

Construction Information

Construction Professional

Name

Roestenburg, M

Type

Sculptor

Biography

No biography is currently available for this construction professional

Construction Details

Start Year

1879

Type

Original Construction

Construction Materials

Materials used are Port Chalmers breccia for the pediment, Oamaru stone for the walls, triple brick for interior bearing walls and slate for the roof.

Notable Features

The carved figures of Neptune and other classical figures over the doors.

Construction Professional

Name

Roestenburg, M

Type

Sculptor

Biography

No biography is currently available for this construction professional

Construction Details

Start Year

1879

Type

Original Construction

Construction Materials

Materials used are Port Chalmers breccia for the pediment, Oamaru stone for the walls, triple brick for interior bearing walls and slate for the roof.

Notable Features

The carved figures of Neptune and other classical figures over the doors.

Physical Description

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION (Style) The style of the façade decoration is Italianate Classical Renaissance. MODIFICATIONS Modernisation in recent years has completely transformed the interior and no vestige of its Victorian grandeur remains. Except for fire escapes the façade is relatively unmodified.

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION (Style) The style of the façade decoration is Italianate Classical Renaissance. MODIFICATIONS Modernisation in recent years has completely transformed the interior and no vestige of its Victorian grandeur remains. Except for fire escapes the façade is relatively unmodified.

Reference

Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau

Information Sources

Galer, 1982

L. Galer, Bricks and Mortar, Allied Press Ltd, Dunedin, 1982.

Other Information

This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.

Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau

Information Sources

Galer, 1982

L. Galer, Bricks and Mortar, Allied Press Ltd, Dunedin, 1982.

Other Information

This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.

Further Information

Former Usages

General Usage: Accommodation

Specific Usage: Hotel

Former Usages

General Usage: Accommodation

Specific Usage: Hotel

Location

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