From the early 1870's through to WWI Gisborne flourished due to the trade generated by a farming boom. Original timber buildings were replaced with masonry structures in the early decades of this century reflecting the town's confidence in the future. The majority of the buildings within the Peel St/Gladstone area are former banks or commercial premises that have had a variety of uses over the years and are significant for their streetscape value.
The Masonic is an early hotel in the area that has been rebuilt several times. The site of the first Masonic Hotel fetched the highest price of £51 when the first Gisborne sections were auctioned in 1870. As Gisborne's most prestigious hotel it provided the "Royal Suite" for the 1954 tour. Another significant building is the Gisborne Herald's offices which have been in Gladstone Rd since the paper was established in 1915. Crowds often gathered outside the Herald on election night to watch election results being posted up across the windows and proclaimed from the balcony.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Area
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
7018
Date Entered
28th April 1995
Date of Effect
28th April 1995
City/District Council
Gisborne District
Region
Gisborne Region
Extent of List Entry
Includes Christies Building, 71 Lowe Street; Masonic Hotel; Ritchie Real Estate (fomerly Macardo's Gallery); Muir's Bookshop (formerly Eastern and Central Bank); Gisborne Herald Building.
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Area
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
7018
Date Entered
28th April 1995
Date of Effect
28th April 1995
City/District Council
Gisborne District
Region
Gisborne Region
Extent of List Entry
Includes Christies Building, 71 Lowe Street; Masonic Hotel; Ritchie Real Estate (fomerly Macardo's Gallery); Muir's Bookshop (formerly Eastern and Central Bank); Gisborne Herald Building.
Why is this place significant?
Cultural Significance
Social: The mix of old and new commercial architecture within this historic business area reflects the changes in Gisborne over the last seventy years. Hotels such as the Masonic have played a major role in the town's social activities and development. They have served the local community as venues and gathering places since the 1870's despite considerable changes in lifestyle. Conclusion: The Masonic Hotel area is significant as a piece of well preserved early twentieth century townscape. The area also has interesting historical links dating back to the early settlement and commercial development of Gisborne.
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value The Gladstone Rd area has continued to be the business centre of Gisborne since Captain Read's settlement in the 1870's. The remaining examples of commercial property erected c.1910 are a reminder of the town's prosperity in the early decades of this century.
Physical Significance
Aesthetic: This group of well maintained buildings of similar design, age and scale form attractive, uninterrupted streetscape along one of Gisborne's main roads. Architectural: Four of the five buildings within the area are the work of Gisborne architects Burr & Mirfield (established 1912) who designed a large number of buildings within Gisborne's central business area. The buildings within the area are of a similar age and are compatible in terms of scale and design. The survival of these Stripped Classical buildings (unreinforced masonry) constructed pre-1930 is significant because so many within the Hawkes Bay area were lost in the Napier earthquake.
Why is this place significant?
Cultural Significance
Social: The mix of old and new commercial architecture within this historic business area reflects the changes in Gisborne over the last seventy years. Hotels such as the Masonic have played a major role in the town's social activities and development. They have served the local community as venues and gathering places since the 1870's despite considerable changes in lifestyle. Conclusion: The Masonic Hotel area is significant as a piece of well preserved early twentieth century townscape. The area also has interesting historical links dating back to the early settlement and commercial development of Gisborne.
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value The Gladstone Rd area has continued to be the business centre of Gisborne since Captain Read's settlement in the 1870's. The remaining examples of commercial property erected c.1910 are a reminder of the town's prosperity in the early decades of this century.
Physical Significance
Aesthetic: This group of well maintained buildings of similar design, age and scale form attractive, uninterrupted streetscape along one of Gisborne's main roads. Architectural: Four of the five buildings within the area are the work of Gisborne architects Burr & Mirfield (established 1912) who designed a large number of buildings within Gisborne's central business area. The buildings within the area are of a similar age and are compatible in terms of scale and design. The survival of these Stripped Classical buildings (unreinforced masonry) constructed pre-1930 is significant because so many within the Hawkes Bay area were lost in the Napier earthquake.
Construction Details
Start Year
1890
startYearCirca
Type
Additional building added to site
Description
First section of the Masonic Hotel constructed.
Start Year
1906
Type
Additional building added to site
Description
Muir's Bookshop constructed.
Start Year
1915
Type
Additional building added to site
Description
Gisborne Herald Building constructed.
Start Year
1915
Type
Addition
Description
Second section of the Masonic Hotel constructed.
Start Year
1928
Type
Addition
Description
Third section of the Masonic Hotel constructed.
Start Year
1929
Type
Additional building added to site
Description
Ritchie's Real Estate (Macardo's Gallery) constructed
Start Year
1929
Type
Additional building added to site
Description
Christie's Chambers constructed
Construction Details
Start Year
1890
startYearCirca
Type
Additional building added to site
Description
First section of the Masonic Hotel constructed.
Start Year
1906
Type
Additional building added to site
Description
Muir's Bookshop constructed.
Start Year
1915
Type
Additional building added to site
Description
Gisborne Herald Building constructed.
Start Year
1915
Type
Addition
Description
Second section of the Masonic Hotel constructed.
Start Year
1928
Type
Addition
Description
Third section of the Masonic Hotel constructed.
Start Year
1929
Type
Additional building added to site
Description
Ritchie's Real Estate (Macardo's Gallery) constructed
Start Year
1929
Type
Additional building added to site
Description
Christie's Chambers constructed
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Information Sources
Gisborne Herald
14 Dec 2012
Wises Post Office Directories
Wises Post Office Directories
Robinson, 1990
Sheila Robinson and John Berry (eds.), Gisborne Exposed: The Photographs of William Crawford 1874-1913, Gisborne, 1990
Historic Places in New Zealand
Historic Places in New Zealand
Other Information
A copy of the original report is available from the NZHPT Northern region office 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
Gisborne Herald
14 Dec 2012
Wises Post Office Directories
Wises Post Office Directories
Robinson, 1990
Sheila Robinson and John Berry (eds.), Gisborne Exposed: The Photographs of William Crawford 1874-1913, Gisborne, 1990
Historic Places in New Zealand
Historic Places in New Zealand
Other Information
A copy of the original report is available from the NZHPT Northern region office 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.
Location
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