Why is this place significant?

Why is this place Category 1 / Category 2?

Central Building occupies land that was owned in its present form as far back as 1892 by George Land and Simeon Heighway. It's not certain, although highly likely, that the prominent corner site was occupied by a building prior to the construction of Central Building. After a series of sales, the site was purchased in 1907 by George Kelly. Kelly was still the owner at the time of the Hawke's Bay earthquake in 1931. In 1934 Kelly commissioned noted Wellington architect Edmund Anscombe to design a building for the site. The building was completed later that same year by H.W. Abbott. Central Building was a very good example of the Stripped Classical style, adopted by Anscombe (as was the case for many architects working in Hawke's Bay after the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake) as a response to the need for economical and structurally sound buildings, yet with some architectural presence to benefit the city. Anscombe wrote that 'The buildings of today should combine simplicity, convenience, strength, beauty, harmony and permanence, and be designed for the definite purpose of supporting ... a business ... in the performance of its everyday function', and this building is a realisation of this creed. In February 1936, Kelly sold the property to Central Building Ltd. Central Building's retail spaces were occupied by, among others, a milliner and a confectioner. By 1940, Roy Symonds' chemist shop occupied part of the ground floor retail space, and he remained a long-standing tenant. During World War II, Air Force Relations occupied part of the building. After World War II, in addition to the chemist shop, McAras Ltd, described as frock specialists, occupied part of the ground floor retail space for a considerable period. From the 1950s, Central Building Ltd negotiated a series of leases with a number of tenants, including Lane Walker Rudkin, the above-mentioned McAras Ltd, Watson's Pharmacy, Paul Barcham Ltd., William Greer. In 1971 the building was sold to H.E.F. Pensions Ltd, who sold it to Paterson Central Ltd in 1984. It was purchased by Jeremy and Gail Paterson in 1989 and, since 1990, it has been owned by property investor David Gunson. The building has undergone a number of recorded alterations - at least 10 since 1957 - mainly to shop interiors and shop fronts. Much of the ground floor retail space is presently occupied by Unichem chemists. The first floor is occupied by Curves Gym.

Central Building is appropriately named, for its corner site on Heretaunga Street West and Market Street is at the heart of the Hastings Central Business District (CBD). It plays an important role in the townscape, both in defining an important intersection and in contributing to the character of the inner city. It is Stripped Classical in style, a building of calm assurance in its low horizontal emphasis; established by a strong parapet with long horizontal bands of decorative work, and the verandah fascia, which extends to both ends of the relatively long facades. The first floor facade is actually divided by fluted pilasters, with abstracted designs to capitals and bases, and each bay has one large window set in a deep reveal. The building curves around the corner, the three corner bays being emphasised slightly by a step in the parapet; each end bay has similar emphasis. An unusual feature is the frieze of lions' heads interspersed along the length of the acroteria at parapet level. While totally authentic above verandah level, all the shop fronts below have been modernised. The ground floor entrance on Market Street to the first floor offices is likewise authentic, little altered from 1934. It has a terrazzo floor, solid curved balustrade to the stair and a lead-light window of pure Art Deco design; it gives access to the first floor hall. The structure of the building is reinforced in-situ concrete for foundations, floors (reinforced with 'maxweld' mesh) and walls; the roof structure is timber trusses (rimu), and the roof is clad in corrugated iron. The walls are plastered with coloured plaster, now painted, and the first floor windows were steel and are now replaced with aluminium. Australian blackwood timber was used for doors, frames and shopfront joinery on the ground floor.

Other Information

A fully referenced version of this report is available from the NZHPT Central 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.