Shelter was originally constructed as a shelter for mourners and was probably the second purpose-built structure at the cemetery; the first being the sexton's cottage, long since replaced. The proposal to build a shelter was first debated by the Council's Cemetery Committee in August 1891 but a decision was deferred. The City Surveyor, George Wiltshire (1846-1905), submitted a design for the building, and estimated the cost at £90 to £100. The lower of the two tender prices was £119.19.6, from S. Hemingway, and he was awarded the contract.
Built for the use of all, it was described by the sexton as having a tower with louvres and it came in for heavy criticism for not being able to keep out the weather. In early 1892 the shelter was enclosed with windows and a door. By at least 1904 the building was also known as the mortuary chapel.
Initially the shelter was used by most denominations, but by the 1950s most burials took place in the far-flung corners of the cemetery, so the building became almost exclusively used by the Jewish community, which retained its burial section nearby. The building soon became named, informally, the Jewish Chapel. This association with the Jewish community was reinforced during this period when the Jewish community took responsibility for the building's maintenance, in return for a lease on the building. It became known as the Jewish Prayer House. The building narrowly escaped demolition in 1965, and in 1967 the Jewish community paid for it to be upgraded.
In 1977 the Jewish community moved to a new building at Makara cemetery and the building's condition deteriorated. Its restoration was supported by Ian McCutcheon, director of Wellington City Council's Parks and Recreation department, at a cost of $3000. The work undertaken included upgrading the foundations, installing a concrete floor, and the construction of a new roof.
In more recent times the shelter has been subject to further restoration but is largely unused at present. It is planned (2003) to use it as an interpretation centre, as part of an initiative to transform the cemetery into an historical park.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
1362
Date Entered
11th December 2003
Date of Effect
11th December 2003
City/District Council
Wellington City
Region
Wellington Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes part of the land described as Lot 1 A 316 (RT WN485/211) and Pt Sec 33 Karori District (RTWN34D/196), Wellington Land District and the building known as Shelter thereon.
Legal description
Lot 1 A 316 (RT WN485/211) and Pt Sec 33 Karori District (NZ Gazette, p.2169), Wellington Land District
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
1362
Date Entered
11th December 2003
Date of Effect
11th December 2003
City/District Council
Wellington City
Region
Wellington Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes part of the land described as Lot 1 A 316 (RT WN485/211) and Pt Sec 33 Karori District (RTWN34D/196), Wellington Land District and the building known as Shelter thereon.
Legal description
Lot 1 A 316 (RT WN485/211) and Pt Sec 33 Karori District (NZ Gazette, p.2169), Wellington Land District
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value The Karori Cemetery Mortuary Chapel is a place of considerable historic and architectural significance, both as the oldest surviving building in Karori Cemetery, Wellington's largest, and as a small but delightful example of Gothic revival architecture. The building, which started as a shelter, has had a variety of uses over its life but has responded to the changing needs of the cemetery. It was particularly associated with the Jewish community through its location alongside the Jewish section, which was in use for interments for nearly 90 years. However, it was used by all denominations, particularly early on, and remains one of the most recognisable of the cemetery's buildings.
Physical Significance
The building's Gothic style on a Greek cross plan gives the building both a formality and an aesthetic appeal. It displays the Victorian delight in the decorative, and is a fitting structure in an established cemetery.
Why is this place Category 1 / Category 2?
Detail Of Assessed Criteria
The former Mortuary Chapel, Karori Cemetery should be assigned Category II status for its historical and cultural heritage significance, summarised as follows: This chapel reflects important and representative aspects of New Zealand's history through its use, from 1892 until the 1970s, as a mortuary chapel in a major city cemetery. While the building has not been associated with any significant events, the building was very likely to have been used as part of burial ceremonies for many significant people, particularly during the early period of the cemetery's history. However it is not possible to state with certainty which people were buried from that building. It was certainly associated with most members of the Jewish community buried in the cemetery. There is relatively high public appreciation for this structure, as it is, along with the two crematorium chapels, probably the best known structure in the cemetery. The cemetery is a very well visited place, although this building is not visible from nearby streets. It is likely that, given the heavily symbolic and commemorative nature of all cemeteries, that this building has considerable significance in this regard, although less so since it stopped being used for burial purposes. This building is part of a very important historical and cultural landscape - Karori Cemetery. The cemetery has operated since 1891 and is a place where tens of thousands of burials and cremations have taken place. There are 35.5 hectares of graves, memorials, mausolea, columbaria, various buildings, paths and roads, trees, shrubs, gardens, fences, walls and gates. The collection of built structures and the landscape they occupy represents a unique and diverse cultural heritage landscape. The cemetery is a place where, through plot purchase, burial, cremation and genealogical connections, most families in Wellington (and many elsewhere) have some stake in its future.
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value The Karori Cemetery Mortuary Chapel is a place of considerable historic and architectural significance, both as the oldest surviving building in Karori Cemetery, Wellington's largest, and as a small but delightful example of Gothic revival architecture. The building, which started as a shelter, has had a variety of uses over its life but has responded to the changing needs of the cemetery. It was particularly associated with the Jewish community through its location alongside the Jewish section, which was in use for interments for nearly 90 years. However, it was used by all denominations, particularly early on, and remains one of the most recognisable of the cemetery's buildings.
Physical Significance
The building's Gothic style on a Greek cross plan gives the building both a formality and an aesthetic appeal. It displays the Victorian delight in the decorative, and is a fitting structure in an established cemetery.
Why is this place Category 1 / Category 2?
Detail Of Assessed Criteria
The former Mortuary Chapel, Karori Cemetery should be assigned Category II status for its historical and cultural heritage significance, summarised as follows: This chapel reflects important and representative aspects of New Zealand's history through its use, from 1892 until the 1970s, as a mortuary chapel in a major city cemetery. While the building has not been associated with any significant events, the building was very likely to have been used as part of burial ceremonies for many significant people, particularly during the early period of the cemetery's history. However it is not possible to state with certainty which people were buried from that building. It was certainly associated with most members of the Jewish community buried in the cemetery. There is relatively high public appreciation for this structure, as it is, along with the two crematorium chapels, probably the best known structure in the cemetery. The cemetery is a very well visited place, although this building is not visible from nearby streets. It is likely that, given the heavily symbolic and commemorative nature of all cemeteries, that this building has considerable significance in this regard, although less so since it stopped being used for burial purposes. This building is part of a very important historical and cultural landscape - Karori Cemetery. The cemetery has operated since 1891 and is a place where tens of thousands of burials and cremations have taken place. There are 35.5 hectares of graves, memorials, mausolea, columbaria, various buildings, paths and roads, trees, shrubs, gardens, fences, walls and gates. The collection of built structures and the landscape they occupy represents a unique and diverse cultural heritage landscape. The cemetery is a place where, through plot purchase, burial, cremation and genealogical connections, most families in Wellington (and many elsewhere) have some stake in its future.
Construction Professional
Name
WCC Engineers Dept.
Type
Engineer
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Name
Wiltshire, George
Type
Architect
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Construction Details
Start Year
1891
Type
Other
Description
First burial at Karori Cemetery
Start Year
1891
Type
Original Construction
Description
Mortuary Chapel constructed as a shelter
Start Year
1892
Type
Modification
Description
Building enclosed to form chapel space
Start Year
1950
Type
Other
Description
Used almost exclusively by Jewish community
Period
circa
Start Year
1967
Type
Other
Description
Some restoration undertaken by Jewish community
Start Year
1977
Type
Other
Description
New building at Makara Cemetery used by Jewish community; Mortuary Chapel restored by Local Authority
Start Year
2003
Type
Other
Description
Suggestions made for use of building as an interpretation centre
Construction Materials
Timber
Construction Professional
Name
WCC Engineers Dept.
Type
Engineer
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Name
Wiltshire, George
Type
Architect
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Construction Details
Start Year
1891
Type
Other
Description
First burial at Karori Cemetery
Start Year
1891
Type
Original Construction
Description
Mortuary Chapel constructed as a shelter
Start Year
1892
Type
Modification
Description
Building enclosed to form chapel space
Start Year
1950
Type
Other
Description
Used almost exclusively by Jewish community
Period
circa
Start Year
1967
Type
Other
Description
Some restoration undertaken by Jewish community
Start Year
1977
Type
Other
Description
New building at Makara Cemetery used by Jewish community; Mortuary Chapel restored by Local Authority
Start Year
2003
Type
Other
Description
Suggestions made for use of building as an interpretation centre
Construction Materials
Timber
The former Mortuary Chapel occupies a site several hundred metres along the main drive from the main gate on Old Karori Road. It sits at the junction of several important paths and is a small but prominent structure. Designed in a Gothic revival style, but Greek cross in plan, the chapel has four steep gables to each arm of the cross and a central turret with a broach spire. The building is timber-framed and clad, with rusticated weatherboards. The roof is clad with corrugated iron. There are double lancet windows over three of the bays and a trefoil arch and cutout over the door. The rest of glazing is simple two and four pane lights. The bargeboard decoration subtly reinforces the Gothic influence. The interior is lined with horizontal tongue and groove timbers, and has an exposed roof framing.
The former Mortuary Chapel occupies a site several hundred metres along the main drive from the main gate on Old Karori Road. It sits at the junction of several important paths and is a small but prominent structure. Designed in a Gothic revival style, but Greek cross in plan, the chapel has four steep gables to each arm of the cross and a central turret with a broach spire. The building is timber-framed and clad, with rusticated weatherboards. The roof is clad with corrugated iron. There are double lancet windows over three of the bays and a trefoil arch and cutout over the door. The rest of glazing is simple two and four pane lights. The bargeboard decoration subtly reinforces the Gothic influence. The interior is lined with horizontal tongue and groove timbers, and has an exposed roof framing.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
11th December 2003
Report Written By
Michael Kelly
Information Sources
Alington, 1978
M. Alington, Unquiet Earth; A History of the Bolton Street Cemetery, Wellington, 1978
Cochran, 2001
C. Cochran and Boffa Miskell, Wellington Heritage Building Inventory, non-residential buildings and precincts, Wellington City Council, 2003
Wellington City Council
Wellington City Council
Conservation Plan
Conservation Plan
Other Information
A fully referenced copy of this report is available from the Central Region of the NZHPT. 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
Completion Date
11th December 2003
Report Written By
Michael Kelly
Information Sources
Alington, 1978
M. Alington, Unquiet Earth; A History of the Bolton Street Cemetery, Wellington, 1978
Cochran, 2001
C. Cochran and Boffa Miskell, Wellington Heritage Building Inventory, non-residential buildings and precincts, Wellington City Council, 2003
Wellington City Council
Wellington City Council
Conservation Plan
Conservation Plan
Other Information
A fully referenced copy of this report is available from the Central Region of the NZHPT. 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.
Current Usages
Uses: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Historic Property
Former Usages
General Usage: Religion
Specific Usage: Chapel
Current Usages
Uses: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Historic Property
Former Usages
General Usage: Religion
Specific Usage: Chapel
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