Designed by noted architect Frederick Strouts in a mixture of Gothic and Italianate styles, the building was constructed of brick and Quail Island stone by local builders Hollis and Williams in 1880. The Harbour Board emblem is displayed in the pediment over the pillared corner entrance. The lower storey windows are in the classical arch shape, while the upper storey windows are Gothic Revival in style with pointed arches grouped in twos and threes. The interior had a large room on the ground floor which served as a reading room for visiting captains and the first floor contained the Board room. The building accommodated the Lyttelton Harbour Board for 82 years until new multi-storey offices were opened for them at 28-32 Norwich Quay in 1961-2.
The building was extended by a single bay to the east some time after c1912, in two storeys in a style similar to the original building. More recently, in the early 2000s, a one and two storeyed addition was built against the south, rear, part of the building, effectively doubling the plan size of the building. This recent addition is not included in the registration.
The Old Harbour Board Offices are significant as an architecturally designed Gothic-Italianate building for a pivotally important authority operating in the Lyttelton township and harbour. It helps to inform about development of the town, port and it links the community with the harbour works.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
1815
Date Entered
23rd June 1983
Date of Effect
23rd June 1983
City/District Council
Christchurch City
Region
Canterbury Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes the land described as Lot 1 DP 54561 (RT CB32A/1259), Canterbury Land District and the building known as the Old Harbour Board Offices thereon, and its fittings and fixtures. (Refer to map in Appendix 1 of the Information Upgrade Report for further information).
Legal description
Lot 1 DP 54561 (RT CB32A/1259), Canterbury Land District
Location Description
Located on the south-eastern corner of Norwich Quay and Oxford Street, Lyttelton.
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
1815
Date Entered
23rd June 1983
Date of Effect
23rd June 1983
City/District Council
Christchurch City
Region
Canterbury Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes the land described as Lot 1 DP 54561 (RT CB32A/1259), Canterbury Land District and the building known as the Old Harbour Board Offices thereon, and its fittings and fixtures. (Refer to map in Appendix 1 of the Information Upgrade Report for further information).
Legal description
Lot 1 DP 54561 (RT CB32A/1259), Canterbury Land District
Location Description
Located on the south-eastern corner of Norwich Quay and Oxford Street, Lyttelton.
Construction Professional
Name
Hollis and Williams
Type
Builder
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Name
Strouts, Frederick
Type
Architect
Biography
It is thought that Frederick Strouts (1834-1919) was born at Hothfield, Kent, England in 1834. He trained as an architect with John Whichcord and Son in Maidstone and then under the partnership of Arthur Ashpitel and John Whichcord junior. He arrived in New Zealand in 1859 and set up business in Christchurch with his future brother-in-law as 'General Importers & Ironmongers, Architects, Surveyors & Land Agents'. Strouts and his family returned to England, in 1868, where Strouts was elected an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Upon his return to New Zealand Strouts resumed his architectural practice. He became noted for his houses, which he designed for the elite of Canterbury, including a number for Robert Heaton Rhodes. In 1871 he was appointed supervising architect for the Church of St Michael and All Angels.Two years later he acquired the commission for the Canterbury Club, after W.B. Armson fell ill. Other commissions included the former Lyttelton Harbour Board building (1880) and the Rhodes Convalescent Home in Cashmere (1885--87). He is described as being a versatile and prolific architect, and one who helped to raise the professional status of architecture in Canterbury. One of his most notable Canterbury buildings was Ivey Hall, now refurbished as part of Lincoln University. Strouts seems to have retired from practice in 1905. He died in Christchurch on 18 December 1919. (Jonathan Mane-Wheoki, 'Strouts, Frederick 1834-1919' in Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Vol 2, 1870-1900, Wellington 1993)
Construction Details
Start Year
1880
Type
Original Construction
Description
Construction of Harbour Board Offices
Type
Addition
Description
One bay extension to the east
Period
post-1912
Start Year
2003
startYearCirca
Type
Addition
Description
Modern addition to the south
Construction Professional
Name
Hollis and Williams
Type
Builder
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Name
Strouts, Frederick
Type
Architect
Biography
It is thought that Frederick Strouts (1834-1919) was born at Hothfield, Kent, England in 1834. He trained as an architect with John Whichcord and Son in Maidstone and then under the partnership of Arthur Ashpitel and John Whichcord junior. He arrived in New Zealand in 1859 and set up business in Christchurch with his future brother-in-law as 'General Importers & Ironmongers, Architects, Surveyors & Land Agents'. Strouts and his family returned to England, in 1868, where Strouts was elected an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Upon his return to New Zealand Strouts resumed his architectural practice. He became noted for his houses, which he designed for the elite of Canterbury, including a number for Robert Heaton Rhodes. In 1871 he was appointed supervising architect for the Church of St Michael and All Angels.Two years later he acquired the commission for the Canterbury Club, after W.B. Armson fell ill. Other commissions included the former Lyttelton Harbour Board building (1880) and the Rhodes Convalescent Home in Cashmere (1885--87). He is described as being a versatile and prolific architect, and one who helped to raise the professional status of architecture in Canterbury. One of his most notable Canterbury buildings was Ivey Hall, now refurbished as part of Lincoln University. Strouts seems to have retired from practice in 1905. He died in Christchurch on 18 December 1919. (Jonathan Mane-Wheoki, 'Strouts, Frederick 1834-1919' in Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Vol 2, 1870-1900, Wellington 1993)
Construction Details
Start Year
1880
Type
Original Construction
Description
Construction of Harbour Board Offices
Type
Addition
Description
One bay extension to the east
Period
post-1912
Start Year
2003
startYearCirca
Type
Addition
Description
Modern addition to the south
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
13th March 2009
Report Written By
Robyn Burgess
Information Sources
Alexander Turnbull Library
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Scotter, 1968
W.H. Scotter, A History of Port Lyttelton, Lyttelton Harbour Board, Christchurch, 1968
Rice, 2004
Geoffrey W Rice, Lyttelton: Port and Town, an illustrated history, Canterbury University Press, Christchurch, 2004.
Other Information
This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Southern Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. A fully referenced information upgrade report is available from the NZHPT Southern 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
Completion Date
13th March 2009
Report Written By
Robyn Burgess
Information Sources
Alexander Turnbull Library
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Scotter, 1968
W.H. Scotter, A History of Port Lyttelton, Lyttelton Harbour Board, Christchurch, 1968
Rice, 2004
Geoffrey W Rice, Lyttelton: Port and Town, an illustrated history, Canterbury University Press, Christchurch, 2004.
Other Information
This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Southern Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. A fully referenced information upgrade report is available from the NZHPT Southern 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.
Current Usages
Uses: Trade
Specific Usage: Restaurant/cafe/tearoom
Former Usages
General Usage: Trade
Specific Usage: Office building/Offices
Current Usages
Uses: Trade
Specific Usage: Restaurant/cafe/tearoom
Former Usages
General Usage: Trade
Specific Usage: Office building/Offices
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