The Institute first acquired land in this area in 1892, and built its first permanent building in 1909. From its earliest days, a modest income was raised from the work of the blind residents. In the 1920s, the Institute was run by Sir Clutha Mackenzie (1895-1966) who had been blinded at Gallipoli and became a pivotal figure in the development of a universal Braille system. Mackenzie believed strongly that the blind should take an active role in their own welfare and spearheaded a major fundraising drive, which resulted in two buildings, both by Gummer and Ford - a men's hostel and this workshop.
The new workshop contained two wings, at a 60-degree angle, with a colonnade acting as a corridor on its main façade, facing into the complex’s courtyard. A fleche or small spire marked the meeting point of the two wings. Internally, the building was very simple with large open spaces, designed for easier use by the blind; the spaces were divided by gender. Shortly after they opened, the workshops were expanded to the west (again by Gummer Ford) with a three-storey brick addition which further emphasised the Georgian nature of the design.
Building on traditions that went back to 1890s, the blind workers made products from cane, willow and coir, including many domestic objects sold in the Parnell Road shop, and products such as ship’s fenders and cargo nets. Others were engaged in making strawberry chips, and the women were involved in ‘fancy basketmaking’. The income from the workshops became increasingly important to the Institute.
Although the Institute congratulated itself on the workshop’s ‘congenial employment’, not all was happy for the workers. Indeed, concerns over a lack of proper facilities, poor food and bad rates of pay there have been credited with the formation of New Zealand’s first blind advocacy group in 1945. The enclosure of part of the verandah, making a tearoom for the workers, in the 1940s, was a major concession by the Institute. The changing philosophy behind the care for the blind, towards living within the community, meant that the workshop’s operations were scaled down in the 1970s and closed in 1992. In 1993-5 a conservatory was constructed against the southeast side of the building and was converted into retail and hospitality units, for which it is currently (2015) used.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
4353
Date Entered
10th September 1987
Date of Effect
10th September 1987
City/District Council
Auckland Council
Region
Auckland Council
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes part of the land described as Lot 2 DP 362696 (RT 255815), North Auckland Land District, and the building known as Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind Workshop (Former) thereon. Refer to the extent map tabled at the Heritage New Zealand Board meeting on 3 September 2015.
Legal description
Lot 2 DP 362696 (RT 255815), North Auckland Land District
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
4353
Date Entered
10th September 1987
Date of Effect
10th September 1987
City/District Council
Auckland Council
Region
Auckland Council
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes part of the land described as Lot 2 DP 362696 (RT 255815), North Auckland Land District, and the building known as Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind Workshop (Former) thereon. Refer to the extent map tabled at the Heritage New Zealand Board meeting on 3 September 2015.
Legal description
Lot 2 DP 362696 (RT 255815), North Auckland Land District
Construction Professional
Name
Fletcher Construction Company
Type
Builder
Biography
Fletcher Construction Company was founded by Scottish-born James Fletcher (1886 - 1974), the son of a builder. Six months after his arrival in Dunedin in 1908, Fletcher formed a house-building partnership with Bert Morris. They soon moved into larger-scale construction work, building the St Kilda Town Hall (1911), and the main dormitory block and Ross Chapel at Knox College (1912). Fletcher's brothers, William, Andrew and John joined the business in 1911, which then became known as Fletcher Brothers. A branch was opened in Invercargill. While holidaying in Auckland in 1916, James tendered for the construction of the the Auckland City Markets. By 1919 the company, then known as Fletcher Construction, was firmly established in Auckland and Wellington. Notable landmarks constructed by the company during the Depression included the Auckland University College Arts Building (completed 1926); Landmark House (the former Auckland Electric Power Board Building, 1927); Auckland Civic Theatre (1929); the Chateau Tongariro (1929); and the Dominion Museum, Wellington (1934). Prior to the election of the first Labour Government, Fletcher (a Reform supporter) had advised the Labour Party on housing policy as hbe believed in large-scale planning and in the inter-dependence of government and business. However, he declined an approach by Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage in December 1935 to sell the company to the government, when the latter wanted to ensure the large-scale production of rental state housing. Although Fletchers ultimately went on to build many of New Zealand's state houses, for several years Residential Construction Ltd (the subsidiary established to undertake their construction) sustained heavy financial losses. Fletcher Construction became a public company, Fletcher Holdings, in 1940. Already Fletchers' interests were wide ranging: brickyards, engineering shops, joinery factories, marble quarries, structural steel plants and other enterprises had been added the original construction firm. Further expansion could only be undertaken with outside capital. During the Second World War James Fletcher, having retired as chairman of Fletcher Holdings, was seconded to the newly created position of Commissioner of State Construction which he held during 1942 and 1943. Directly responsible to Prime Minister Peter Fraser, Fletcher had almost complete control over the deployment of workers and resources. He also became the Commissioner of the Ministry of Works, set up in 1943, a position he held until December 1945. In 1981 Fletcher Holdings; Tasman Pulp and Paper; and Challenge Corporation amalgamated to form Fletcher Challenge Ltd, at that time New Zealand's largest company. Williamson Construction Company - main contract
Name
Gummer & Ford
Type
Architectural Partnership
Biography
The architectural partnership of Gummer and Ford was established in 1923, and became one of national importance. William Henry Gummer (1884-1966) was articled to W.A. Holman, an Auckland architect, and was elected as an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1910. In the period 1908-1913 he travelled in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. During this time he worked for Sir Edwin Lutyens, leading English architect of the time, and for Daniel Burnham in Chicago. Burnham was a major American architect and one of the founders of the influential Chicago School of Architecture. Gummer joined the firm of Hoggard and Prouse of Auckland and Wellington in 1913. In 1914 he was elected a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, was president of the Institute from 1933-34 and was later elected a life member. Charles Reginald Ford (1880- 1972) was born in England and served in the Royal Navy. He was later with Captain Scott's 1901-1904 expedition to Antarctica. He trained as an architect working in Wanganui as an engineer. In 1926 he wrote the first treatise on earthquake and building construction in the English language. Ford was president of the New Zealand Institute of Architects from 1921-22. Buildings designed by the partnership include the State Insurance Building Wellington, (1940) the Dilworth Building (1926), the Guardian Trust Building and the Domain Wintergardens (1921 and 1928), all in Auckland, and the Dominion Museum (1936) in Wellington. Gummer and Ford were awarded Gold Medals from the New Zealand Institute of Architects for the designs of Auckland Railway Station and Remuera Library. Gummer was one of the most outstanding architects working in New Zealand in the first half of this century and was responsible for the stylistically and structurally advanced Tauroa (1916), Craggy Range (1919), Arden (1926), and Te Mata (1935) homesteads at Havelock North.
Construction Details
Start Year
1926
Finish Year
1927
Type
Original Construction
Type
Addition
Description
Addition - at west end of the building
Period
1930-31
Start Year
1967
Type
Modification
Description
Archway enclosed
Type
Addition
Description
Addition - Conservatory
Period
1994-5
Construction Professional
Name
Fletcher Construction Company
Type
Builder
Biography
Fletcher Construction Company was founded by Scottish-born James Fletcher (1886 - 1974), the son of a builder. Six months after his arrival in Dunedin in 1908, Fletcher formed a house-building partnership with Bert Morris. They soon moved into larger-scale construction work, building the St Kilda Town Hall (1911), and the main dormitory block and Ross Chapel at Knox College (1912). Fletcher's brothers, William, Andrew and John joined the business in 1911, which then became known as Fletcher Brothers. A branch was opened in Invercargill. While holidaying in Auckland in 1916, James tendered for the construction of the the Auckland City Markets. By 1919 the company, then known as Fletcher Construction, was firmly established in Auckland and Wellington. Notable landmarks constructed by the company during the Depression included the Auckland University College Arts Building (completed 1926); Landmark House (the former Auckland Electric Power Board Building, 1927); Auckland Civic Theatre (1929); the Chateau Tongariro (1929); and the Dominion Museum, Wellington (1934). Prior to the election of the first Labour Government, Fletcher (a Reform supporter) had advised the Labour Party on housing policy as hbe believed in large-scale planning and in the inter-dependence of government and business. However, he declined an approach by Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage in December 1935 to sell the company to the government, when the latter wanted to ensure the large-scale production of rental state housing. Although Fletchers ultimately went on to build many of New Zealand's state houses, for several years Residential Construction Ltd (the subsidiary established to undertake their construction) sustained heavy financial losses. Fletcher Construction became a public company, Fletcher Holdings, in 1940. Already Fletchers' interests were wide ranging: brickyards, engineering shops, joinery factories, marble quarries, structural steel plants and other enterprises had been added the original construction firm. Further expansion could only be undertaken with outside capital. During the Second World War James Fletcher, having retired as chairman of Fletcher Holdings, was seconded to the newly created position of Commissioner of State Construction which he held during 1942 and 1943. Directly responsible to Prime Minister Peter Fraser, Fletcher had almost complete control over the deployment of workers and resources. He also became the Commissioner of the Ministry of Works, set up in 1943, a position he held until December 1945. In 1981 Fletcher Holdings; Tasman Pulp and Paper; and Challenge Corporation amalgamated to form Fletcher Challenge Ltd, at that time New Zealand's largest company. Williamson Construction Company - main contract
Name
Gummer & Ford
Type
Architectural Partnership
Biography
The architectural partnership of Gummer and Ford was established in 1923, and became one of national importance. William Henry Gummer (1884-1966) was articled to W.A. Holman, an Auckland architect, and was elected as an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1910. In the period 1908-1913 he travelled in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. During this time he worked for Sir Edwin Lutyens, leading English architect of the time, and for Daniel Burnham in Chicago. Burnham was a major American architect and one of the founders of the influential Chicago School of Architecture. Gummer joined the firm of Hoggard and Prouse of Auckland and Wellington in 1913. In 1914 he was elected a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, was president of the Institute from 1933-34 and was later elected a life member. Charles Reginald Ford (1880- 1972) was born in England and served in the Royal Navy. He was later with Captain Scott's 1901-1904 expedition to Antarctica. He trained as an architect working in Wanganui as an engineer. In 1926 he wrote the first treatise on earthquake and building construction in the English language. Ford was president of the New Zealand Institute of Architects from 1921-22. Buildings designed by the partnership include the State Insurance Building Wellington, (1940) the Dilworth Building (1926), the Guardian Trust Building and the Domain Wintergardens (1921 and 1928), all in Auckland, and the Dominion Museum (1936) in Wellington. Gummer and Ford were awarded Gold Medals from the New Zealand Institute of Architects for the designs of Auckland Railway Station and Remuera Library. Gummer was one of the most outstanding architects working in New Zealand in the first half of this century and was responsible for the stylistically and structurally advanced Tauroa (1916), Craggy Range (1919), Arden (1926), and Te Mata (1935) homesteads at Havelock North.
Construction Details
Start Year
1926
Finish Year
1927
Type
Original Construction
Type
Addition
Description
Addition - at west end of the building
Period
1930-31
Start Year
1967
Type
Modification
Description
Archway enclosed
Type
Addition
Description
Addition - Conservatory
Period
1994-5
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
29th June 2015
Report Written By
Elizabeth Cox
Information Sources
Tennant, 2007
Margaret Tennant, The Fabric of Social Welfare: Voluntary Organisations, Government and Welfare in New Zealand, 1840-2005, Wellington, 2007
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
www.TeAra.govt.nz
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
www.TeAra.govt.nz
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
www.TeAra.govt.nz
Catran & Hansen, 1992
Catran, Ken and Penny Hansen, Pioneering a Vision: A History of the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind 1890-1990, Auckland, 1992.
Newbold, 2008
Newbold, Greg, Quest For Equity, A History of Blindness Advocacy in New Zealand, Palmerton North, 2008
New Zealand Herald
11 Nov 1903, p.6.
Oldham, 1999
Oldham, Denys, ‘‘The Foundation’, 8-14 George Street, Parnell, Auckland Conservation Report’, unpublished report, Auckland, 1999 (revised edn.).
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 Northern Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. 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. A fully referenced upgrade report is available on request from the Northern Region Office of Heritage New Zealand
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
29th June 2015
Report Written By
Elizabeth Cox
Information Sources
Tennant, 2007
Margaret Tennant, The Fabric of Social Welfare: Voluntary Organisations, Government and Welfare in New Zealand, 1840-2005, Wellington, 2007
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
www.TeAra.govt.nz
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
www.TeAra.govt.nz
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
www.TeAra.govt.nz
Catran & Hansen, 1992
Catran, Ken and Penny Hansen, Pioneering a Vision: A History of the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind 1890-1990, Auckland, 1992.
Newbold, 2008
Newbold, Greg, Quest For Equity, A History of Blindness Advocacy in New Zealand, Palmerton North, 2008
New Zealand Herald
11 Nov 1903, p.6.
Oldham, 1999
Oldham, Denys, ‘‘The Foundation’, 8-14 George Street, Parnell, Auckland Conservation Report’, unpublished report, Auckland, 1999 (revised edn.).
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 Northern Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. 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. A fully referenced upgrade report is available on request from the Northern Region Office of Heritage New Zealand
Current Usages
Uses: Trade
Specific Usage: Shop
Uses: Trade
Specific Usage: Shopping/retail complex
Former Usages
General Usage: Health
Specific Usage: Non-government health organisation building
General Usage: Manufacturing
Specific Usage: Factory/workshop
Current Usages
Uses: Trade
Specific Usage: Shop
Uses: Trade
Specific Usage: Shopping/retail complex
Former Usages
General Usage: Health
Specific Usage: Non-government health organisation building
General Usage: Manufacturing
Specific Usage: Factory/workshop
Location
Stay up to date with Heritage this month
