The Transformer House is positioned in the centre of Havelock North, facing all five roads leading in and out of the Village. Designed by architect James Chapman-Taylor in 1914, it was constructed in 1915, by day labour, under the supervision of Havelock North Town Board member Mr J.J. Phillips.
The introduction of electricity to Hawke’s Bay created widespread debate. Lighting was first raised at a Hastings Borough Council meeting in 1889, and twenty years later, in 1909 it was agreed the Hastings Borough Council would take a poll on raising 12,000 pounds to install Electric Light and Power to the Borough.
Havelock North, part of the Borough, anticipated receiving electricity although there was community unrest about the supply of three essential services: electricity, water and sewerage. Ratepayers’ dissatisfaction with Hastings Borough Council’s poor performance - they believed their requests were ignored in favour of Hastings residents - led to a move for their own governance authority that would correct the injustices. So the Havelock North Town Board was established in August 1912.
Thomas Mason Chambers, the main instigator of the reform, was elected Chairman. His attempt to supply electricity to his district was thwarted by lack of availability from Hastings Borough Council who were equally frustrated that their procurement was unreliable. When Government rejected their request for part-funding to develop an electrical-hydro scheme, Council established their own diesel oil generating plant in Hastings; a license was granted in 1910.
At the Town Board’s December 1912 meeting, an offer from Hastings Borough Council was read to supply Havelock North with ‘Electric current’; it was accepted for a term of seven years. However it proved unsatisfactory, as Hastings could not guarantee regular supply.
Six months later the Havelock North Town Board were discussing ways of providing electricity for themselves. Chambers’ brother, John, had already built his own power station for his residential and farm requirements, at Mokopeka, in the Maraetotara Valley, from 1892. There was potential for excess electricity from Mokopeka, from a second power plant to be built further downstream, in the near future, that could supply the district. This became Board business early in 1913 and in anticipation they approved raising a loan.
The purchase of land, and plans for the Transformer House followed. It was necessary for power distribution but would also provide a public ‘Rest House’, and serve as a tribute to Thomas Mason Chambers for his contributions to the community. Given these considerations, high quality design and construction was essential. There was a call for an independent appraisal of designs, subject to adjudication by an architect outside the district. Architect, James Walter Chapman-Taylor was announced the winner of the design competition.
Already an acknowledged architect of merit the Chapman-Taylor commission was public recognition of his work, and was accepted at a time when he was designing and building homes for Hawke’s Bay residents. Construction was completed by mid-July 1915.
The Transformer House was designed to point in three directions, acknowledging the circular junction of the five roads and, suited to its site. A single storeyed building constructed in brick and concrete and styled in the popular English Arts and Crafts style, it featured a high pitched roof of three gables, rough cast plaster finish and a Marseilles tiled roof. It was painted in a light colour, possibly a white-wash, with dark-coloured paint trim around the window panes, frames and doors. Photographs taken during the Peace Day celebrations, 19 July 1919, were the first images that show the completed Transformer House, shelter, and bell tower in position.
A symbol of Chapman-Taylor’s design in brick buildings was incorporated as the circular ventilators under each gable, derived from the ‘oculus’ form. Circular windows were included in his first brick house, for Harry Tombs in Wellington, and were repeated throughout his career. The Transformer House designs are similar to those in ‘Inverness’, Dannevirke, a house he designed and built in 1914.
Electricity distributed throughout Havelock North until the early 1920s came from Hastings, and there is no evidence that the Transformer House was used until the expansion of the power supply from Mokopeka, on the completion of the second Maraetotara River power station, was received in 1923. At last Havelock North had its own power for heating, lighting and cooking and this remained in place until 1937 when the town joined Hastings and was supplied from the national grid. At this time the bell tower of Chapman-Taylor’s original design was replaced with a clock.
There have been many alterations and additions to the Transformer House over the years, with a demand for increased public seating, and toilet facilities that are regularly upgraded. This continues today but in addition an information centre has been established on the north-east side. The transformer, and the accompanying electrical equipment, remains housed in the centre of the building, and it continues to supply the needs of the Village’s central business area.
The Transformer House remains a significant architectural feature of the Village, an historical point of identity reflecting Village pride.
The introduction of electricity to Hawke’s Bay created widespread debate. Lighting was first raised at a Hastings Borough Council meeting in 1889, and twenty years later, in 1909 it was agreed the Hastings Borough Council would take a poll on raising 12,000 pounds to install Electric Light and Power to the Borough.
Havelock North, part of the Borough, anticipated receiving electricity although there was community unrest about the supply of three essential services: electricity, water and sewerage. Ratepayers’ dissatisfaction with Hastings Borough Council’s poor performance - they believed their requests were ignored in favour of Hastings residents - led to a move for their own governance authority that would correct the injustices. So the Havelock North Town Board was established in August 1912.
Thomas Mason Chambers, the main instigator of the reform, was elected Chairman. His attempt to supply electricity to his district was thwarted by lack of availability from Hastings Borough Council who were equally frustrated that their procurement was unreliable. When Government rejected their request for part-funding to develop an electrical-hydro scheme, Council established their own diesel oil generating plant in Hastings; a license was granted in 1910.
At the Town Board’s December 1912 meeting, an offer from Hastings Borough Council was read to supply Havelock North with ‘Electric current’; it was accepted for a term of seven years. However it proved unsatisfactory, as Hastings could not guarantee regular supply.
Six months later the Havelock North Town Board were discussing ways of providing electricity for themselves. Chambers’ brother, John, had already built his own power station for his residential and farm requirements, at Mokopeka, in the Maraetotara Valley, from 1892. There was potential for excess electricity from Mokopeka, from a second power plant to be built further downstream, in the near future, that could supply the district. This became Board business early in 1913 and in anticipation they approved raising a loan.
The purchase of land, and plans for the Transformer House followed. It was necessary for power distribution but would also provide a public ‘Rest House’, and serve as a tribute to Thomas Mason Chambers for his contributions to the community. Given these considerations, high quality design and construction was essential. There was a call for an independent appraisal of designs, subject to adjudication by an architect outside the district. Architect, James Walter Chapman-Taylor was announced the winner of the design competition.
Already an acknowledged architect of merit the Chapman-Taylor commission was public recognition of his work, and was accepted at a time when he was designing and building homes for Hawke’s Bay residents. Construction was completed by mid-July 1915.
The Transformer House was designed to point in three directions, acknowledging the circular junction of the five roads and, suited to its site. A single storeyed building constructed in brick and concrete and styled in the popular English Arts and Crafts style, it featured a high pitched roof of three gables, rough cast plaster finish and a Marseilles tiled roof. It was painted in a light colour, possibly a white-wash, with dark-coloured paint trim around the window panes, frames and doors. Photographs taken during the Peace Day celebrations, 19 July 1919, were the first images that show the completed Transformer House, shelter, and bell tower in position.
A symbol of Chapman-Taylor’s design in brick buildings was incorporated as the circular ventilators under each gable, derived from the ‘oculus’ form. Circular windows were included in his first brick house, for Harry Tombs in Wellington, and were repeated throughout his career. The Transformer House designs are similar to those in ‘Inverness’, Dannevirke, a house he designed and built in 1914.
Electricity distributed throughout Havelock North until the early 1920s came from Hastings, and there is no evidence that the Transformer House was used until the expansion of the power supply from Mokopeka, on the completion of the second Maraetotara River power station, was received in 1923. At last Havelock North had its own power for heating, lighting and cooking and this remained in place until 1937 when the town joined Hastings and was supplied from the national grid. At this time the bell tower of Chapman-Taylor’s original design was replaced with a clock.
There have been many alterations and additions to the Transformer House over the years, with a demand for increased public seating, and toilet facilities that are regularly upgraded. This continues today but in addition an information centre has been established on the north-east side. The transformer, and the accompanying electrical equipment, remains housed in the centre of the building, and it continues to supply the needs of the Village’s central business area.
The Transformer House remains a significant architectural feature of the Village, an historical point of identity reflecting Village pride.
