Auckland experienced a period of great commercial and residential growth in the late 1870's and early 80's with the population of Ponsonby (renamed in 1873) more than doubling in size. Business very much centred on Ponsonby Rd and was aided by one of the first suburban tram services in Auckland running from Queen St. The tram service started in 1884 and was replaced by electric trams in 1899. Around the turn of the century there was a public outcry regarding overcrowding and housing conditions but the suburb continued grow up until the 1920's. In the early decades of the twentieth century Ponsonby accommodated small business and trades people and a few labourers.
From the post WWII years through to the 1970's, the area once again underwent rapid change. The construction of the Auckland Harbour Bridge and improvements in transportation meant suburban expansion away from the old tram routes. In the 1950's many houses in Ponsonby were converted into flats. At this time the area attracted a large number of low income Pacific Island and student tenants. Since the mid 1970's and the fuel crisis there has been a trend toward inner city living once more and restoration of the older style houses has become increasingly popular. The upgrading of housing and the introduction of new businesses to the area has resulted in a major contrast between the old and new residents and differences in their respective lifestyles.
Renall St, on the northern slopes of Ponsonby, is a rare example of a high density Victorian street. The area was under threat in the 1970's but is now still intact and has been designated as an area of historical interest by the Auckland City Council. The twenty houses in the street cover a range of nineteenth century architectural styles favoured by low income families.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Area
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
7010
Date Entered
28th April 1995
Date of Effect
28th April 1995
City/District Council
Auckland Council
Region
Auckland Council
Extent of List Entry
Includes all houses on Renall Street.
Location Description
Houses included in this historic area are located at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 Renall Street, Ponsonby, AUCKLAND.
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Area
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
7010
Date Entered
28th April 1995
Date of Effect
28th April 1995
City/District Council
Auckland Council
Region
Auckland Council
Extent of List Entry
Includes all houses on Renall Street.
Location Description
Houses included in this historic area are located at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 Renall Street, Ponsonby, AUCKLAND.
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value Historical/Social: The Renall St area reflects the development of the Auckland suburb of Ponsonby in the mid to late nineteenth century and the type of housing available to the lower income Victorian tradespeople and their families. Renall St is a well preserved example of a Victorian suburban street. The houses have both architectural and historical significance reflecting a nineteenth century lifestyle.
Physical Significance
Architectural: Renall St is an excellent example of suburban Victorian housing. It comprises a variety of architectural styles ranging from narrow, two storey houses with gable roof & steep stairs to single storey dwellings such as the symmetrical square plan villa of the 1870's and the turn of the century bay villa. Aesthetic: The appeal of Ponsonby is its central city location and view of the sea. Much of the character of Renall St comes from its steepness and the bend in the middle. The narrow street is only 33 feet wide and the houses are arranged cheek by jowl. Archaeological: The houses were constructed between the late 1860's and the turn of the century therefore the area may have archaeological significance.
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value Historical/Social: The Renall St area reflects the development of the Auckland suburb of Ponsonby in the mid to late nineteenth century and the type of housing available to the lower income Victorian tradespeople and their families. Renall St is a well preserved example of a Victorian suburban street. The houses have both architectural and historical significance reflecting a nineteenth century lifestyle.
Physical Significance
Architectural: Renall St is an excellent example of suburban Victorian housing. It comprises a variety of architectural styles ranging from narrow, two storey houses with gable roof & steep stairs to single storey dwellings such as the symmetrical square plan villa of the 1870's and the turn of the century bay villa. Aesthetic: The appeal of Ponsonby is its central city location and view of the sea. Much of the character of Renall St comes from its steepness and the bend in the middle. The narrow street is only 33 feet wide and the houses are arranged cheek by jowl. Archaeological: The houses were constructed between the late 1860's and the turn of the century therefore the area may have archaeological significance.
House, 1 Renall St, Ponsonby c.1920's Construction: weatherboard, corrugated iron roof; two storey Features: casement windows, upper storey projecting bay, decorative timber fretwork below eaves, plain bargeboards Substantial alterations. House, 3 Renall St, Ponsonby Bungalow, c.1920's Construction: weatherboard, corrugated iron roof; single storey Features: shingle detail below bay window, porch and in gable ends; louvre windows in gable end, casement windows with fanlights, plain bargeboards, brackets, stuccoed detail around porch Forresters' Hall, 5 Renall St, Ponsonby Stripped Classical, c.1910 Construction: concrete; two storey Features: symmetrical facade, recessed central doorway, pilasters, projecting cornice with brackets, parapet with pilasters and triangular detail House, 7 Renall St, Ponsonby Villa, c.1880's Construction: rusticated weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimneys; two storey Features: double pane sash windows, eave brackets, ground floor front verandah with detailed balustrading and fretwork House, 9 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c.1870's Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: double pane sash windows, shingled window hood, small front verandah with balustrading and decorative fretwork House, 11 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c.1870's Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: multi pane sash windows, central panelled door, raised front verandah with decorative balustrading and fretwork House, 13 Renall St, Ponsonby Villa, c. 1880's Construction: weatherboard (front facade - rusticated), corrugated iron gable roof; two storey Features: double pane sash windows, shutters, font verandah with fretwork House, 15 Renall St, Ponsonby Villa, c. 1880's Construction: weatherboard (front facade - rusticated), corrugated iron gable roof; two storey Features: double pane sash windows, panelled door, front verandah, decorative bargeboards, finial House, 17 Renall St, Ponsonby Villa, c. 1880's Construction: weatherboard (front facade - rusticated), corrugated iron gable roof; two storey Features: double pane sash windows, panelled door, front verandah with plain decoration, plain bargeboards, finial House, 2 Renall St, Ponsonby Bay Villa, c. 1900 Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: double bay, two front bay windows with flat roofs, casement and sash windows, recessed central doorway, shingle detail below bay windows House, 4 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c. 1870's Construction: weatherboard (front facade - rusticated), hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney: single storey Features: double pane sash windows, central panelled door, front verandah with simple timber detail and shingles around base House, 6 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c. 1860's Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof; single storey Features: double pane sash windows, central door, front verandah with decorative balustrading and fretwork House, 8 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c. 1860's Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: double pane sash windows, central panelled door, front verandah with fretwork nb. Addition to one side - the original design was symmetrical House, 10 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c. 1870's Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: double pane sash windows, central door, bullnosed verandah with decorative supports, balustrading and fretwork House, 12 Renall St, Ponsonby Villa, c. 1870's Construction: rusticated weatherboard, gable corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; one and a half storey Features: double pane sash windows, central door, window in gable end, simple front verandah House, 14 Renall St, Ponsonby Bay Villa, 1870's Construction: weatherboard (front facade - rusticated), hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: single bay, double pane sash windows, small front verandah with fretwork House, 16 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c. 1870's Construction: rusticated weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: double pane sash windows, central door, front verandah with fretwork House, 18 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c. 1870's Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof; single storey Features: double pane sash windows, central door, plain front verandah House, 20 Renall St, Ponsonby Bay Villa, c. 1900 Construction: weatherboard (front facade - rusticated), corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: three sided bay, double pane sash windows, timber fretwork and finial on bay, bullnosed verandah with decorative supports, balustrading and fretwork House, 22 Renall St, Ponsonby c. 1900, 1920's facade Construction: weatherboard (side walls - rusticated), corrugated iron roof; single storey Features: bungalow style front porch, casement windows with fanlights, shingle detail in gable end and on hood over the front bay window House, 24 Renall St, Ponsonby Bay Villa, c. 1900 Construction: weatherboard, corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: sash windows, three sided front bay with fretwork above windows, finial, shingles in gable end, plain bargeboards; bullnosed verandah partially enclosed with ornamental window, fretwork
House, 1 Renall St, Ponsonby c.1920's Construction: weatherboard, corrugated iron roof; two storey Features: casement windows, upper storey projecting bay, decorative timber fretwork below eaves, plain bargeboards Substantial alterations. House, 3 Renall St, Ponsonby Bungalow, c.1920's Construction: weatherboard, corrugated iron roof; single storey Features: shingle detail below bay window, porch and in gable ends; louvre windows in gable end, casement windows with fanlights, plain bargeboards, brackets, stuccoed detail around porch Forresters' Hall, 5 Renall St, Ponsonby Stripped Classical, c.1910 Construction: concrete; two storey Features: symmetrical facade, recessed central doorway, pilasters, projecting cornice with brackets, parapet with pilasters and triangular detail House, 7 Renall St, Ponsonby Villa, c.1880's Construction: rusticated weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimneys; two storey Features: double pane sash windows, eave brackets, ground floor front verandah with detailed balustrading and fretwork House, 9 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c.1870's Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: double pane sash windows, shingled window hood, small front verandah with balustrading and decorative fretwork House, 11 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c.1870's Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: multi pane sash windows, central panelled door, raised front verandah with decorative balustrading and fretwork House, 13 Renall St, Ponsonby Villa, c. 1880's Construction: weatherboard (front facade - rusticated), corrugated iron gable roof; two storey Features: double pane sash windows, shutters, font verandah with fretwork House, 15 Renall St, Ponsonby Villa, c. 1880's Construction: weatherboard (front facade - rusticated), corrugated iron gable roof; two storey Features: double pane sash windows, panelled door, front verandah, decorative bargeboards, finial House, 17 Renall St, Ponsonby Villa, c. 1880's Construction: weatherboard (front facade - rusticated), corrugated iron gable roof; two storey Features: double pane sash windows, panelled door, front verandah with plain decoration, plain bargeboards, finial House, 2 Renall St, Ponsonby Bay Villa, c. 1900 Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: double bay, two front bay windows with flat roofs, casement and sash windows, recessed central doorway, shingle detail below bay windows House, 4 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c. 1870's Construction: weatherboard (front facade - rusticated), hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney: single storey Features: double pane sash windows, central panelled door, front verandah with simple timber detail and shingles around base House, 6 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c. 1860's Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof; single storey Features: double pane sash windows, central door, front verandah with decorative balustrading and fretwork House, 8 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c. 1860's Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: double pane sash windows, central panelled door, front verandah with fretwork nb. Addition to one side - the original design was symmetrical House, 10 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c. 1870's Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: double pane sash windows, central door, bullnosed verandah with decorative supports, balustrading and fretwork House, 12 Renall St, Ponsonby Villa, c. 1870's Construction: rusticated weatherboard, gable corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; one and a half storey Features: double pane sash windows, central door, window in gable end, simple front verandah House, 14 Renall St, Ponsonby Bay Villa, 1870's Construction: weatherboard (front facade - rusticated), hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: single bay, double pane sash windows, small front verandah with fretwork House, 16 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c. 1870's Construction: rusticated weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: double pane sash windows, central door, front verandah with fretwork House, 18 Renall St, Ponsonby Square Villa, c. 1870's Construction: weatherboard, hipped corrugated iron roof; single storey Features: double pane sash windows, central door, plain front verandah House, 20 Renall St, Ponsonby Bay Villa, c. 1900 Construction: weatherboard (front facade - rusticated), corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: three sided bay, double pane sash windows, timber fretwork and finial on bay, bullnosed verandah with decorative supports, balustrading and fretwork House, 22 Renall St, Ponsonby c. 1900, 1920's facade Construction: weatherboard (side walls - rusticated), corrugated iron roof; single storey Features: bungalow style front porch, casement windows with fanlights, shingle detail in gable end and on hood over the front bay window House, 24 Renall St, Ponsonby Bay Villa, c. 1900 Construction: weatherboard, corrugated iron roof, brick chimney; single storey Features: sash windows, three sided front bay with fretwork above windows, finial, shingles in gable end, plain bargeboards; bullnosed verandah partially enclosed with ornamental window, fretwork
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Information Sources
Auckland City Council
Auckland City Council
Auckland City News
Auckland City News
Other Information
A copy of the original report is available from the NZHPT Northern 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. This historic area was registered under the Historic Places Act 1993. The following text is from the original Recommendation for Registration considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Information Sources
Auckland City Council
Auckland City Council
Auckland City News
Auckland City News
Other Information
A copy of the original report is available from the NZHPT Northern 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. This historic area was registered under the Historic Places Act 1993. The following text is from the original Recommendation for Registration considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration.
Current Usages
Uses: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Former Usages
General Usage: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
General Usage: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Masonic Lodge
Current Usages
Uses: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Former Usages
General Usage: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
General Usage: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Masonic Lodge
