The building was constructed in brick and plaster and completed in 1887. It is early French Renaissance in style and modulated to suit a rising corner site.
The building has three storeys, and also an attic in the steep pitched roofs. The harmonious proportioning of the building derives from the massing of parts and the sense of movement generated by alternating projected and recessed frontages. The projecting bays have pavilion roofs with dormer windows, highlighted with console brackets and pediments. Corinthian pilasters flank other windows, and corners and ground floor windows have broken pediments.
The architects utilised the one hundred and twenty degree corner site with great ingenuity to provide the building with picturesque townscape features. A curving section is used to link the parts and provides interest with an ogee roofed tower. Alongside this corner section is a six storey clock tower.
Inside the corner tower is a Palladian styled stairway. The former reference room of the library has a superb gallery supported on cast iron columns protected by cast iron balustrades.
For many years the building had a multiple function as civic offices, public library and art gallery. It was remodelled from 1969 until 1971 and the Edmiston Wing was added. In 1971 the library was transferred to a new Auckland Public Library building, and the gallery gained sole occupancy of the original building.
The Auckland City Art Gallery is of outstanding architectural importance in terms of style, originality and townscape.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Able to Visit
List Number
92
Date Entered
24th November 1983
Date of Effect
24th November 1983
City/District Council
Auckland Council
Region
Auckland Council
Legal description
Allot 14 Sec 13 City of Auckland (RT NA14B/1135) and Secs 2, 3 SO 374931 (NZ Gazette 2006, p.3529), North Auckland Land District
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Able to Visit
List Number
92
Date Entered
24th November 1983
Date of Effect
24th November 1983
City/District Council
Auckland Council
Region
Auckland Council
Legal description
Allot 14 Sec 13 City of Auckland (RT NA14B/1135) and Secs 2, 3 SO 374931 (NZ Gazette 2006, p.3529), North Auckland Land District
Construction Professional
Name
Grainger & D'Ebro
Type
Architectural Partnership
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Construction Details
Start Year
1885
Finish Year
1888
Type
Original Construction
Construction Professional
Name
Grainger & D'Ebro
Type
Architectural Partnership
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Construction Details
Start Year
1885
Finish Year
1888
Type
Original Construction
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
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. Declared the 2013 'World Building of the Year' at the World Architecture Festival held in Singapore on 2-4 October 2013. Received an NZ Architecture Award Medal 2012. 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 place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
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. Declared the 2013 'World Building of the Year' at the World Architecture Festival held in Singapore on 2-4 October 2013. Received an NZ Architecture Award Medal 2012. 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 place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board.
Current Usages
Uses: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Art Gallery
Former Usages
General Usage: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Art Gallery
General Usage: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Library
General Usage: Government
Specific Usage: Council/local government building
Current Usages
Uses: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Art Gallery
Former Usages
General Usage: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Art Gallery
General Usage: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Library
General Usage: Government
Specific Usage: Council/local government building
Location
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