List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Able to Visit
List Number
133
Date Entered
15th February 1990
Date of Effect
15th February 1990
City/District Council
Thames-Coromandel District
Region
Waikato Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes the land described as Sec 78 Blk IV Thames SD (NZ Gazette 1977, p.2480; 1978, pp.148 & 531), South Auckland Land District, and the buildings known as Thames North School (Former) thereon, and their fittings and fixtures.
Legal description
Sec 78 Blk IV Thames SD (NZ Gazette 1977, p.2480; 1978, pp.148 & 531), South Auckland Land District
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Able to Visit
List Number
133
Date Entered
15th February 1990
Date of Effect
15th February 1990
City/District Council
Thames-Coromandel District
Region
Waikato Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes the land described as Sec 78 Blk IV Thames SD (NZ Gazette 1977, p.2480; 1978, pp.148 & 531), South Auckland Land District, and the buildings known as Thames North School (Former) thereon, and their fittings and fixtures.
Legal description
Sec 78 Blk IV Thames SD (NZ Gazette 1977, p.2480; 1978, pp.148 & 531), South Auckland Land District
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value The Thames North School is a remarkable reminder of the population fluctuations of a gold mining settlement with its period of heavy and urgent demand for such community facilities followed by redundancy as the population rapidly declined following the hey-day of the goldfield. It is also remarkable in that the demand for the school coincided with the passing of the 1877 Education Act.
Physical Significance
ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY: The Thames North school is a pleasing example of the larger primary school building which was common in New Zealand following the passing of the 1877 Education Act. It conforms to the general 'house style' of that period of the Auckland Education Board. TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK VALUE: This building has pleasing streetscape quality. It occupies a prominent position in north Thames
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value The Thames North School is a remarkable reminder of the population fluctuations of a gold mining settlement with its period of heavy and urgent demand for such community facilities followed by redundancy as the population rapidly declined following the hey-day of the goldfield. It is also remarkable in that the demand for the school coincided with the passing of the 1877 Education Act.
Physical Significance
ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY: The Thames North school is a pleasing example of the larger primary school building which was common in New Zealand following the passing of the 1877 Education Act. It conforms to the general 'house style' of that period of the Auckland Education Board. TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK VALUE: This building has pleasing streetscape quality. It occupies a prominent position in north Thames
Construction Professional
Name
Allright, Henry
Type
Architect
Biography
Allright (1827-1906) was born in Kent in 1827. After training as an architect, he emigrated to New Zealand in 1854. From 1856 he was employed in various positions by the Auckland Provincial Board of Works, becoming Provincial Engineer in 1874. In 1877 he was appointed architect to the Auckland Board of Education. He held this position for 15 years during a period of major building expansion following the passing of the 1877 Education Act. In 1883 he was appointed engineer to the Waitemata County, although he retained his position with the Education Board. He retired from the Education Board in 1892 and entered into practice as an engineer, from which he retired in 1901. He died in 1906. From 1881-85, he was a member of the Auckland Institute of Engineers.
Construction Details
Start Year
1877
Type
Original Construction
Start Year
1883
Type
Modification
Description
Front room of school partitioned into three rooms
Start Year
1891
Type
Modification
Description
Two brick chimneys, and infant room partition and tiered gallery added
Start Year
1893
Type
Addition
Description
Shelter sheds and porches added
Start Year
1899
Type
Modification
Description
Roof reclad with corrugated iron
Start Year
1874
Finish Year
1877
Type
Modification
Description
Major repairs and restoration work
Construction Materials
Heart kauri timber throughout, with kauri shingles.
Notable Features
Trefoil decorated air vents.
Construction Professional
Name
Allright, Henry
Type
Architect
Biography
Allright (1827-1906) was born in Kent in 1827. After training as an architect, he emigrated to New Zealand in 1854. From 1856 he was employed in various positions by the Auckland Provincial Board of Works, becoming Provincial Engineer in 1874. In 1877 he was appointed architect to the Auckland Board of Education. He held this position for 15 years during a period of major building expansion following the passing of the 1877 Education Act. In 1883 he was appointed engineer to the Waitemata County, although he retained his position with the Education Board. He retired from the Education Board in 1892 and entered into practice as an engineer, from which he retired in 1901. He died in 1906. From 1881-85, he was a member of the Auckland Institute of Engineers.
Construction Details
Start Year
1877
Type
Original Construction
Start Year
1883
Type
Modification
Description
Front room of school partitioned into three rooms
Start Year
1891
Type
Modification
Description
Two brick chimneys, and infant room partition and tiered gallery added
Start Year
1893
Type
Addition
Description
Shelter sheds and porches added
Start Year
1899
Type
Modification
Description
Roof reclad with corrugated iron
Start Year
1874
Finish Year
1877
Type
Modification
Description
Major repairs and restoration work
Construction Materials
Heart kauri timber throughout, with kauri shingles.
Notable Features
Trefoil decorated air vents.
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: A simple Victorian design; single storeyed with a steeply-pitched roof and plain barge boards with a slight curve at the lower ends. The symmetrical front facade has a projecting central porch entrance-way. The entrance has a triangular air vent in the gable, and there are triangular-framed ventilators in the main roof structures. Trefoil shaped vents complement the regular fenestration with its large sash windows with small pane divisions, and label moulds. This design was already established by 1877 as the 'house style' of the Auckland Education Board.
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: A simple Victorian design; single storeyed with a steeply-pitched roof and plain barge boards with a slight curve at the lower ends. The symmetrical front facade has a projecting central porch entrance-way. The entrance has a triangular air vent in the gable, and there are triangular-framed ventilators in the main roof structures. Trefoil shaped vents complement the regular fenestration with its large sash windows with small pane divisions, and label moulds. This design was already established by 1877 as the 'house style' of the Auckland Education Board.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Information Sources
Kellaway, 1981
J. Warwick Kellaway, Education 150: From Schoolhouse to Classpace in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty, Hamilton, 1981
Kelly, 1968
W A Kelly. Thames: The First Hundred Years, Thames, 1968
Ammon, 1988
M D Ammon. 1988 The History of the Thames North School, Tararu 1877-1977, compiled for the Thames Society of Arts, Thames
Other Information
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. 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
Information Sources
Kellaway, 1981
J. Warwick Kellaway, Education 150: From Schoolhouse to Classpace in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty, Hamilton, 1981
Kelly, 1968
W A Kelly. Thames: The First Hundred Years, Thames, 1968
Ammon, 1988
M D Ammon. 1988 The History of the Thames North School, Tararu 1877-1977, compiled for the Thames Society of Arts, Thames
Other Information
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. 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: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Art Centre
Former Usages
General Usage: Education
Specific Usage: School
Current Usages
Uses: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Art Centre
Former Usages
General Usage: Education
Specific Usage: School
Location
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