Dominion Farmers Institute Building (Former)

110-118 Featherston Street And 1, 3 And 5 Maginnity Street And Ballance Street, Wellington

  • Dominion Farmers Institute Building (Former), Wellington. ©Photographer Alex Efimoff / Alexefimoff.com.
    Date: 26/02/2017.
  • Dominion Farmers Institute Building (Former), Wellington.
    Copyright: Heritage New Zealand.
  • Dominion Farmers Institute Building (Former), Wellington. Entrance. ©Photographer Alex Efimoff / Alexefimoff.com.
    Date: 26/02/2017.
  • Dominion Farmers Institute Building (Former), Wellington. Entrance interior detail. ©Photographer Alex Efimoff / Alexefimoff.com.
    Date: 26/02/2017.

List Entry Information

List Entry Status Listed List Entry Type Historic Place Category 2 Public Access Private/No Public Access
List Number 1359 Date Entered 10th September 1981 Date of Effect 10th September 1981

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Extent of List Entry

Extent includes the land described as Lot 1, 2 and 4 DP 3373 (RT WN397/291); Lot 1-2 Sec 3 Blk IV Thorndon Reclamation (RT WN443/270), Wellington Land District and the building known as Dominion Farmers Institute Building (Former) thereon.

 City/District Council

Wellington City

 Region

Wellington Region
Legal description

Lot 1, 2 and 4 DP 3373 (RT WN397/291); Lot 1-2 Sec 3 Blk IV Thorndon Reclamation (RT WN443/270), Wellington Land District

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Collins & Harman

One of the two oldest architectural firms in New Zealand, Armson, Collins and Harman was established by William Barnett Armson in 1870. After serving his articles with Armson, John James Collins (1855-1933) bought the practice after the former's death in 1883 and subsequently took Richard Dacre Harman (1859-1927) into partnership four years later. Collins' son, John Goddard Collins (1886-1973), joined the firm in 1903. Armson, Collins and Harman was one of Christchurch's leading architectural practices in the early years of this century.

Notable examples of the firm's work include the Christchurch Press Building (1909), Nazareth House (1909), the former Canterbury College Students Union (1927), the Nurses Memorial Chapel at Christchurch Public Hospital (1927) and the Sign of the Takahe (1936). Their domestic work includes Blue Cliffs Station Homestead (1889) and Meadowbank Homestead, Irwell. In 1928 the firm's name was simplified to Collins and Harman and the firm continues today as Collins Architects Ltd.

With a versatility and competence that betrayed the practice's debt to Armson's skill and professionalism, Collins and Harman designed a wide variety of building types in a range of styles.

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Construction Dates

Original Construction
1917 -

Other Information

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.