Why is this place significant?

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: This small single storey building stands on the west side of Palmerston Street and is built of reinforced concrete, plastered and lined out. Designed in the Moderne style, the building is largely symmetrical about a projecting entrance bay which is approached by a flight of semi-circular concrete steps. The latter are partially sheltered by a cantilevered slab roof which is also semi-circular in shape and rests beneath a geometric frieze and a very shallow pediment from which a flagpole rises. By way of contrast with the box-like appearance of the entrance bay, the bays which flank it are lower in height and curve to meet the side walls of the building. The horizontal emphasis of this building, which is characteristic of Moderne architecture, is established in part by the fenestration which takes the form of bands of steel casement windows which are crowned by horizontal slabs of concrete serving as sunhoods. On the north side of the building this treatment extends from the entrance bay to the rear door but on the south side only those windows which light the front office are sheltered beneath a concrete sunhood. In this way the architect has maintained the apparent symmetry of the building when viewed from the street while avoiding the need to erect unnecessary sunhoods over the south-facing windows. Inside the former Buller County Chambers the entrance porch communicates with a small foyer by way of double doors which are crowned by a leaded glass fanlight. An identical doorway also separates the front office and public inquiries counter from the rest of the building. The entrance foyer features a terrazzo floor and dark-stained timber dado and the doors throughout the building have received a decorative treatment. Interior ornament has been concentrated in the council chamber, however, which features a coffered ceiling, pilasters with stylised capitals and a large fireplace which is flanked by cupboards with leaded glass doors. The central hallway provides access to the council chamber, five offices, staff and storage facilities and is terminated, in the north-east corner of the building, by a door which provides wheelchair access to the council offices. MODIFICATIONS: Date Unknown: New windows in men's toilets and rear office. Ramp built at rear door to provide wheelchair access to the building.

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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.