Cultural Significance

This historic place 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. Social: This store is a reminder of Ophir's past status as a self-supporting town with buildings such as general stores, hotels, school, courthouse and post office.

Historic Significance

Historical Significance or Value This historic place 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. Pitches Store is an example of a colonial gold rush era business which survived to serve a small rural servicing community.

Physical Significance

This historic place 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. Aesthetic: Pitches Store possess aesthetic value in terms of its contribution to the special character of Ophir as a former gold town. Architectural: The former Store is an example of a vernacular type of single storey building constructed of local schist stone brought to square with mud mortar pointing. The essential design of the original building has remained on the exterior, in spite of some modifications over the years.

Detail Of Assessed Criteria

This historic place 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. The following comments are made in relation to the criteria identified under S.23(2) of the Historic Places Act 1993. a) The extent to which the place reflects important or representative aspects of New Zealand history: Pitches Store is representative of the type of small business that grew out of the Central Otago gold rushes and which survived subsequently to serve as a small rural servicing community in a variety of roles. b) The association of the place with events, persons, or ideas of importance in New Zealand history: The original business was established by John and Sam Pitches, merchants and carters. Sam died circa 1876 leaving John as the sole proprietor. At the formation of the Vincent County Council in 1876, John represented the Manuherikia Riding until 1887. He later served a further term from 1905-08. John Pitches was a prominent figure in the town having campaigned in 1877 (unsuccessfully) to site the county offices in Ophir. He was more successful in his involvement of the building of the Ophir Bridge (Cat I) which opened in 1880. Pitches Store represents the type of operation run by the goldfield shopkeepers, often the ones who made the most money of any gold rush. c) The potential of the place to provide knowledge of New Zealand history: The Store is a reminder of the days when Blacks/Ophir was, like many other Central Otago gold rush towns, self-supporting with a full, albeit modest range of public buildings and business premises. g) The technical accomplishment or value, or design of the place: Pitches Store is an average example of a single storey Otago building constructed of local schist stone with mud mortar. This type is, or was, relatively common in Central and North Otago for domestic and commercial buildings. The building has been completely gutted however it still retains part of the butchery at one end with the sign still visible below the parapet. The 1940's modification to the roof is sufficiently old enough to be considered part of the history of the place, particularly as it is done sensitively with decorative patterns on the face of the pitched roof end and with the exposed horizontal rafters ends forming in effect a dentil line coming through above the vergeboards. The 1950's addition of a garage door and the use of concrete are far less sympathetic. k) The extent to which the place forms part of a wider historical and cultural complex or historical and cultural landscape: Pitches Store has been an important feature of the Blacks/Ophir streetscape for over one hundred years. It has a wider association with the other towns and sites of the Central Otago gold rushes. Conclusion: Pitches Store, Swindon St, Ophir, is recommended for registration as a Category II as a place of historical and cultural heritage significance and value. Pitches Store is representative of the type of small business that grew out of the Central Otago gold rushes and survived. The vernacular style building constructed of local schist stone is an important feature of the Ophir historic streetscape.