Chapel building dates back to Auckland’s colonial past
by Colin Taylor One of New Zealand’s oldest surviving brick churches and first church- based schools dating back to colonial Auckland is now on the market for sale.
The former Wesleyan Chapel in Auckland’s Pitt St was built in 1859- 60 on a prominent ridge- top site beside dirt track roads into the city. It now overlooks one of the busiest motorway junctions in the country.
Initially designed as a church in a distinctive Gothic revival style, the chapel quickly became the biggest Wesleyan school in England’s colonial empire with more than 100 pupils from neighbouring suburbs along K Rd, Newton Gully, and a burgeoning Ponsonby. It is the oldest surviving school in Auckland central.
The chapel closed six years later when a bigger church was built a few metres down Pitt St. Seven years after that the building was bought by the Methodist Church.
It was later used as a meeting hall by the Star of Auckland Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows ( IOOF) American Order then by the Auckland branch of the Spiritualist Church of New Zealand.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows sold the building in 1990 and it i s now owner- occupied by a boutique fashion design and manufacturing studio which is relocating to bigger premises.
The Grade 1 heritage- listed building is being marketed for sale at auction on April 24 by Bayleys Central Auckland through joint sales team Clint Barber and Katrina Riedel.
The 255 sq m building sits on 405 sq m of land overlooking the Hobson St motorway onramps for State Highway 1 southbound and State Highway 16 westbound.
Barber says the freehold standalone site has car parking for six vehicles, with prominent signage fronting Pitt St and on the slanting roof of the building which is illuminated by spotlights at night.
The dual signage profiles generate combined revenue of $ 35,439 plus GST per annum — reflecting the high traffic exposure of the property.
‘‘ The refurbished character building remains virtually true to its original facade and interior layout as the former Wesleyan chapel with large intricate arch- framed windows, poli shed tongue and groove timber floors, red brick walls, and an exposed cathedral- style roof and beams,’’ Barber says.
‘‘ It has the ambience of a chic warehouse- style open plan workspace which would suit the likes of a creative business. In addition to the open plan area in what would originally have been the nave, the building has a partitioned office, a lunchroom with kitchenette, and two bathroom amenities.
‘‘ There is the potential, subject to resource consent, to extend the The former chapel is now used as a boutique fashion design and manufacturing studio. existing billboard space considerably, which would of course, increase any advertising revenue.’’
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust lists 8 Pitt St ‘‘ as of special historical value for its connections with the development of early settler re- ligion in Auckland. It also has considerable importance for its links with early colonial schooling.
‘‘ The former chapel is spiritually and socially significant as a place of education, worship and social gathering for 130 year.
‘‘ It incorporates early colonial technology from a period when comparatively few buildings of similar type are known to survive — providing a special insight into the early development of settler religion.’’
The commercial premises is accessed by the former church’s lobby, a small brick- built structure in its original 1850s construction fronting on to Pitt St at right angles to the main building.
Riedel says the property is within Auckland Council’s ‘ Southern Strategic Management 4 Area’, which is described as having ‘‘ a particular architectural character and cultural identit y. The wide variety of activities creates a vibrant atmosphere with commercial activities predominating during the daytime and entertainment facilities after dark.
‘‘ The area also benefits from the established linkages with the central city core.’’
The council plan also notes that ‘‘ there is an increasing trend to locate corporate offices and residential units in this area while simultaneously encouraging the use of protected buildings while ensuring that their valued features were not impaired or destroyed’’.
Riedel says the council’s assessment of the area is a huge endorsement for several heritage listed properties in Pitt St and its surrounds.
‘‘ These include the original Wesleyan Chapel, the Higher Thought Temple on the corner of Union St and Wiremu Place, St James Church in Beresford St, the Pitt St Methodist Church, and the Naval and Family Hotel on the corner of Pitt St and Karangahape Rd,’’ she says.
‘‘ The council’s strategic plan for this vicinity also allows for the development of further high density residential dwellings.
‘‘ While balancing up the heritage protection bestowed on the former church structure, the plan could be interpreted to potentially see the building converted into a sizeable home or multiple flats, and the car parking yard transformed into private courtyard space.’’