Hastings CBD Heritage Inventory Project · Report updated September 2015 by the HDC Environmental...

300-358 Heretaunga Street West (Commercial Group #1) Inventory Number: 31 Buildings 1-9 Property ID: 21091 (Building 1); 21090 (Building 2); 21088 (Building 3); 21087 (Building 4); 21083 (Building 5); 21082 (Building 6); 21081 (Building 7); 21080 (Building 8); 21079, 21078 (Building 9); TRIM Reference: 21091#002#0004 Report by Marguerite Hill Report updated September 2015 by the HDC Environmental Policy Team.

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Hastings CBD Heritage Inventory Project

300-358 HERETAUNGA STREET WEST (COMMERCIAL GROUP #1)

Building 1 – Care Chemist, 2012 (Photo: R. Murray)

This group of 9 commercial buildings occupies the entire western side of the block of Heretaunga Street West that runs between King Street and Nelson Street.


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Building 2, 2012 (Photo: R. Murray)



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Building 4 – F King Ltd, 2012 (Photo: R. Murray)



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Building 9 – John’s Bakery, 2012 (Photo: R. Murray)

LOCATION:

Street and Number: 300 (Building 1), 306 (Building 2), 308 (Building 3), 318 (Building 4), 320 (Building 5), 324 (Building 6), 342 (Building 7), 344 (Building 8), 346, 354 (Building 9) Heretaunga Street West

City / Town: Hastings

Region: Hawke’s Bay

LEGAL DESCRIPTION:

Legal Description: LOT 1 DP 1903 (Building 1); PT LOT 2 DDP 312 LOT 1 DDP673PT SUBJ TO R/W (Building 2); LOTS 2-4 DPP 648 PT LOT 2 DDP 312 INT IN R/W (Building 3); LOT 302 DDP 102 LOT PT 5 DDP648 + INT IN R/W (Building 4); PT LOT 303 DDP 102 INT IN R/W (Building 5); LOT 2 PT LOT 1 DDP 370 PT SUBJ TO AND INT ON ROW (Building 6); LOT 1 DP 13664 (Building 7); LOT 1 DP6142 & INT IN R/W (Building 8); LOT 2 DP15870, LOT 1 DP 15870 (Building 9).

Certificates of Title: HBM2/195 (Building 1), HBL3/1306 (Building 2), HBE1/200 (Building 3), HB26/89 (Building 4), HBb1/325(Building 5), HB26/89 (Building 6), HBF2/671 (Building 7), HB90/29 (Building 8), HBH3/886 (Building 9), HBH3/885 (Building 10).


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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANCE: Architectural significance:

Some of the individual buildings in the group have particular architectural interest, while others are rather more ordinary and prosaic. However, the group as a whole can be considered to have reasonable architectural significance as it represents the sorts of surviving pre-earthquake buildings mixed with new post-1931 buildings that typified the reconstruction of the commercial areas of Hastings in the early 1930s. Aesthetic significance: A row of commercial buildings, with prominent “book-end” corner buildings at either extremity, this group occupies an entire city block along a main entry route to central Hastings. Collectively the buildings have a modest but distinctive 1920s and 1930s character that has high townscape value and strongly reinforces the general historic nature of the Hastings CBD.

Historic significance:

All of the buildings in Commercial Group 1 contribute to the retail history of Hastings, especially as some well-known business people (such as the Rush-Munros) have occupied the buildings over their life.

OUTLINE HISTORY:

This group of low-rise commercial buildings has occupied the block on Heretaunga Street in its present form, since shortly after the 1931 earthquake. A number of the buildings pre-date the earthquake, and are interesting for their representation of an aspect of central Hastings prior to 1931. Collectively, the buildings have a modest history, all having had similar and generally undistinguished commercial uses since they were constructed. Individual building histories are given below.

OUTLINE PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Individual building descriptions are given below. Construction details: The buildings are all constructed with reinforced concrete frames, timber roof frames and corrugated steel roofing. Description: This group of single-storey 1920s and 1930s commercial buildings occupies the entire west side block of Heretaunga Street between King Street and Nelson Street. The buildings represent a range of modest 1920s and 30s architectural styles; collectively, the group typifies the re-built appearance of Hastings as it was in the early 1930s. Above the verandah line, the buildings present a high level of authenticity, although little of the original shop-fronts or lower facades can be identified today. Designers and builders: In most cases these are not presently known.


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ELEMENTS OF ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE:

Element Significance

Buildings 1 and 9 – form and detail of main elevations

Townscape, architectural, aesthetic

Buildings 2 – 8 – form and detail of façades above verandahs

Townscape, architectural, aesthetic

COMBINED BUILDING HISTORIES AND DESCRIPTIONS: BUILDING 1 (Care Chemist) History In 1925 No. 300 Heretaunga Street West was occupied by Hannahan and Breven (Chinese fruiter and butchers)1. Post the 1931 earthquake, the building was occupied by Tom King (grocer) and Mrs E. Baumfield (proprietor of fancy goods).2 Since approximately 1959, Richardson’s Pharmacy has been the occupant of the building (as it remains today, now known as the Care Chemist), after previously being located elsewhere in the block. Physical description Architect: G A Robinson Date: 1931 Description: This building chamfers neatly around the street corner. While little of the original building can be recognised below the stayed verandah, the upper façade features prominent, if simple, Art Deco ornamentation, highlighted with an appropriate colour scheme. Each structural bay is delineated with a fluted pilaster, capped with a stylised acanthus capital. Between the pilasters, the façade is lined out as if in stone, with a band of fan-type frieze-work in each panel. The corner parapet is raised to a shallow gable and crowned with a flagpole. A blank rebate in the centre would have once carried the date or name of the owner. The reinforced concrete structure is prominent in the interior, with a row of columns running down the middle of the shop carrying the grid of hanuched beams. The Pharmacy also occupies the adjacent building on King Street, by virtue of a large opening in the former party wall between the two buildings.

BUILDING 2 History In 1925 304-306 Heretaunga Street West was occupied by Miss Blackert (confectioner) and Maison McKay (drapers).3 Following the 1931 earthquake, the building was occupied by a succession of businesses, including E. W Gabites (draper), Lockyears Limited and

1 Block map created by the Council and Fire Underwriters Associations of New Zealand (April 1925)

2 Wises Street Directories, 1934-1959-60.

3 Ibid.


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Symons Bros (fruiter). It is currently occupied by Indigo (No. 304) and Envy Shoes (No. 306). Physical description Date: Unknown, presumed to be ca. 1920s Description: This building contains two shops. No trace of the original shop-fronts can be seen below the stayed verandah. Above the verandah, the building appears more or less original. The façade, which steps up slightly from the adjacent Care Pharmacy, is more or less undecorated, save for two prominent slender horizontal rebates that are highlighted by a sensitive colour scheme. There are three groups of low windows that sit just above the verandah roof to light the shops.

BUILDING 3 History In 1925 308 Heretaunga Street West was constructed and named Hennah’s Buildings.4 The building was constructed by and named for its owner J Hennah, whose family continues to own the building today5. By 1926, it was occupied by Rush-Munros Confectioner, who are still famous for their ice-creams. The building was damaged in the 1931 earthquake, and the Rush-Munros did not return to it, instead purchasing a section further towards Stortford Lodge.6 The neighbouring shop of Gordon Grant Chemist (310 Heretaunga Street West) was also damaged and that business was subsequently moved to 422 Heretaunga Street West.7 The building was able to be salvaged following the earthquake. Little is known about its subsequent history. It is presently occupied by Manna Christian Stores, F. W Liley and Jessica Kitchenware (established in 1978), while being owned by Phyllis Mary Wedd. Physical description Date: 1925 Description: This is one of the more substantial buildings in the group. It is presently divided into three retail tenancies. Nothing of the original shop-fronts survives below the stayed verandah, although the interiors of the shops still show the high ceilings and exposed concrete primary structure. Above the verandah, a row of irregularly-spaced steel windows hints at the original sub-division of the shops. The upper façade is sparsely ornamented in a mild Stripped Classical idiom, with two shallow pilasters at either end and a boldly worked “1925” in a decorative panel in the centre of the façade. The parapet line steps up from both of the adjacent buildings.

4 Ibid.

5 Personal communication, H McDermott, 2012, TRIM Ref: ENV-9-11-1-12-52

6 Fowler, M 2007 From Disaster to Recovery: the Hastings CBD1931-1935, Michael Fowler Publishing Limited, Havelock North

7 Ibid.


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BUILDING 4 (F. King Ltd.) History In 1925 312-318 Heretaunga Street West was occupied by Tennyson Heighway (cycle works), J. W Berridge (boot seller), Hood and Caxon (tailors) and the retail outlet of Hastings Industrial.8 By the late 1920s part of the building was tenanted by W A Totty, a florist. After that building was destroyed in the 1931 earthquake, the Tottys instead ran their business from their St Aubyn Street West home.9 The present building, signed “F King Ltd”, was constructed in 1932, and Heighway carried on his business there until approximately 1962 (a few years before his 1964 death).10 Other co-occupants in the years since the earthquake have included Hastings Industrial Cooperative Society Ltd., D. J Coldwell (chemist), Samuel Rusbatch (jeweler), Zala’s the Furriers, the Music Machine, Balloons and Flowers and the Holiday Shoppe. Today the building is owned by the Fleezel Trust and occupied by Nature’s Art Florist, Harvey World Travel and Zest Health and Beauty. Physical description Date: 1932 Description: This building has a spare Art Deco aesthetic that works well with its long and low proportions. Ornamentation is confined to the central part of the upper facade, which steps forward and rises up above the main parapet line between two shallow pilasters embellished with stylised plant motifs. The central section contains the legend “F King Ltd” within a shallow panel. On either side of this, the parapet steps down and the top section of the façade is slightly recessed, to emphasise the long horizontal line of the building. There is a row of narrow steel windows set just above the verandah. Two of the shops still have the original high ceilings and visible concrete primary structure. Some small original outbuildings still survive at the rear of the property.

BUILDING 5: History In 1925 320 Heretaunga Street West was occupied by H. Oliphant, a picture framer.11 The building was purchased by E.C. McDermott Trust in 196812. It is presently occupied by Fears Living and Giving, but at the time of purchase was occupied by the Co-Op Meat Company13. A bookshop occupied 322 Heretaunga Street West in 1968 through to the 1980s when Light and Shade started business there. This section is now tenanted by Knit World14. In 1925 324 Heretaunga Street West was occupied by a Chinese fruitier. After a long period of vacancy, Sophie’s, a women’s clothes shop took up the vacancy15. More

8 Block map created by the Council and Fire Underwriters Associations of New Zealand (April 1925)



11 Ibid.

12 Personal communication, H McDermott, 2012, TRIM Ref: ENV-9-11-1-12-52

13 Ibid

14 Ibid 15

Ibid


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recently 322 has been occupied by Cake Stuff16. Other past tenants include Merry Go Round and Happy Crafts. All three shops continue to be owned by E.C. McDermott Trust. Physical description Date: ca. 1920s Description: This building contains three tenancies, still aligned to the divisions that can be seen on the upper façade. The upper façade, although only lightly decorated, shows a blend of Art Deco and stylised Spanish Mission influences. It is symmetrically composed; the central flat parapet rises above the side sections. It is ornamented with a minimal moulded cornice above a reeded panel, and there is a small moulded bracket at the sides. The side sections have a stylised machicolation17 frieze just below the parapet. Just above the verandah, three rows of small steel windows are positioned to light the shops below. These have a broad fluted panel at the head and are divided with stepped pilasters with a chevron head engaging in to the upper part of the façade, a feature that adds a high level of visual interest.

BUILDING 6: History In 1925 the four shops from 326-330A Heretaunga Street West were occupied by W. J Carberry (saddler), Miss K Sinclair (milliner), Dorothy Foster (ladies draper) and Dick Austin respectively.18 The building was owned by Jack Hennah and continues to be owned by members of his family today19. Since the 1931 earthquake the building has been occupied by businesses involved with retail activities such as dry cleaning, fruit and bicycles.20 The building is now owned by Joan Doreen Beatson, Barry James Rosenberg, and Ivan Douglas Grieve. Moys Brothers Jewellery occupies number 326 (now 324), Sareta Hair Salon occupies number 328 (now 336), Margarets occupies number 330 (now 338) and number 330A (now 340) is presently empty, previously having been tenanted by Instinct Clothing and Skateboards Accessories and Clothing. Physical description Date: Unknown, ca. 1930s Description: This building is divided into four shops, still following the original subdivision. The upper façade has strong Art Deco influences; it is divided into three parts, made of two bays in the centre and a flanking bay on either side. The bays are separated with tall stepped pilasters with a stylised saw-tooth capital. The capitals repeat at each of the other structural bays at a lower level. The centre of the façade is ornamented with a fan-shaped moulding that engages into the top parapet. Further visual interest is added with groups of parallel lines at the centre of each structural bay. Just above the verandah, rows of steel windows admit light into the shops beyond. Beyond the façade, the roof is divided into two parallel hipped roof sections with an internal gutter between.

16

Ibid 17

AKA “murder hole”, a pattern derived from mediaeval gate fortifications which had a projecting gallery with apertures for dropping

boiling oil onto unwelcome visitors 18

Ibid. 19

Personal communication, H McDermott, 2012, TRIM Ref: ENV-9-11-1-12-52 20

Wises Street Directories, 1934-1959-60.


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The verandah has a battened soffit of some age. Three of the shops retain the original high ceilings and exposed concrete structure, and the haunches to the beams along the front of the building are profiled in an ogee shape, clearly intended to be part of the final finished surfaces. The frontage of the empty shop may possibly follow the line of the original shop-front.

BUILDING 7 (H B Sportz Bar): History In 1920 a handsome Spanish Mission style building in brick and concrete was constructed at 352 Heretaunga Street West for use by Loach and Price, plumbers. The design drawing is signed “H W, 7-19”, but nothing else is presently known about the building. The 1931 earthquake destroyed that building but by 1932 a replacement had been constructed21 in reinforced concrete, to a design by local architects Davies Garnett & Phillips, including a showroom, offices and workshops. Loach and Price continued to occupy the building until at least 1960.22 The building, which is now known as 342 Heretaunga Street West, is currently occupied by H B Sportz Bar. Previous occupants included Liquid Central Sports Bar and Dukes Bar. The building is owned by William James Martin and Darren Edward Tichborne (previously Bill Martin Family Trust). Physical description Architect: Davies, Garnett & Phillips Date: 1932 Description: Above the stayed verandah, this is a handsome, if simple, Art Deco styled building. The upper façade is divided into three bays, a narrow centre section, emphasised with a stepped parapet and a tall panel of vertical fluting and wider side sections, each with a small fluted panel. There is a row of slender steel windows just above the verandah, separated with short sections of vertically fluted pilaster.

BUILDING 8: History In 1925 No. 334 Heretaunga Street West (now known as 344) was occupied by H. B. Auto Works.23 The building was replaced ca. 1932 with the present Art Deco structure, designed by Davies and Phillips Architects for F S Candy Esq. This originally contained a retail tenancy at the front and a workshop at the back, separated by a gated yard. The building is currently occupied by the Thai House Express and owned by Scinde Properties Limited. It had previously been occupied by Bay Drycleaning and Laundry, NZ Institute for the Blind, AG Allaway and Ryan Garry (both butchers).24 The building is currently owned by Scinde Properties Limited.

21

Fowler, M 2007 From Disaster to Recovery: the Hastings CBD1931-1935, Michael Fowler Publishing Limited, Havelock North 22

Wises Street Directories, 1934-1959-60. 23

Block map created by the Council and Fire Underwriters Associations of New Zealand (April 1925) 24



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Physical description Architect: Davies and Phillips Date: 1932 Description: Above the stayed verandah, this is a strong Art Deco building and the most distinctive of the group. It features a bold central stepped fin motif, with the steps turning to the horizontal above the small windows atop the verandah, then turning vertically down at the outside edges of the façade to create a striking geometric pattern over the whole of the upper façade. The parapet on either side of this motif drops down in shallow steps to meet the buildings on either side. There are two panels of low steel windows set just above the verandah, formerly lighting the shop below (presently blocked off). BUILDING 9: History In 1925 Nos. 336-348 (now numbered 346-358) Heretaunga Street West was occupied by a range of commercial tenants, including A. J Haste (butcher), G. Lee (second hand dealer), Eureka Confectionary Works, Miss Crossland (ladies outfitter) and E. T Ingram (grocer).25 It is known that in 1926 the certificate of title was held by John Albert Hennah, and that in 1971 the title was transferred to Maurice David Hennah and Douglas Herbert Grieve as executors. The building was destroyed in the 1931 earthquake, and a new structure was built in 1932 by John Hennah (the owner of the building).26 By 1978, the building was occupied by Wall Bros. (butchery), Simpsons Home Appliance Centre, Broadlands Finance, Lovell Smiths (Insta Colour Limited), Willie Weavers (number 354), Wyndams Home Cookery (356) and Sang Lee & Co Fruiter (358).27 Both Lovell Smiths and Sang Lee had been longstanding tenants of the building (since approximately 1934 and 1940 respectively).28 In 1994, D. M Bolton and P. T Gifford were granted consent to internally alter number 346 so it could be used as a restaurant. In 1982, number 350 was occupied by the offices of Broadlands Finance Limited, with a portion of the front of the shop possibly being tenanted by another retailer. In 1992, it was proposed that number 352 be converted into a restaurant by B & L Franklin. The building (from 346-348) is currently occupied by Music Box Record Exchange and Tiny’s Jewellery. The next section of the building, from 350 to 352 is occupied by Sophie’s Boutique and Antony Karl Hair Design. The building from 346 to 352 is owned by Micris Limited. The next section of the building, from 354-358 runs to the corner of Heretaunga Street and is owned by Van Den Berk Ltd. It is currently occupied by Dragon Tattoo Ltd., and John’s Bakery and Café. Previous tenants included Norsewear, Furniture and Design and Arabesque Outlet.

25

Ibid. 26

Fowler, M 2007 From Disaster to Recovery: the Hastings CBD1931-1935, Michael Fowler Publishing Limited, Havelock North 27

Plan of proposed subdivision of Lots 2 3 4 & 5 Block E DDP 528, 1978 28



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Physical description Date: 1932 Description: This building, although physically of a piece, is divided into three distinct sections. The first section, nos. 346-352, is an almost undecorated version of the rest of the building, carrying through only the horizontal stripes from the parapet of the adjoining sections. It has low windows, just above the verandah, one set per shop. The soffit of the verandah is battened over fibrous plaster panels; just below the verandah is a small remnant panel of burgundy-coloured terrazzo, which would have once graced the entire shop-front (the other half of this panel remains but is currently painted over). The second section and third section are architecturally more of a piece, although presently painted in different colours, differentiating their current ownership. The first three bays are identically treated with fluted and stepped pilasters on each structural line (the verandah stays spring from near the top of the pilasters), groups of three low steel windows separated with fluted pilasters and further shallow fluted panels at the heads of the windows. Small groups of horizontal lines and a straight keyline just below the top of the parapet accentuate the façade. The latter details continue along the next section of the building and around the bull-nosed corner to the intersection. However, the pilasters and other details are absent from this section. The verandah returns for one structural bay along Nelson Street. Beyond this the façade is plain, broken by three steel windows; it then steps down to a lean-to at the rear. An interesting collection of old outbuildings still survives at the back of each part of the building, including an outhouse per tenancy; the rear elevations are also notable for the large but finely-profiled steel windows to the back of each shop.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES:

Block map created by the Council and Fire Underwriters Associations of New Zealand (April 1925)

Fowler, M 2007 From Disaster to Recovery: the Hastings CBD1931-1935, Michael Fowler Publishing Limited, Havelock North

HDC Permit records:

Building 4: “Proposed new Shop Front for Mr F King Hastings (Hastings Industrial Coop Soc Ltd Tenants”, not dated or signed, ca. 1930s

Building 7: “Proposed New Shop Front for Messrs Loach & Price Ltd.”, not dated or signed. Builder possibly A Hampton

“Proposed New Business Premises for Messrs Loach & Price Ltd, Heretaunga Street Hastings”, signed “H.W. 7.19”

Building 8: “Shop Building Heretaunga Street Hastings for F S Candy Esq.”, not dated, Davies & Phillips Architects


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OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

NZHPT Register: Not registered.

District Plan: The buildings included in Commercial Group #1 are not specifically listed as Heritage items in the Hastings District Plan, but are located within the Central Character Precinct.

New Zealand Historic Places Act 1993: The sites of Buildings 1, 3, 4, 9 and 10 have been identified as potential archaeological sites under Section 2 of the New Zealand Historic Places Act 1993.


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ARCHIVE PLAN(S): Building 2 – New Premises for Mrs Bisley (1934) (TRIM Ref 21090#0014)


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Building 3 - Reinstatement of Building for JA Hennah (1931) (TRIM Ref: 21088#0014)


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Building 4 – Proposed Shop for F. King 1923 (TRIM Ref 21087#0042)


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Building 6 - Construction of four new shops for J Hennah Esq. (1931) (TRIM Ref: 21082#0008)


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Building 7 – Business premises for Messrs Loach & Price (1931) (TRIM Ref: 21081#0183)


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Building 8 - Shop for F. S Candy Esq. (ca. 1932) (TRIM Ref: 21080#006)


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