NZHPT Information release
8 July 2010

The New Zealand Historic Places Trust has welcomed the Auckland Regional Council’s decision to retain one of Auckland’s historic Queen’s Wharf cargo sheds, said NZHPT Chief Executive, Bruce Chapman.

The ARC voted to retain one of the sheds and to dismantle the other for relocation to another, as yet undetermined, site. The ARC will also explore options for placement of a temporary structure for the Rugby World Cup.

“The ARC has offered a reasonable compromise that allows the wharf and Shed 10 to be used for a wide range of purposes, while ensuring important elements of its heritage can be retained and adaptively reused.

“People who have attended events in one of these sheds, or in buildings like these in other cities around the world, recognise the potential for creating a space that works well as an event venue. And with such a large area, there is scope for a versatile and adaptable space that is an asset on this prime waterfront area.

“To be clear, as the sheds have no formal heritage protection, NZHPT consent to any demolition proposal was not required. However, the ARC sought to engage constructively with us to explore options for the area. Our role often involves working directly with owners and developers, providing advice and support and our view quite naturally is focused on retention and protection of heritage.

“The ARC sought to actively work with us to explore options for this area and we’re very pleased that they’ve done so,” said Mr Chapman.

The ARC has also indicated to the NZHPT its intention to retain as many of the wharf’s other heritage features as possible as part of the area’s redevelopment and the NZHPT looks forward to working with them further.

Contact:

Shelley Fry
National Manager, Communications and Marketing
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
tel:  04 470 8051 or  021 859 124
email sfry@historic.org.nz

 

Background information on Queen's Wharf

Today, people who see the interior of the sheds are struck by their potential for adaptive reuse. The larger of the two sheds is similar in size to a football field, and both buildings are in sound condition inside. The Sydney Blue Gum joists and decking, riveted metal frames, and original electric lifts add character to both buildings which are striking for their modern ‘industrial’ appearance. They have considerable potential to be successfully readapted for new use both inside and out.

The sheds are also the last link to a waterfront history that shaped Auckland, but which has all but disappeared. Visiting royalty, mountains of freight, and the comings and goings of thousands of travellers who have passed through its red gates – Queen’s Wharf’s heritage is linked with the 20th century.

Constructed between 1906 and 1913, the wharf was initially an extension of Queen Street. An earlier wharf allowed people to stroll while ships from around New Zealand and overseas were loaded and unloaded. After being rebuilt, Queen’s Wharf continued as the city’s primary gateway, and for much of the 20th Century was central to Auckland’s economic development.

Redevelopment coincided with profound change, including New Zealand’s emerging status as a Dominion. Other major public works like the Ferry Building, the Auckland Town Hall, the Central Post Office and Grafton Bridge were built at the same time, collectively reflecting progressive ideas, new technology and growing sense of national pride.  Queen’s Wharf was a backdrop to much of this change.

In 1913 more than 94,000 Aucklanders (of a population of just 113,000) flocked to Queen’s Wharf to visit HMS New Zealand – the ship presented to the Royal Navy by the New Zealand Government partly to mark its Dominion status – as part of a goodwill tour of the country before leaving for Britain and participating in several notable battles during World War I.

Queen’s Wharf was the formal reception place both when Prince Edward arrived as part of a tour of the British Empire to acknowledge the country’s war contribution, and for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York in 1927.

The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 meant Auckland was no longer the last port of call for ships coming from Europe, but one of the first stops as ships passed through this new international shipping link.

The Ruahine was one such ship. A regular visitor to Queen’s Wharf in the 1950s, she provided a regular passenger link to England, as well as freight capacity which included refrigerated cargo holds for meat and dairy products. The Ruahine and ships like her helped fuel New Zealand’s post-War boom.

The network of sheds on Queen’s Wharf served variously as a venue for the 1910 Agricultural and Pastoral show, an auditorium for the 200-voice Sheffield Choir who performed as part of the Musical Festival of the British Empire in 1911 and a dormitory for strike-breaking labour during the 1913 waterfront dispute.