Old Government Buildings, Wellington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Government Buildings |
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Government Buildings
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The Old Government Buildings seen from the front right
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neo-Renaissance |
| Location | 15 Lambton Quay, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 41°16′46″S 174°46′41″E / 41.279484°S 174.777975°E |
| Current tenants | Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Law |
| Construction started | 1875 |
| Completed | 1876 |
| Landlord | Department of Conservation |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Clayton |
| Designated: | 2 July 1982 |
| Reference #: | 37 |
The Old Government Buildings are a very important landmark in Wellington, New Zealand. They were finished in 1876. For a long time, they were the second-largest wooden building in the world! Only a huge temple in Japan was bigger.
This impressive building was first made for New Zealand's government workers, also known as the public service. Today, it is home to the Victoria University of Wellington's Law School. The building is considered a "Category I" historic place by Heritage New Zealand. This means it has very special historical or cultural value.
Contents
Building History
How the Building Was Made
The idea for the Old Government Buildings started in the early 1870s. The government at the time wanted a big building for its growing public service. They first thought about building it with concrete and wood. But concrete was too expensive back then. So, they decided to build it only with wood.
The building's style is called Neo-Renaissance. This style usually uses stone, like old Italian palaces. So, the wooden building was designed to look like it was made of strong stone. This was meant to show how strong and stable the new government was.
The wood used was native kauri timber. This type of wood is now protected, so you can't get it anymore. It's a good thing the building was made of wood! If it had been stone, it might not have survived the earthquakes that often happen in Wellington. The main architect was William Clayton. The building took 22 months to build and cost £39,000. When it opened in 1876, it was the biggest building in New Zealand. It was built on land that was reclaimed from the sea.
Building Changes and Fixes
Over the years, the building was made bigger in 1897 and again in 1907. More parts were added to its sides. Inside, new walls and paint covered up the original look.
After the Education Department moved out, the building was carefully restored. This big restoration project happened mostly from 1994 to 1996. Many original parts were put back or copied. For example, fireplaces were restored, but now they are just for decoration. The old wooden support piles under the building were replaced with strong concrete ones.
More than 500 cubic metres of recycled kauri wood were used during the restoration. This helped to match the original timber. Old verandas, radiators, the original clock, and grand staircases were all fixed up. The building's main wooden frame is made of Tasmanian hardwood. The outside walls and floors are kauri wood.
No Smoking Rule
Because people were worried about fire, workers were not allowed to smoke inside the building. This made it the first building in the world to have a no-smoking rule!
How the Building Was Used
The Old Government Buildings were a big symbol for New Zealand. They were finished in the same month that local governments ended, and the main government took full control. At first, all the government workers in Wellington were in this building. Even the New Zealand Cabinet, which is a group of top government ministers, met there.
But the government grew very quickly. Soon, the building became too small. Departments started moving out shortly after it opened. By 1975, only the Education Department was left. By 1990, the building was completely empty.
After being used by the government for 114 years, money was given to restore the building. The Department of Conservation took charge of the restoration in 1994. The goal was to make the building look like it did in 1907. The project took two years and cost $25 million.
The building officially reopened in January 1996. The Law Faculty of Victoria University of Wellington signed a 50-year agreement to use the building. The restoration of the Old Government Buildings is seen as a very important project for saving New Zealand's history.
Visiting the Building
The building reopened in January 1996. You can visit the grounds, which have examples of rare native New Zealand plants. You can also see displays on the ground floor and the old Cabinet room on the first floor. The rest of the building is used by the Victoria University School of Law.
