Date: 10 December 2013
Botanic Gardens Main Gates and Fence Glenmore Street
Image: Googlemaps 2013
Summary of heritage significance • The Botanic Gardens Main Gates are a particularly fine set of Victorian gates and are notable for the quality of their design, materials and workmanship. • These gates are primarily associated with the establishment of the Botanic Gardens which is an area of considerable historic, cultural, and heritage value. The Gardens are associated with a number of important and influential Wellingtonians and New Zealanders. In particular the gates are associated with J.G. MacKenzie the Director of Parks and Gardens who oversaw their construction. The Gates are also associated with the Hospital and the Hospital Board who owned them prior to their installation at the Gardens. • The Botanic Gardens Gates and Fence have an enduring social value as the main entrance to the Botanic Garden, an extremely popular public space in Wellington city. This connection remains today as the Gardens are well patronised throughout the year.
1 Date: 10 December 2013
District Plan: Map 17, reference 17 Legal Description: Pt Lot 1 DP 8530 Heritage Area: Wellington Botanic Gardens Heritage Area HPT Listed: Historic Area, reference 7573 Archaeological Site: Risk Unknown Other Names: - Key physical dates: c. 1878, alterations c.1925 Architect / Builder: City Engineer, Builder: Messrs Hickmott and Sons Former uses: Civic – gates and fence Current uses: Civic – gates and fence Earthquake Prone Status: Unknown at time of writing
Extent: Cityview GIS 2013
2 Date: 10 December 2013
1.0 Outline History
1.1 History1
The Founders’ entrance has always been the main entrance to the Wellington Botanic Garden, although it has not always been in the form that it is today.
The entrance was established as early at 1878, when Tinakori Road and Glenmore Street were little more than tracks. At this time the gates were made up of little more than a colonial style picket fence, and the brick and concrete posts, which had been painted white. Little change occurred in the early years of the fence and gates, but by the late 1910s a significant amount of renovation was being carried out around the main gardens, and it was decided that the old gates and fences should be replaced. In 1913 the Reserves Committee decided that the replacement gates should be similar to those found at Newtown Park, with brick piers and their construction cost was estimated to be £36. Nothing more happened until November of 1917, when the City Council received a complaint from the Wellington South Progressive Society stating that the entrance to the Botanic Garden discredited the city and demanded that it be improved. As a result of this a request was made for City Engineer to draw up new plans for the gates that would be similar in nature to those designed in 1913 by the Reserves Committee. Again the project did not go ahead, perhaps due to the increase in cost from the 1913 £36 to £505.
By 1920 J.G. MacKenzie had been made the Director of Parks and Gardens, and the installation of new gates and fences became part of his first large scale improvement of the garden. Tenders were called but unfortunately Council economising prevented further progression. When tenders were called again in 1924 MacKenzie was able to provide the Council with an incentive against cancelling the plans again. In November, the Hospital Board had offered for sale a set of iron gates, which he had purchased. On March 4th 1925 the tender of Messrs Hickmott and Sons was accepted for the construction of the brick piers.
These new gates were the first step in the creation of the frontage that remains there today. The brick bus/tram shelter was also constructed in 1925 by R.S. Anyon. By 1929 the ornamental brick wall had also been constructed.
In 1991 the main gates were renamed the ‘Founders’ Gates’ as part of the centennially celebrations of the Vesting Act. Plaques were erected recognising the Garden Board and the work that was put into establishing the gardens. The plaques were unveiled by descendants of James Hector and Thomas Mason. At the same time the Wellington City Council crest was placed on the main gates.
1.2 Timeline of modifications (original plans could not be found)
c. 1878 Construction of wooden gates and fence 1925 Construction of brick pillars and installation of wrought iron gates 1991 Addition of plaques
1.3 Ownership history
1891 Wellington City Council
1 History adapted from: Winsome Shepherd and Walter Cook, ‘The Botanic Garden Wellington: A New Zealand History 1840-1987’, (Wellington: Millwood Press, 1988), 263.
3 Date: 10 December 2013
1.4 Occupation history
Not assessed
1.5 Architect
City Engineer
2.0 Physical description
2.1 Architecture
The Botanic Gardens Main Gates are a particularly fine set of Victorian gates and are notable for the quality of their design, materials and workmanship.
2.2 Materials
• Brick • Cement render • Wrought iron
2.3 Setting
The Botanic Gardens Main Gates (Founders’ Gates) and Fence are the public face of the garden facing onto the approach from Tinakori Road and Glenmore Street. The gates lead to the main garden which is a Victorian formal garden featuring exotic trees and formal beddings. Also visible from the Main Gates is the Sound Shell and Joy Fountain.
4 Date: 10 December 2013
3.0 Sources
Shepherd, Winsome and Walter Cook. ‘The Botanic Garden Wellington: A New Zealand History 1840-1987’. Wellington: Millwood Press, 1988.
5 Date: 10 December 2013
Criteria for assessing cultural heritage significance
Cultural heritage values
Aesthetic Value: Architectural: Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?
The Botanic Gardens Main Gates are a particularly fine set of Victorian gates and are notable for the quality of their design, materials and workmanship.
Townscape: Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?
The Botanic Gardens main gates and fence are of townscape value as they are the key entrance to the Botanic Garden.
Group: Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?
Historic Value: Association: Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?
These gates are primarily associated with the establishment of the Botanic Gardens which is an area of considerable historic, cultural, and heritage value. The Gardens are associated with a number of important and influential Wellingtonians and New Zealanders. In particular the gates are associated with J.G. MacKenzie the Director of Parks and Gardens who oversaw their construction. The Gates are also associated with the Hospital and the Hospital Board who owned them prior to their installation at the Gardens.
Association: Is the item associated with an important historic event, theme, pattern, phase, or activity?
Scientific Value: Archaeological: Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?
The risk of accidental discovery is unknown, but as the Garden was established pre 1900, the site is included as an archaeological area under the HPA.
Educational: Does the item have educational value for what it can demonstrate about aspects of the past?
The Botanic Gardens Gates and Fence are a reminder of the infrastructure that is associated with the creation of a public space such as a botanic garden.
Technological: Does the item have technological value for its innovative or important construction methods or use of materials?
The gates have technological value as an example of wrought and cast iron work of a type that is no longer produced on a commercial scale in New Zealand.
6 Date: 10 December 2013
Social Value: Public esteem: Is the item held in high public esteem?
These gates are likely to be held in high public esteem for their contribution to social history and for the quality of their design and workmanship. They are the face of the Botanic Gardens and lead to the popular sound shell and main garden spaces.
Symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual: Does the item have symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual or other cultural value for the community who has used and continues to use it?
Identity/Sense of place/Continuity: Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?
The Botanic Gardens Gates and Fence contribute to the sense of place and continuity of the Botanic Gardens.
Sentiment/Connection: Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?
The Botanic Gardens Gates and Fence have an enduring social value as the main entrance to the Botanic Garden, an extremely popular public space in Wellington city. This connection remains today as the Gardens are well patronised throughout the year.
Level of cultural heritage significance Rare: Is the item rare, unique, unusual, seminal, influential, or outstanding?
The Botanic Gardens Gates and Fence have rarity value for the quality of their design, materials and workmanship.
Representative: Is the item a good example of the class it represents?
The gates and fence, as well as the associated bus stop, are excellent examples of brickwork and iron work dating from different periods of Wellington’s history.
Authentic: Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?
The gates and fence retain significant authenticity as they have had few modifications made. The addition of plaques in 1991 contributes well to the gates and fence by promoting their historic values.
Local/Regional/National/International Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?
The Botanic Gardens Gates and Fence are locally important as an element of the Botanic Gardens in Wellington. They are the official entrance to the garden and have considerable aesthetic, historic, educational, technical, and social values for the people who have, and continue to, use them. They also have rarity value, representative value, and a high level of authenticity.
7 Date: 10 December 2013
4.0 Appendix
Research checklist (desktop)
Source Y/N Comments 1995 Heritage Inventory 2001 Non-Residential heritage Inventory WCC Records – building file WCC Records – grant files (earthquake strengthening, enhancement of heritage values) Research notes from 2001 Non-Residential heritage Inventory Plan change? Heritage Area Report Heritage Area Spreadsheet Heritage items folder
(electronic) HPT website HPT files Conservation Plan Searched Heritage Library
(CAB 2)
Background research
Insert any relevant background information into this section. This may include: • Additional plans, such as those for alterations • Chunks of text from other sources such as Cyclopedia of NZ, Papers Past • Additional images
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