Many people are fascinated by old buildings, and all old buildings have a history: but to be of historic interest to a community they must have been associated with events or persons of historic importance, or have architectural significance either as an example of a particular period or as a work of art.
In the first case, the building is an illustration or visual setting of the historic event or person, such as, the Treaty House at Waitangi or Bishop Selwyn's home at Waimate North. In the second case, it illustrates a way of life at a particular time and place, depicting not only a mode of living or working but also notions of art and knowledge of technology. For example, an inspection of a Maori pa at Rotorua or elsewhere gives a vivid picture of the life of the Maoris before the European settlement, their methods of building, and their artistic expression in carving, painting, and weaving.
There are few examples of great works of art, as masterpieces of design are not common, but it is a fact that notwithstanding the mannerisms of design prevalent at different times, rare examples stand out as great works of architecture, seemingly achieving the fundamental content of beauty, irrespective of their stylistic character, which gives them an intrinsic value to man in all ages. Some of the lovely European cathedrals of the Middle Ages may be cited, and in our own country, Dunedin's “First Church” is a building which is revered for its beauty irrespective of its age.
This analysis of the “content” of “historic interest” gives a basis of study; but actual examples are more complex because they usually combine in some measure the respective considerations. For example, the Treaty House at Waitangi, already mentioned, is important not only because it is part of the visual setting for a momentous event in New Zealand's history, but also as an illustration of an official residence of the very early period of the European settlement: a function it had performed for some seven years before the signing of the famous treaty. It is, in fact, one of the best examples in the country of colonial Georgian architecture.
The European history of New Zealand is very short when measured in terms of time, but it has been a momentous period in the history of the human race. It encompassed the “industrial revolution” which changed completely the social pattern from a rural to an urban one, and it witnessed the birth of the scientific age which has revolutionised transportation and the manner of living. In this short span of 120 years New Zeland has developed from a primitive distant colony into a nation in its own right. It is, in fact, the product of this revolutionary period, and the record of its progress in terms of historic buildings assumes an importance quite disproportionate to their age. Fortunately public interest has grown rapidly in recent years, stimulated, no doubt, by the late Lord Bledisloe's gift to the nation of the Waitangi estate and by the centennial celebrations of many districts. The State has established a National Historic Places Trust which is actively recording, marking, or preserving sites and buildings of national importance. Many local authorities, aided by private societies, are preserving the visual record of their own districts, and some private owners of historic buildings are preserving them with or without national or local body aid.
The historical events associated with the establishment of British sovereignty in New Zealand occurred in the Bay of Islands and its adjacent districts. Captain Cook landed there in 1769; it was the site of the first mission stations, the first civil town, and the first national capital and administrative centre. Fortunately, from a historical point of view, many of the buildings associated with these events still survive, and selected examples are being preserved as part of the national record. Their survival is due to the early movement of the centre of government to the south, where other settlements were being established in areas now occupied by the country's largest cities. For 100 years or more, the Bay of Islands area remained remote, almost forgotten by districts engrossed in commercial and industrial expansion. Consequently the Bay of Islands escaped the inevitable destruction of early historic buildings which occurred in rapidly developing city areas. But today the district is changing rapidly. In recent years communications have been greatly improved and large areas of rural land have been brought into production. The sporting and holiday attractions have increased in popularity and the towns together with their associated industries are growing larger.
It is fortunate that the local residents are keenly interested in preserving their early buildings of historic interest. At Kerikeri, New Zealand's oldest extant house is still occupied and zealously preserved by descendants of James Kemp who accompanied Samuel Marsden in 1819 to found the mission station of which the house is a part. Close by is the “Stone Store” erected in 1833 for the mission: it was built of Sydney sandstone to withstand fire and hostile attack. In the troubled days of the 1840s, Bishop Selwyn kept his library in an upstairs room for safety and quite cheerfully walked the 10 miles from his Waimate residence to consult it.
Lord Bledisloe's gift of the Waitangi estate, already referred to, is probably the most important historic place in New Zealand because it is the site of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi–an agreement which established the basis of the understanding and mutual respect between Maoris and Europeans which this country now enjoys.
In the township of Russell the Government bought and restored “Pompallier House”, built in 1842 by the first Roman Catholic Bishop and used as a rest home for priests. It played an important part in the exciting events of the forties when Hone Heke cut down the flagstaff and burnt most of the town. At Waimate North the National Historic Places Trust has purchased the “Mission House” which was built in 1834 as part of the first inland mission station founded by Samuel Marsden in 1830. From 1842 to 1844 it was the home of George Selwyn, the first Anglican Bishop, and, in association with the adjacent church, it formed the first Anglican Cathedral centre. It was here the famous Bishop founded St. John's College, now located in Auckland It had political importance, too, because it was visited by many famous people and was used as the venue of political and ecclesiastical conferences. Both Pompallier House and the Waimate Mission House are excellent examples of early colonial architecture but they differ fundamentally in construction. The former was built of rammed earth technically known as “pise de terre”, a variation of the cob construction used in Canterbury and Otago. The latter followed the more usual timber construction planned symmetrically about a central stairhall. Both were surrounded by lovely trees and gardens which have in large measure been preserved.
The township of Russell has many relics of its early history. Originally called Kororareka, it adopted the name of New Zealand's first capital city when the site for it at nearby Okiato was abandoned. Kororareka was founded many years before official colonisation began, and in those days was a wild undisciplined centre for whaling and island trading. New Zealand's first bank building still stands on the waterfront but must soon disappear as the town develops. More enduring is Christ Church, the oldest church in the Dominion. Governor Hobson read his proclamation of appointment in this church in 1840. It was unmolested during the Maori war except for some accidental bullet holes which are still to be seen. Throughout the countryside, many private houses associated with early history still exist. At Pakaraka the residence of the Rev. Henry Williams still stands; at a rather inaccessible place by the Hokianga harbour, Judge Maning's home is still occupied, and near Opononi the house of Captain Martin, the first harbour master of Hokianga harbour, is inhabited and preserved by one of his descendants.
The Bay of Islands and its environs is today a unique repository of early buildings of historic interest; many of them must disappear in the course of time, but it is gratifying to record the national and local interest in preserving outstanding examples.
The older districts in other parts of the Dominion also have early buildings of historic interest, but unlike the Bay of Islands, are unable to present a comprehensive picture of early history due to their steady and progressive development, and their preoccupation with local progress. This is most marked in the larger cities which can rarely retain many old buildings on their original sites in the face of commercial and industrial expansion. A graphic example is Sir John Logan Campbell's cottage, which was removed from its original site in Shortland Street, Auckland, to One Tree Hill Domain, where it stands today looking rather lonely and forlorn.
Some buildings, more pretentious and important socially than the cottages of artisans, can continue to serve their original or related functions, notwithstanding changes in the city pattern. Public buildings, and particularly churches often survive for many years, because their purpose remains constant. But even in this case, their usefulness declines as places of worship when congregations move away, or are otherwise provided for. In Wellington, the beautiful and historic Cathedral Church of St. Paul was threatened with demolition on the completion of the new Cathedral. Nevertheless, when public opinion is stirred by fine architecture associated with historic events, protection and use can usually be achieved.
Most of the Dominion's public buildings of a permanent character belong to a later period of its history than that covered by this essay, but mention may be made of the old Provincial Council Chambers in Christchurch as an example of a building preserved for its architectural and historic interest long after its original function has ceased to exist; and in Auckland the lovely Bishop's Court, built by Bishop Selwyn, is protected as an “historic place” although it no longer serves its original purpose. In the smaller centres, such as New Plymouth, Wanganui, and Nelson, there are early buildings, mostly of local significance, and in the Otago province the preservation of Arrowtown illustrates the gold mining period which has national as well as local historic importance.
At Tauranga another mission building has been preserved by the descendants of its founder, Archdeacon Brown. Built in 1847, the house is another good example of early colonial architecture, particularly the main front with its tall french windows. Inside there is a lovely curved staircase which, unfortunately, has no architectural justification as it leads only to a roof storage space. Still standing are some of the ancillary buildings–the outside kitchen and storerooms, and the famous little library built in 1844. The building is an integral part of the history of the Church Mission Society , but it has political interest too, because of its association with the Maori Wars of the eighteen sixties, especially the battle of Gate Pa.
The emphasis in this essay has been given to the district where the earliest European settlements took place not only because the earliest buildings of historic interest were erected there, but also for their association with events of great importance to the nation's foundation. The interest of local people in the preservation of these buildings is not unexpected, but it is abundantly clear at the present time that New Zealanders everywhere, whether living in the largest cities or the smallest towns, are not unappreciative of the educational value of preserving early buildings of historic interest.
by Cyril Roy Knight, M.A., B.ARCH. (LIVERPOOL), F.R.I.B.A., F.R.S.A., F.N.Z.I.A., Professor Emeritus, University of Auckland.