NZ Visual Diary - entry 130
gabled home - Dilworth Terrace Parnell
This Victorian townhouse in the Dilworth Terrace neighbourhood of Parnell is a beautifully gabled architectural gem designed by the notable Kiwi architect Thomas Mahoney.
Of Mahoney the Heritage New Zealand agency1 writes:
Thomas Mahoney (1854/5?-1923) was the eldest son of Edward Mahoney, a leading Auckland architect. Thomas joined his father's firm, Edward Mahoney and Sons, in 1878 and was followed soon after by his younger brother Robert.
The firm was responsible for a wide range of designs including domestic buildings, commercial and public buildings, churches and hotels. They won a competition for the design of the Auckland Customhouse in 1888, and were also responsible for the design of The Pah (now Monte Cecilia Convent), Hillsborough (1887), the Elliot Street facade of Smith and Caughey's Building (1910) and Wrights Building, Auckland (1911).
Thomas was secretary of the Auckland Institute of Architects in 1885, president in 1883, and treasurer in 1902. In 1907 he was president of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. < https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/567 >
The Heritage New Zealand website2 also offers an informative narrative on Dilworth Terrace:
The terrace houses were designed for the relatively 'well off', and were large for the standards of the time. Many of the units were occupied by notable industrial and commercial persons of Auckland. For three years the noted photographer Henry Winkleman resided in No.5. From 1910-30 less affluent and non-professional persons acquired or lived in the houses. After World War II the premises became run-down, overcrowded and notorious. Some 300 persons are believed to have been crammed into the terrace at that time. In 1965 in the face of a threatened demolition order by the City Council, the buildings were renovated into 28 flats in order to reduce the total number of inhabitants. Since 1983 work has been continuing to return the terrace to eight quality dwellings.
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
This Edwardian terrace of houses is a fine example of a building type which is relatively uncommon in New Zealand. There was no shortage of land in the cities so detached housing was the most common form.
The design reflects the English tradition of siting houses on a rise with a main garden facade overlooking the view. Rows of multi-storey housing facing the sea were a feature of English coastal towns and generally were not found in the colonies.
Deliberate symmetry was a feature of the Queen Anne style. Georgian and Victorian terrace housing on the other hand generally consisted of repeats of one basic unit and its mirror image. Mahoney has used differently sized gables, and hence differently sized units to create variation within the row.
Terrace housing tended to have a similar form and plan layout. The main portion is generally two or three storeys. The single storey outhouses are back-to-back and form the backyards. The sloping site of the terraces, the private gardens overlooking St Georges Bay and the position of the right of way meant that the main entrances were through these yards.
The design elements such as two storey verandahs, tiled roof and varying gables were probably taken from drawings of designs of Queen Anne style villas in English periodicals such as the Building News.
TOWNSCAPE:
The houses are visually prominent, being sited on the cliff above the Stand and the railway yards. The houses look east over the harbour. This terrace of houses has a desired landmark quality when viewed from the waterfront. Dilworth Terrace affords a splendid streetscape.
https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/567 | Heritage New Zealand
ibid