PHOTO: St Gerard’s Church. WELLINGTON CITY HERITAGE

The Category 1 heritage-listed building in Mt Victoria was built in 1908.

According to STUFF in May 2021 a Wellington property developer says the city’s earthquake-prone St Gerard’s Church should be converted into a public facility such as a university building, and he is considering taking on the job.

The fate of the 113-year-old church and adjoining monastery overlooking Wellington Harbour remains up in the air, with its owners saying there are “no immediate plans” for the building beyond its final mass on Sunday.

The Category 1 heritage-listed building in Mt Victoria was built in 1908.

But Maurice Clark, an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit who is leading earthquake-strengthening work on the band rotunda in Oriental Bay, said he was eyeing up the restoration project.

“The most obvious commercial use is apartments, but I think the most suitable use for that building would be a public place such as a university building or library.”

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Clark is proprietor and managing director of McKee Fehl Constructors, which took on one of Wellington’s largest heritage strengthening projects in 2014 – the Old Public Trust Building on Lambton Quay.

He estimated upgrading the church and monastery would cost $20m, but described the church, an unreinforced masonry building, as a structural “nightmare”. The monastery is made from reinforced concrete.

The buildings are owned by the International Catholic Programme of Evangelisation (ICPE), which tried to raise $11 million to strengthen the building but then announced its closure.

THE MOST ICONIC BUILDING IN THE CITY !

73-75 Hawker Street, Mount Victoria, Wellington, Wellington

To be sold by tender (closes on 16 Mar)

Yes, it is true, this special heritage building is for sale. Most Wellingtonians will recognise St Gerard’s Church and Monastery from anywhere in the city. It holds a special place in our hearts and has been overseeing all of Wellington’s central city for over 100 years. Due to its prominent position as a visual landmark, St Gerard’s is on every Wellington postcard and photograph promoting our beautiful city.

The church and monastery buildings are the combined effort of two of Wellington’s most well-known architects, John Swan and Frederick de Jersey Clere, and although having been built just over two decades apart the balanced form and Gothic revival detailing hold together a powerful architectural composition. The site on which firstly the church and then the monastery was built has come to define the Mt Victoria and Oriental Parade area. With sweeping views from the northern part of the building overlooking all of Oriental Bay and through the harbour as far as Petone, the western aspect is even better with the outlook taking in every major city landmark including Clyde Quay, the waterfront, the whole CBD, the stadium and Victoria University. By both day and night this visual display is unmatched in Wellington.

Holding an important role in Wellington’s history this building is a Category one listed heritage site by New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

Remarkably both the church and monastery have changed little over the last one hundred years and retain some of the most stunning leadlight stained glass mosaics anywhere in New Zealand. There are so many beautiful interior features.

This will be your one and only chance to purchase not a building but a piece of Wellington’s history forever. Viewing is strictly by appointment only.

Tender closes 1pm 16th March 2023 at Tommy’s Real Estate, 209 Victoria Street, Te Aro, Wellington (no offers prior)

VIEW THE TRADE ME LISTING HERE