5 December 2003

The former Wellington Free Ambulance Building is set to get a new lease of life, with Wellington Waterfront Ltd announcing that it has awarded a development contract to Willis Bond & Co Ltd (Willis Bond) to restore and refurbish the building, which will eventually house offices on its upper levels, and a combination of cafés, bars and restaurants on the ground floor. 

“This important heritage building sits on one of the most prominent sites in Wellington, with exposure to high volumes of passing traffic and excellent views of across the waterfront and back into the city” says Fran Wilde, Executive Chair of Wellington Waterfront Ltd.  “Coupled with the further significant public space enhancements to be carried out in the surrounding area, this restoration will bring Wellington a significant step closer to having a truly exceptional waterfront in which to live, work and play.”

Willis Bond also carried out the highly successful redevelopment of Shed 22 into the Wellington Brewery and is currently underway with work on the adjoining Odlin Building.

Mark McGuinness, Director of Willis Bond, says the successful redevelopment of these three significant heritage buildings will greatly improve the overall look of the area.

Willis Bond will now carry out detailed design planning before applying for resource consent. Once granted, construction is expected to take place in conjunction with the work currently underway in the Odlin Building.

The building, of a distinctive Art Deco style, was designed by architect William Turnbull and was constructed in 1932-33 where it served the original purpose of its design for more than 60 years – to house the operations for the Wellington Free Ambulance Service. Since the Service moved to new premises, the building has had a somewhat more chequered history being home to a gymnasium, a bar and more latterly, a theatre space.