Steamship Wharf Building On The Move

13 May 2003

The Steamship Wharf building (formerly Greta Point Tavern) is finally set to get to its new home on the waterfront, adjacent to the Shed 5. 

The Resource Consent granted by the Wellington City Council in July last year was subsequently appealed by ‘Action for the Environment’ on a number of grounds. However, developers Steamship Wharf Ltd have mediated with the group. The outcome will see some minor alterations done to the building. 

One significant change is that the building will be clad in timber rather than corrugated iron as originally proposed.

“We are extremely pleased to have gotten over this final hurdle” says Simon Meikle of Steamship Wharf Ltd. “We can now get on with saving this fine old building and are looking forward to getting the relocation and construction programmes under way.”

Erected in the late 1800’s by the Union Steamship Company as one of a number of ‘marine warehouses and laundy’ adjacent to the Greta Point slipway, the building was operated as a restaurant/tavern from the early 1980’s, but faced demolition to make way for further residential developments at Greta Point.

When construction is completed the building will house function facilities and a number of dining establishments.

Work on preparing the new site to receive the building will get underway within the next month.

“This is fantastic news” says Fran Wilde, Chair of Wellington Waterfront Limited. “There has been tremendous progress on the waterfront of late, Chaffers Park looks set to get underway by the end of the year, as does the redevelopment of the Herd Street Post & Telegraph building, and plans for the remainder of the area north of Queens Wharf are progressing well.”

“Opportunities for family type dining have been somewhat limited on the waterfront, a niche that Steamship Wharf will fill. The building is also in keeping with the other historic buildings located in the North Queens Wharf area, and provides a great start to the development of this space,” added Ms Wilde.

The Steamship Wharf project is due to be completed by the end of this year.

Ends..