Pollen House Moves Down The Hill - Perrett's Corner Wellington

Pollen House at the corner of Willis and Boulcott Streets.
Immediately behind the photographer lies Perrett's corner.
Wellington City Council Heritage site

Built in 1902, the Pollen House served as both home and surgery for Dr Henry Pollen a medical practitioner until his death in 1918.

Designed by architect Thomas Turnbull in a revivalist style, the Wellington City Council Heritage site describes the house as being:

"in a French Second Empire style which includes French Renaissance and Post-Renaissance decorative motifs, as well as elements of High Victorian Gothic. The building has no real equivalent in the Capital and the overall design is exceptional in its originality. The house is three stories high, with double-bay windows carried through two floors.... The Mansard roof, with a projecting turret, is another outstanding feature of the building, along with balconies on two levels."

"Stylistic links to Antrim House (1905) at 63 Boulcott Street are clear. Both were designed by Thomas Turnbull in the grand manner, employing French Renaissance motifs, turrets and Mansard roofs, and the imitation of stone elements in timber."

Originally located on a small triangular patch of land a few doors up the hill on Boulcott Street, in 1988 the house was moved down to the Willis Street - Boulcott Street corner, site of Victor Brownson's jewellry store in the 1930s, as part of the Majectic Tower Centre redevelopment. (See previous post for views of the construction site). While internal walls have been removed or relocated and other substantial internal alterations have been made, the dining room and 'best' bedroom remain relatively intact as spaces.

Today Pollen House serves as the premises for The General Practitioner, a restaurant and wine bar, with a street front patio which was populated with a lively lunchtime crowd when visited in January 2009.

After the Wrecking Ball Has Taken Its Toll - Majestic Theatre & Cabaret, Willis Street, Wellington 1988

Photo: William West. Circa 19 July 1988.

Dominion-Post collection, Alexander Turnbull Library

Gone But Not Forgotten - the Majestic Theatre and Cabaret have been leveled without a trace. The Hotel St George stands in the left background, surveying a wasteland while the beleaguered Pollen House stands alone behind the crane minus its arm.

Photo: John Nicholson. circa 3 August 1988.
Dominion-Post collection, Alexander Turnbull Library

Construction begins on the Majestic Centre complex, replacement to the art deco Majestic Theatre and Cabaret, Perrett's Corner is immediately behind the pile driver, the Hotel St George across the street to right, the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel on left corner has gone - demolished to make way for a low rise retail walk-through, while the Pollen House awaits its move.

Bearing the name only, the Majestic Centre, a $200 million office tower block, arises out of "the ashes". At 116 metres, it is currently Wellington's tallest building. At least the Preston building's facade (est. built 1910) is preserved. A small "at least".

The Majestic Centre. Photo taken 29 January 1991

Dominion-Post collection. Alexander Turnbull Library.