This is the former Wellington Free Ambulance Building catching the late afternoon sun. The Wellington Free Ambulance service was founded in 1928 by Sir Charles Norwood, businessman, philanthropist and Mayor of Wellington 1925-27. It was the only free ambulance service in New Zealand.
This building was constructed in 1932 to the design by William Turnbull and the service used it until new premises were constructed in Thorndon in 1994.
Since then it has had a variety of uses and is now a bar.
Reference:
Art Deco Heritage Trail booklet, Wellington City Council 1996 (2nd Ed. 2005)
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Great building, both because the design and colours are sleek and elegant, and because everyone needs a free ambulance service. The inter-war period was often very progressive... surprisingly so!
ReplyDeleteI think that a lot of these organisations result from WWI where lots of people got involved in various endeavours to help soldiers at the front, returned soldiers, war widows and the war effort in general. In peace time this spirit was channelled to other charitable organisations.
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