Wellington 100 years ago

Those who regularly visit our main website will know that the photos we put on the entry page reflect themes in our books.

This one, a coloured postcard, features an electric tram and the wooden Government Buildings on Lambton Quay dating from 1876. The claim of the World's largest wooden building was incorrect, however, as it was and is the World's second largest wooden building after Tōdai-ji in Japan. Like many colonial buildings of the 19th century, it was built to resemble an Italian stone palace in an attempt to convey strength and stability in the expanding empire.

The imaginative use of native kauri timber could never be replicated in any present day building because New Zealand's remaining kauri forests are under permanent protection. Kauri is recognised for its strength and resilience, as well as beauty. When polished, the honey-coloured grain radiates a warm, satin-like glow. Because of concerns about the threat of fire, workers were not allowed to smoke inside, making it the first building in the world to have a smoke-free policy

In 1990, in a rather run-down state, the Government Buildings ceased its role as the workplace of public servants. The government approved funding for a major restoration project, to be managed by the Department of Conservation, and the official reopening took place in 1996. During the restoration, over 500 cubic metres of recycled kauri was sourced for the old-school craftsmen who painstakingly recreated the building's original splendour.

Today, there is public access to the grounds, which feature gardens containing examples of New Zealand's flora, including many rare species. Inside the Government Buildings, visitors may view historical displays and interpretation rooms on the ground floor, and the Cabinet Room on the first floor. The remainder of the building is leased to the Victoria University School of Law. There is also a Department of Conservation Information Centre, which is open to the public 9 am to 4.30 pm weekdays and 10 am to 3 pm Saturdays.