WHANGANUI DISTRICT HERITAGE INVENTORY Register Item No: 315 Type: Building Site: Pre-1900 Archaeological Interest Name: LADIES REST Location: 75 St Hill Street, Whanganui Legal Description: Pt Reserve H, Town of Wanganui Current Details: Owner: Whanganui District Council Occupier: The Women s Network Original Owner: Wanganui City Council Date: 1930 Architect/Designer: TH Battle Builder: Walpole & Patterson Status: District Plan Class: Class B Thematic Context: Cultural/Social/Civic Significance: Architectural, Cultural/Social Integrity: Substantially intact, especially exterior Photo Reference: WDC File Ref: Heritage/Inventory/C3 Date: 2007 See p4 for additional photograph(s) Ladies Rest Page 1 zxy232
History: Of the site: This appears to have been the Council yard and workshops until they moved to the municipal reserve near Heads Road Cemetery c1915 when the new cemetery at Aramoho was opened and the rest of the cemetery reserve on what is now the Ridgway Street extension was not required for cemetery purposes. The fenced yard and some of the buildings can be seen in a ML Lampe photograph taken from Cook s Gardens prior to 1926 and included in Memories of Old Wanganui, Vol 2. Of the building: The previous Ladies Rest was in Guyton Street, in Salek s Building, opened 21 September 1916 (or 1914) [No newspaper reference has as yet been found to confirm either of these dates.] Prior to this there was no public convenience for women in the town; apparently Wanganui was the first centre to provide public toilets for women with this first Ladies Rest (as quoted in Wanganui Chronicle 2 June 1930). The men s toilets were in Maria Place, below the street, until new conveniences were built in St Hill Street (in the 1940s). By 1924 the Mayor considered that there was a need for a better and more up-to-date ladies rest room. The St Hill Street site was mooted, being close to the Chess Club which was located below the Observatory on part of the current District Council Chambers site. Much of the land around Cook s Gardens was public reserve, in City Council hands, and was therefore available for municipal purposes. Although Wanganui had the country s first Ladies Rest in Guyton Street, by the 1920s purpose-built ladies rest rooms had been erected in many towns throughout New Zealand. By 1927, plans were progressing for the new Ladies Rest in Wanganui, expected to cost around 3,600. A money-raising campaign was to be launched, with a number of local organisations assisting: the Rotary Club, Victoria League, Women s Division of the Farmers Union, Wanganui Nursing League and the Women s Christian Temperance Union. However, this fundraising may not have proceeded as a City Council loan of 3,500 was agreed at the 1929 election and plans for the new building were then able to proceed in earnest. This was after several years of discussion, including differences of opinion regarding the location, as reported in The Wanganui Home Companion in May 1930. The architect was Thomas Battle, by now near the end of his prolific career; his fee was 180. The contractors were Walpole & Patterson (tender of 2,766 10s). Electric lighting was installed at a cost of 27 10s plus gas appliances for 55. Site work and drainage cost 200 and furnishings 250. The new building had rooms for the resident caretaker, Miss Leigh (who had also been in charge of the old Guyton Street rest rooms), as well as a lunch room, lounge, mothers room and conveniences which could also be accessed via a ramp from the street to enable prams to be taken into the building. The provision of a lunch room was an innovation. The Wanganui Home Companion noted that this room where girls may have their lunch especially on wet days when the park is out of the question, is a good idea and we think it will be much used by those girls who work in the City but live too far out to go home for lunch. There was a toilet room and bathroom so ladies arriving hot and dusty might, for a modest charge, freshen themselves up prior to setting out on their shopping tour. At the opening ceremony on 2 June 1930, Councillor Poynter commented that he hoped the rest rooms would be used by all classes, high and low, rich and poor. The architect, Thomas Battle, presented the Lady Mayoress, Mrs Rogers, with a gold key as a memento of the occasion prior to her formally opening the new facility. The Wanganui Home Companion described the Ladies Rest as a good building, well-designed and well constructed, a decided architectural and practical asset to Wanganui. The Wanganui Chronicle reporter considered it to be a building of which Wanganui may be justly proud when he visited just before the opening. It was hoped in 1930 that the building would serve the womenfolk of the City for many years to come, as indeed it has. It still operates as the Ladies Rest with the Women s Network based in the building to provide support for Wanganui women. In 1998 the Women s Network planned a children s playground at the rear of the building. Description: A single storey brick building with corrugated iron roof, the Ladies Rest has a classical-style entrance with tiled floor and a light above the doorway enhanced by the city s coat of arms and Wanganui City Council emblazoned around it. This is probably the only building in Wanganui where the City Council name is still in place, providing a reminder of a time when being a City was something to be proud of. The lighting of Ladies Rest Page 2 zxy232
the building was a feature when it was constructed, being consider exceptional by the Wanganui Chronicle reporter. Large windows facing northwest provide ample sunshine into the rooms designed to serve as the lunch room and lounge. The entrance and hall has 6ft high rimu panelling with plastered walls above; the parcels desk by the attendant s room is still in place and is a particular feature in the entry hall. The building retains all its interior architectural features, including original doors, with the rimu panelling being of particular importance. Condition: The toilets need refurbishing (but do retain their original doors); the rest of the building s public rooms are in good condition, especially the rimu panelling. Resources Consulted: Wanganui District Council Building file for 75 St Hill Street: Has Thomas Battle s blueprint plan of the building with all elevations, signed by Walpole & Patterson and WJ Rogers, Mayor and 1998 rear playground proposals by Southcombe McLean. Wanganui Borough Council Register of Building Permits, Archives Ref AAF 174:1 - no permit as yet identified. Wanganui Borough Council 1908 Insurance Assessment Plan: Does not show this part of St Hill Street. 1903 Wise s Directory: Corporation yard and workshops in this location. (Not listed in 1914 Wise s.) Wanganui Chronicle, 6 Aug 1924: Mayor quoted as saying there was a need for a better and more up-todate Ladies rest room. Site in St Hill Street near Chess Club suggested. Could cost 3000. Wanganui Herald, 23 Sept 1927 report on fundraising campaign to take place to raise 3,600 needed for new Ladies Rest. Wanganui Chronicle 19 March 1930 City Council meeting report: notes the contractor is making good progress with the Ladies Rest and arrangements for furnishings will need to be put in hand at an early date. Wanganui Chronicle, 2 June 1930 - The New Ladies Rest: Asset to Wanganui; to be opened today. Wanganui Chronicle, 3 June 1930 - Officially opened: New Ladies Rest: large attendance of public. The Wanganui Home Companion, May 1930 (Vol 1, No 4) a New Civic Necessity is opened. Includes architect s sketch and plan of building. (See page 5.) Information from Jill Sicely (nee Tasker) who recalls being taken frequently to the Ladies Rest by her mother when they came into town from Upokongaro on shopping expeditions, 2007. Comments on Significance: Architectural As a purpose-built Ladies Rest, this is a significant part of our architectural history. It was designed by Thomas Battle, one of Wanganui s best known architects of the period 1900-1930. The building retains an extremely high level of architectural integrity both inside and out and is therefore an excellent example of a Ladies Rest of the time. Cultural and Social The Ladies Rest is part of Wanganui s social history. It was designed for use by ladies coming into town, particularly in the days before universal car ownership, when a shopping trip with children could take up much of the day. Country ladies in particular needed somewhere to go while their men went to the Club (or the pub). In the 1930s young women needed somewhere to lunch, as they may not have been able to afford to go to a tea shop or take a tram ride back home in their lunch hour. The building is still used for its original purpose; not only does it provide public toilets for women but some older women still use the lounge at lunchtimes or as a place of rest while in town. Recommendations: List in District Plan. Ensure that any renovations respect the architectural features of the building. Date: July 2007 Research by: Wendy Pettigrew Ladies Rest Page 3 zxy232
Left: The parcels desk in the entrance hall with rimu panelling. Right: the front door from inside. The Lounge (now meeting room). The former Lunch Room (now office). City Council name and coat of arms above entrance. The front steps with Josefern tiles (as noted in plan). View of the building showing (left) entrance to toilets. Ladies Rest Page 4 zxy232
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