Originally the Wellington City Library, this elegant Stripped Classical building, completed in 1939, was the result of a collaboration between the Auckland partnership of Gummer and Ford, and New Plymouth architects Messenger Taylor and Wolfe, after a competition was held to decide a winning design. The latter firm’s exterior design was chosen.
In 1990–2 the new Wellington Public Library was built on Victoria Street and its predecessor was successfully converted into the City Art Gallery, as part of the overall conversion of the eastern half of Mercer Street into Civic Square.
Image references: Alexander Turnbull Library 488351/4 and ATL F159111/1