Hokitika Savings Bank building

Former bank building in New Zealand

Hokitika Savings Bank building

Hokitika Savings Bank building in 2020

General information
Type| Bank
Architectural style| Neoclassical
Address| 10 Hamilton Street
Town or city| Hokitika
Country| New Zealand
Coordinates| 42°43′5.28″S 170°57′40.07″E﻿ / ﻿42.7181333°S 170.9611306°E﻿ / -42.7181333; 170.9611306
Opened| 1927
Cost| £3,106
Technical details
Material| Plastered brick

Heritage New Zealand – Category 2

Designated| 21 September 1989
Reference no.| 5051

The Hokitika Savings Bank building is a former bank building in Hokitika, on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Completed in 1927, the building was granted historic place category 2 status by Heritage New Zealand in 1989.

## Context

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The Hokitika Savings Bank was established in 1866, during the West Coast gold rush, under the auspices of the Savings Bank Act 1858. Its first premises were in an old courthouse in Revell Street, Hokitika, but in 1880 the bank moved to a new wood and iron building in Hamilton Street.[1] In May 1925, the trustees of the bank agreed to erect a new brick and concrete building on the existing site in Hamilton Street, to mark the bank's 60th jubilee in 1926,[2] and draft plans were approved the following month.[3]

## Construction and architecture

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Construction of the new building on the existing site and an adjoining section commenced in February 1926,[4][5] and was completed in early 1927,[6][7] at a cost £3,106.[8] During construction, the bank operated from temporary premises further along Hamilton Street, opposite Addison's store.[4] Barrister and solicitor, and future mayor of Hokitika, Albert Elcock began operating his practice from the new building in January 1927,[6] the Hokitika Savings Bank began trading from there the following month, on 17 February,[7] and the bank trustees held their first meeting there on 15 March.[9]

Designed in a stripped classical style and constructed of plastered brick, the Hokitika Savings Bank building presents street facades to Hamilton Street and Perry Lane on its southern and western elevations, with the main entrance on an angled facade at the corner, and a secondary entrance on the southern facade. The entrances and three bays of casement windows on the street facades are framed by simplified classical pilasters, and the building's parapet is topped by a cornice with supporting dentils. A mansard roof is clad with corrugated steel.[10]

## Current status

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The building was occupied by the Hokitika Savings Bank until 1964, when they moved to new premises in Revell Street. At that time, the building was purchased by legal firm Elcock and Johnston, who refurbished building in 1980, adding a second storey within the mansard roof space. In 1989, the former Hokitika Savings Bank building received historic place category 2 classification by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now Heritage New Zealand).[10]

In 2020, the building was purchased by Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, who intend to use it for their offices once earthquake strengthening has been completed.[11][12]

## Notes

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1. ^ Cyclopedia of New Zealand 1906, p. 508.
2. ^ Hokitika Guardian 1925a.
3. ^ Hokitika Guardian 1925b.
4. ^ a b Hokitika Guardian 1926a.
5. ^ Hokitika Guardian 1926b.
6. ^ a b Hokitika Guardian 1927a.
7. ^ a b Hokitika Guardian 1927b.
8. ^ Hokitika Guardian 1927d.
9. ^ Hokitika Guardian 1927c.
10. ^ a b Burgess 2015.
11. ^ West Coast New Zealand History 2020.
12. ^ Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio 2020, pp. 30–31.

## References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hokitika Savings Bank Building.

* Burgess, Robyn (8 April 2015). "Hokitika Savings Bank building (former)". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
* "Hokitika Savings Bank". Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts). Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company. 1906.
* "Untitled". Hokitika Guardian. 9 May 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
* "Untitled". Hokitika Guardian. 1 July 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
* "Late locals". Hokitika Guardian. 22 January 1926. p. 3. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
* "Untitled". Hokitika Guardian. 8 February 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
* "Untitled". Hokitika Guardian. 4 January 1927. p. 2. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
* "Late locals". Hokitika Guardian. 16 February 1927. p. 3. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
* "Hokitika Savings Bank". Hokitika Guardian. 16 March 1927. p. 1. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
* "Gratifying progress". Hokitika Guardian. 20 April 1927. p. 2. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
* "Annual report" (PDF). Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio. 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
* "Former Hokitika Savings Bank". West Coast New Zealand History. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.