tauranga cbd heritage study draft record form - Tauranga City Council

Construction
HISTORIC QUALITIES
Historic Pattern
Built by Tauranga builder Karl Johanson in 1933. The Johanson family appear to have arrived in Tauranga
in 1910. Karl Johanson was responsible for also building, within the central business district, the Royal
Arcade (66­68 Devonport Road) and the building at 136 Willow Street.In 1931, Johanson purchased the
site in a mortagee sale, and built the block next to his previously­built (1923) Royal Arcade. The Northern
Star Building remained in Johanson family possession at least until the 1950s.
The first businesses in Tauranga were established along The Strand and Wharf Street. Devonport Road
initially contained a mix of residential and small scaled business premises, with the businesses mostly
clustered at the junction with Spring Street and The Strand. This gradually changed, with residential
dwellings disappearing from the town centre.The population of Tauranga was relatively small, reaching
3000 by around 1930 and growng to approximately 4000 by 1940. Up until the early 1930s Devonport Road
contained a mix of functions including blacksmiths, grocers stores, confectioners, tearooms, private hotels,
houses, bakers, iron mongers and even the gas works which was located on a site between Devonport
Road and Grey Street.
A significant period of development occurred in the 1930s when a number of new conmercial buildings
were built at the lower part of Devonport Road, and a number of early timber buildings on The Strand were
replaced by masonry buildings. The construction of the new Post Office building on the corner of Grey
Street and Spring Street in 1938 is further evidence of the consolidation of the centre at this time.The
Northern Star building dating from c 1930 forms part of this period of development in central Tauranga,
which makes an important contribution to the established built streetscape character of the CBD.
Associative Value
SCIENTIFIC QUALITIES
Information/Potential Research
TECHNOLOGICAL QUALITIES
Technical Achievement
CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUE
Sentiment
Identity
The building has formed part of the streetscape in Devonport Road for for approximately eighty years and
contributes to the established streetscape character evident in this part of central Tauranga.
Amenity
Education
INTEGRITY / CURRENT CONDITION
The building appears in reasonable condition, although exterior paintwork appears deteriorated on left side
of facade. Some of the original timber windows remain at the upper level. Four have been replaced at
some stge with aluminium joinery. The shopfrionts have all been modified.
REFERENCE SOURCES
SA 514/95 & 632/136, LINZ records; Plan No. 1570­58­1, Tauranga City Council records;
LAND INFORMATION
PHOTOGRAPHS (HISTORICAL)
insert photo
PREPARED BY:
Matthews & Matthews Architects Ltd, Jennie Gainsford and Lisa Truttman.
FOR:
TAURANGA DISTRICT COUNCIL AND ENVIRONMENT BAY OF PLENTY
DATE OF SURVEY
2007
PHOTOGRAPHED:
Matthews & Matthews Architects Ltd