From the Resene News – issue 2/2007

Full steam - Northern Steamship building

Built in 1898 for use as offices by the Northern Steamship Company, one of the leading inland-shipping businesses in northern New Zealand at the time, this Historic Places Trust Category 1 building is an important piece of Auckland's history.

Situated in a prime position between the wharves and the 1880s railway station, the original building was two storeys with an ornate facade seaward side emblazoned with the company name, with a third storey added in 1920 as the business prospered. Internal alterations followed as the company declined post-war and offices were let, until the company finally closed in the 1970s.

The Northern Steamship Company came about as an amalgamation of firms in 1881 running freight and passenger services in the Upper North Island, vital for the early industries such as kauri, timber and farming, later extending these nationwide.

Situated in Quay Street, Auckland, this heritage building required an extensive interior and exterior repaint to provide protection against the elements. Exterior timber details, windows, sashes and sills were cleaned with care then treated with Resene TimberLock preserver/conditioner to lock in loose fibres, before priming in Resene Wood Primer and topcoating in Resene Super Gloss enamel in a palette of Resene Nikau (deep green) on windows, Resene Half Tapa (urban grey) on sashes and Resene Half Masala (greyed brown) on sills.

The aged interior painted plaster render over brick walls and mouldings was cleaned then primed with Resene Concrete Primer and finished in two coats of Resene X-200 waterproofing membrane and Resene Zylone Sheen low sheen acrylic. Hues of Resene Donkey Brown (mid brown) on arches and walls, Resene Tuna (dignified grey) on sills and Resene Eighth Castle Rock (smoky neutral) on mouldings grace the interior and work sympathetically with the rough brick. With a wealth of history to preserve, fire ratings were a key consideration in product selection to minimise the risk of harm to the structure and its inhabitants.

Now home to an eclectic mix of tenants, the Northern Steamship building is part of the hum of the modern city.

Architect: Cheshire Architects
Painting Contractor: Auckland Property Restoration Ltd
Resene: Kane Walmsley, Architectural Sales Representative; Duane Thompson, Trade Sales Representative; Rob Mountford, Central Auckland Branch Manager

 
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