History
12 Tonks Ave HPT Investigations - 18 January 2005
This house was designed in 1905 for Kate Tonks, as shown by the date of the original drawings and specifications. The architect was JM Dawson, who established his practice, later to be the highly successful practice of King Cook and Dawson, in the same year. Two designs were submitted to the Council and it is possible that the other design was for 2 Tonks Avenue, which was demolished a number of years ago. The building contractor for number 12 Tonks Avenue was FF Came.
The Tonks family owned the house from 1905 to 1950. Kate's son, Walter, lived in 7 Tonks Grove from 1901 to 1906 when he lived in number 12. In 1977 the Wellington City Council purchased the property.
1890 is the first reference to Tonks Grove in the Wises Directory, followed in 1894 by the first listing of the Grove as an entity. In 1901 the house numbers for Tonks Avenue were listed in Wises for the first time.
This two-storey house is designed in the Edwardian Queen Anne style and constructed using a timber frame with rusticated weatherboard and intricate detailing. The entrance to the house is on the southern side which leads into a narrow hall off which were the main living area (the drawing room), and dining and kitchen spaces.
The upper floor had four bedrooms and a bathroom. The interior has been modified by the removal of the corridor wall to the dining and kitchen spaces on the ground floor. Most other spaces remain unmodified. Interior decorative elements which remain include a carved mantelpiece, pressed metal ceilings, and a "Swiftor County Council pattern" white porcelain toilet pan. The exterior has changed little other than for its deterioration.
12 Tonks Ave Relocation Preparation - 5 July 2005
Current Owner
Unlike any other relocated building within the bypass project, 12 Tonks Avenue is owned by Wellington City Council. The Council is paying for the relocation and restoration of this building.
New Location
20 metres north of its original position, to sit behind the existing Footscray Ave cottages, and beside the relocated 14 Kensington Street building. The building is part of the Kensington precinct, and fronts onto the northern side of the Bypass.
12 Tonks Ave Relocation Preparation - 8 July 2005
New Address
23 Kensington Street.
New Colours
Karaka
Nelson Red
Drab Brown
Deep Khaki
Fawn
Sienna
Construction Update
1 August 2005 – Relocated
October 2005 – Restoration commenced
June 2006 – Restoration completed
