Chez Nicolet History
Chez Nicolet is a townhouse within a 400sqm 1905 house built in one of the earliest suburbs of Wellington. The development retained the original character of the house with 4 townhouses being constructed vertically to keep the original fireplaces, doors, and windows. Each townhouse had internal staircases installed for access to the bedrooms, external courtyards were added for private entrances, and a conservatory was added for Chez Nicolet.
Historical values
The property was built for Esq. J.G. Stott and was known as Hunter House. The original attic staircase has been kept and this leads to the flat area of the roof where the flag used to be flown for incoming ships to Wellington harbour.
Architects - Crichton and McKay
Crichton and McKay is one of Wellington’s oldest and most enduring practices. It was formed by William Crichton and James McKay in 1901; became Crichton, McKay and Haughton in 1923; Haughton, Son and Mair until at least 1956 and is now known as Bulleyment Fortune Architects Ltd.
William Crichton (1862-1928) was born in Cornwall and studied architecture under James Hicks of Redruth. He came to New Zealand on the ‘Chile’ in 1879 and was appointed to the staff of the Colonial Architect. After twelve years he set up his own practice. He was, for a time, secretary to the Association of Architects in Wellington, and he took an active part in the formation of the NZ Institute of Architects, being Honorary Secretary, Branch Chairman, Vice President and finally president in 1922-23. In 1891 he won the competition for the design of the Wellington Municipal Library and in 1901 he won second prize for the Wellington Town Hall. In 1901 he formed the firm of Crichton and McKay in partnership with James Hector McKay (c.1866 – 1944).
James McKay was born in Scotland and moved to Australia in c.1884 where he practiced as an architect until the early 1890s. He moved to Wellington by 1896 and formed a partnership with Rob Roy McGregor from 1898 to 1901 which produced over 40 houses, a few commercial buildings, and the fine timber Italianate St James’ Church in Newtown. The partnership of Crichton and McKay was similarly prolific, and notable examples of its work include the Bank of New South Wales, the Bank of Australasia (now ANZ) in Hunter Street and Customhouse Quay, the Dominion (newspaper) Building and many of the later buildings at Wellington Hospital.
Click here for the architects’ plans (dated 08.02.1905): Architects plans 1905
Click here for the architects’ specifications for materials and workmanship: Architects specifications
Photographs of the property when purchased in 1982
