Fire inks another chapter to building's 141-year story
Recalling the past of the building on the corner of Dee St and Spey St built in 1882 which has now been thrust into the headlines because of a fire.
At about 1am on Wednesday morning Fire Emergency New Zealand received multiple calls of a fire in central Invercargill.
Flames were flowing out of a multiple-storey building on the corner of Dee St and Spey St.
Of most concern were the six people treated by Hato Hone St John. Most were treated for smoke inhalation, but it’s been reported one person had suffered burns.
Our thoughts are with them.
The fire also prompted some particular interest from historians. The affected building on the corner of Dee St and Spey St has a rich history in the make up of Invercargill’s CBD. It dates back to 1881 when the building was designed.
In recent decades the building has been best known as the Briscoes Building or Pall Mall Arcade.
We have tapped into Invercargill historian David Dudfield, and Heritage New Zealand information, to delve back into the building’s origins.
Dudfield says a key point is that the building’s original ornate facade was designed by local architect Frederick Burwell.
Burwell’s work is well known to Invercargill folk. It includes the Dee St Hospital and The Crescent.
It was in 1881 when he designed the building on the corner of Dee St and Spey St.
It was designed for merchants Paisley and Company and opened in 1882.
Prior to the current building being built in 1882, Walter Guthrie and Company operated out of another building on the site on the corner of Dee St and Spey St.
At the time of the 1882 opening, The Southland Times wrote: “The erection of such building speaks well, not only for the energy and business courage the firm which is responsible for them, but also for the future development and progress of the town itself.”
William Paisley retired from business in August 1883. Walter Guthrie and Co. took over.
The 1882 signage on the building reflects the close relationship between the companies, with one face of the building identified as Guthrie and Larnachs and Co., while the other had ‘W. Paisley and Co.’
In 1901, Briscoe and Company purchased the warehouse at a price of £9500.
The Otago Daily Times correspondent considered that the sale spoke volumes for the ‘important future of Southland when so large a firm’ should purchase property in the district.
Briscoes was founded in Wolverhampton England in 1781, and became an international company. By the start of World War One the company had branches in London, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.
Briscoes occupied the building, with various retail tenancies, until around 1930.
Other tenants in the first half of the 20th century included painting teachers, watchmakers, drapers, picture framers, outfitters, dentists, architects, insurers, and nurserymen.
The building’s facade was renovated in the 1950s removing some of the Victorian elements.
In the 1970s the building was altered to accommodate a shopping mall - Pall Mall - and a restaurant.
The Hibiscus Restaurant and Beefeater Restaurant both operated there at some point.
In April 1982 there was a fire which damaged the roof and partitions and was fixed.
The building is now a tier-one heritage-listed building.
It is listed as having historical significance because: “high townscape and architectural values through its good quality, classical design aesthetic and association with prominent architect FW Burwell, and its prominent position on Dee and Spey Streets.”
TechnoFIX, Visualise tattooist, and BT Boxing & Fitness have all most recently operated out of the building. As do Snap Fitness.
Special thanks to David Dudfield for his help putting this piece together.
Great article - and thanks for all your mahi David :)