Public Trust Building

The Public Trust was established in 1872 to provide an honest agency for administering wills. It was the first public institution of its type worldwide.This exuberant Edwardian baroque building was built in 1909. It was designed by the government architect, John Campbell and had a riveted steel frame to help withstand earthquakes.

A Wellington classic. It is also believed to be New Zealand's first steel-framed office building. According to Te Ara, the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, the Trust Building is the only (surviving) building "made of a true New Zealand granite – from Tonga Bay in north-west Nelson. Over time this granite has been shown to be friable.

In 1975, a public campaign successfully saved the building from demolition. After the 2013 Seddon earthquake, the building's body corporate decided to sell the building to a party better placed to strengthen the building. In 2014, Wellington property developer and engineer Maurice Clark bought the building. He was labelled a "hero" for taking on one of Wellington's largest heritage strengthening projects.

The building is listed by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 1 historic building. When the building was first listed by Heritage New Zealand, the citation said that:

"This building is a superb example of a public and commercial building of the Edwardian period. Its corner site and powerful blend of architectural styles combine to create an outstanding piece of townscape. Chief Government Architect, John Campbell, was responsible for the design of this building which was erected in 1908. Historically the building's importance lies with its use as the Public Trust Office which when established in 1872 was the first of its type in the world."

The Wellington Architecture Centre describes the building as: "...possibly the most architecturally elaborate façade in the capital – if not the entire country, and is without doubt in my mind, Government Architect John Campbell’s finest work outside of his design for Parliament House. It is, literally, our nation’s crowning glory".

After earthquake strengthening with the inclusion of sheer walls and tensioning cables and a refit by Warren and Mahoney the Public Trust Building is now proudly occupied on its top floors by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. The ground floor is waiting a tenant.