Excelsior
Originally one of four large warehouses in the block between Commerce and Gore Streets. Built around 1885 for Brown Barrett & Co, tea, coffee and spice merchants who eventually moved to the Masonic Building.
The building housed a variety of uses from kauri gum merchants, an early branch of the Old Age Pensions Office, the New Women’s Club, grill rooms and cafes. Annabella Geddes inherited the leases of the block on the death of her husband, John McKail Geddes.
Kempthorne, Prosser & Co were the first tenants on the eastern side of Excelsior. J. Wiseman & sons, saddlery, moved to the building in 1908 along with Arthur Cleave & Co, printers. The Great Northern Brewery Ltd also had its wine and spirit cellars in Excelsior while their main brewery operated in Khyber Pass Road.
In 1933 the building was cut in half to enable the widening of Commerce Street, which was then a main access to the old railway station.
Current use
This building is vacant and will not be leased until after its restoration.
This building will be restored as part of the redevelopment of the Britomart Precinct.
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