Stanbeth House

Built in 1885 for Coupland & Co, produce merchants and designed by John Blaikie.  One of four large warehouses situated in the block between Commerce Street and Gore Street.

The Coupland family established a grain and produce business in 1862, and after successfully running the business for 10 years James Coupland retired to Ponsonby.  The leases were transferred to Herman Brown and John McKail Geddes.  The building was occupied by a variety of tenants including Edward Morton, kauri gum merchant.  Mr Morton patented an “automatic fire escape and lowering machine” in which various people descended from the fourth story in a rather flimsy looking cage.  

H.C furness & Co warehouse, leased the building until the 1970’s.

It seems likely that the name Stanbeth House came from the middle names of the new leaseholders William Stanley McConnell and Nancy Elizabeth McConnell.

DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
The launching of three new ground-floor hospitality businesses will see the entire Customs Street East frontage of the precinct activated at street level, with a mix of fashion, designer homewares and hospitality businesses. The refurbishment of the upper levels of the Stanbeth and Excelsior buildings as boutique office space is also approaching completion, with the entire development due for official opening in November.

The commercial space in both buildings is fully leased and tenants will begin moving in from September. Businesses taking up residence include award-winning advertising and design agency Shine, a law firm relocating from Shortland Street, travel industry online product and service developer iMall Brands and ‘high-energy business hub’ Generator, who will offer boutique office space in the development for short-term rent.