Heritage

Bay of Islands Pompallier Mission

Location

The Strand, Russell, Bay of Islands

Client

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Date

1994–2012

The Pompallier printery, tannery and book bindery is the last remaining building of others in the compound constructed by the founding French Catholic Mission for the entire western Pacific and is also the oldest surviving industrial building in New Zealand.

Conservation
Materials
Museums

Constructed in 1841-2 its primary use was as printing house, but it also contained a tannery producing leather for book-binding. The French missionaries used the rammed earth construction method common in their original home of Lyon. Earth was dug on site and supplemented with sand and rocks from the nearby beaches with the lime made by burning shells. The upper floor was constructed with earth supported by timber frames.

In 1850, the mission relocated its headquarters to Auckland and subsequent owners progressively altered the original building by converting it to a house. The Government purchased it in 1941 and the Ministry of Works undertook the first restoration to back to what was (incorrectly) considered to be Bishop Pompallier’s House. The thus restored building was opened as a public monument in the late 1940s.

A second more exacting restoration was undertaken in the 1990s by the (then) New Zealand Historic Places Trust with the guidance of Jeremy Salmond, based on detailed historical research and painstaking investigation of the physical fabric. Controversially, at the time, later additions to which the public had become accustomed were stripped away to reveal the original printery.

Jeremy Salmond’s ground-breaking work and faithful restoration of the building was award winning and established a new benchmark in conservation practice in NZ. This work continues today some 25 years on in the offices of Salmond Reed Architects.

Pompallier Mission 01
Pompallier Mission 02

More projects

Since 1998, Salmond Reed Architects has been actively involved in the quest to ensure that the main structure of Iona Church is secure for future generations and that the building be brought up to an acceptable level of earthquake protection.

Our client’s brief was to design a three-bedroom home on their 47 ha Northland site showcasing the magnificent views of rolling farmland, protected bush and the expansive ocean encompassing Waipu Cove, the Hen and Chickens and Sail Rock.

Contact our experienced team to discuss your project

Address

Level 4, Landmark House
187 Queen Street
Auckland CBD 1010

Mailing
PO Box 105929, Auckland City 1143