Historic gem on Bridge Street
At 29 Bridge Street there is a small commercial building dating back to 1855, which boasts a frontage that’s very close to its original shape.
It is believed to be the oldest commercial building in Nelson’s city centre, possibly the oldest commercial building still extant in New Zealand, and has a Historic Places Trust category B listing.
It is a vivid reminder of an older commercial centre which is now almost completely gone, not only in Nelson but in most other early New Zealand towns. Although the interior has been modified during the past 130 years the first floor and exterior retain their original character with timber cladding and pitched roof.
A fisherman’s jetty once sat at the back of the building in Wakatu Square and would have been used until reclamation in the 1890’s stopped boats having easy access into the Paruparu Estuary, or Tideway as it was known by settlers. Until then spring tides were especially good for larger vessels, while smaller flat-bottomed canoes and barges could proceed even further into the large tidal estuary.
The land on which the building stands is part of Section 1104 City of Nelson and was granted to Thomas Askew on 13 December 1851. Askew had arrived in Nelson with his parents in 1843, and the Nelson Census of 1849 describes him as living on Bridge Street. The Ratings Roll for 1864 specify that Askew had a house and shop built on the section in 1852. It appears this was let to various people and not lived in by Askew himself.
In 1883 Askew sold to John Olgivie, a cooper (a skilled tradesperson who repaired wooden barrels and kegs) who went bankrupt in 1889. A Mrs Mary Rogers then bought the land and building at an auction for $300 in 1889 and was the first of five women spanning four generations in one family who lived at the dual house and shop for over 96 years.
When Rogers died in 1903, her widowed daughter Mary Ellen Browne lived in the property until her death in 1930. It then went to her two married daughters, Mary Eleanor Naylor and Frances Lucy Soper.
Soper inherited full ownership from Naylor on her death, and when Soper died in 1964 this was transferred to her niece, artist Marjorie Eleanor Froom Naylor. Marjorie was well-known for her portraits and landscapes and operated a gallery from the premises and also lived there until she died in 1985.
The building was sold to the present owners who operate a jewellery business there. In the past fancy confectionery, sewing machines, lingerie even petrol were some of the items sold from this quaint little building.
Story by: Debbie Daniel-Smith (theprow.org.nz)
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