History
278 Willis Street Relocation Preparation - 18 March 2005
This building was constructed in 1873 for Andrew Young, an Irishman, coaching proprietor and land developer who was, for many years a Wellington City Councillor. He owned the building until 1893 after which he sold the house to Richard M Simpson, the New Zealand General Manager of Phoenix Insurance Ltd. The house was sold again in 1908 to Francis Levy, the wife of Abraham Levy, a prominent clothing manufacturer. Francis Levy's son, Louis Levy, took over occupation of the house in 1921 when he converted the house into the Willis Street Obstetric Hospital.
Francis Levy was an honorary obstetrician to Wellington Hospital from 1930 to 1940 after which he was appointed senior obstetrician. His wife, Nan Levy, retained ownership of the house following Louis' death in 1947 although the hospital continued to run until 1950.
278 Willis Street Relocation - 21 March 2005
In this year the government took ownership of the house and converted it into a postgraduate nurses training hospital. From the 1970s Catacombs, a social service organisation, rented the house firstly from the Health Department and then from Transit New Zealand when ownership transferred to it. The general style of the house is Italianate. This was a style which was influenced by the picturesque movement and was popular from the early 1850s in New Zealand.
New Location
30 metres north west of its original position, to front Youngs Ave.
New Address
130A Abel Smith Street.
278 Willis Street Restoration - 1 April 2005
New Colours
Gull Grey
Buff
Light Beige
Spanish White
Mahogany
Black
Construction Update
21 March 2005 – Relocation
August 2005 – Restoration commenced
May 2006 – Restoration complete
