History
5 Tonks Ave HPT Investigations - 8 July 2005
This cottage is reported to have been constructed by William Tonks for his employees. It has been suggested that five cottages in Tonks Avenue were built after Henry Tonks' death in 1884, however a date as early as the 1870s is possible from physical evidence of construction and use of materials. Two cottages, shown side-by-side, are in an 1875 photo and may be of 5 and 7 Tonks prior to the construction of Tonks Avenue. This suggests that 5 Tonks was constructed by 1875.
In the early 1990s, 7 Tonks, similar in style and form to 5 Tonks, was burnt down.
The sites of 5 and 7 Tonks Avenue were owned by William Tonks (senior). The next owner of 5 Tonks Avenue was Annie Fraser from 1887. No member of the Tonks family has owned it since.
5 Tonks Ave Relocation Preparation - 22 July 2005
The cottage is a Victorian Georgian double gable box cottage. The Georgian cottage was a vernacular carpenter response to limited budget accommodation, using readily available materials, and styles from England.
Tonks Avenue is a unique enclave combining small workers dwellings and generous inner city Edwardian housing with a narrow gateway to the Avenue defined by two storeyed shops. Its rambling, confined character captures the spirit of 19th century Wellington.
New Location
30 metres north-east of its original position, to sit on the edge of new Tonks Grove, between the relocated 1 & 3 Tonks and existing Footscray Avenue buildings. This building is part of the Tonks precinct.
New Address
5 Tonks Ave Relocation - 19 August 2005
5 Tonks Grove.
New Colours
Gull Grey
Drab Brown
Nelson Red
Construction Update
19 August 2005 – Relocated
August 2005 – Restoration commenced
December 2005 – Restoration complete
