Auckland Ferry Terminal | |
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The ferry building from the harbour
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Alternative names | Downtown Ferry Terminal |
General information | |
Type | Ferry building |
Architectural style | Edwardian Baroque |
Construction started | 1909 |
Completed | 1912 |
Renovated | 1986-1988 |
Cost | ₤67,944 |
Client | Auckland Harbour Board |
Design and construction | |
Architect | Alex Wiseman |
Main contractor | Philcox and Sons |
Designated | 25-Nov-1982 |
Reference no. | 102 |
References | |
"Ferry Building". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. |
The Auckland Ferry Terminal, sometimes called the Downtown Ferry Terminal or simply Ferry Building, is the hub of the Auckland ferry network that connects Auckland City with suburbs in North Shore, west Auckland, and south Auckland, and islands in the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf. The ferry terminal is in the Auckland CBD on the Auckland waterfront. It is at the north end of Queen Street, opposite the Britomart Transport Centre, which is the hub for local buses and trains.
The ferry terminal is composed of two main elements, with an older, yellow Edwardian Baroque building facing Queen Street and the city side, while the newer wharves and waiting area building (the actual ferry terminal of today) face the Waitemata Harbour.
The building usually referred to as the Auckland Ferry Terminal was designed by Alex Wiseman, and built by Philcox and Sons. Completed in 1912 on reclaimed land out of sandstone and brick with a base of Coromandel granite, it cost ₤67,944 to construct (approximately NZ$10.9 million in 2016), a large sum for the day.
Since 1982, it has had a Category I classification with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (since renamed to Heritage New Zealand), and was extensively restored between 1986 and 1988. It now contains shops and cafes on the lower level, with most ferry operations moved to the new building.
The more contemporary ferry piers and waiting area were constructed mostly as an open-sided structure with a curved seagull/sail-roof, which together with ornamental "smokestack" turrets is designed to evoke ships berthed behind the original building. It also needed to be of a low profile to retain building views, and was designed by architect Murray Day to be easily maintainable and expandable.