Wellington Museum

The History of the Wellington Museum & The Bond Store:

The Wellington Museum, formerly known as the Museum of Wellington City and Sea, is located on Queens Wharf in Wellington. Housed within the stunning Wellington Harbour Bond Store Building, which dates back to 1892, the museum provides a unique experience of the city’s maritime history. Although the building was originally constructed as a bonded cargo warehouse and offices, it was transformed into a museum in 1972 as the Bond Store was no longer the centre of activity on the wharf. Over the years, the exhibits within the museum have evolved to highlight the city’s settlement, maritime history, and growth, creating a stronger connection with the people of Wellington. The Bond Store building is considered a Category 1 Historic Place and is listed with Heritage New Zealand, recognizing its historical and cultural significance. In 2015, the building underwent significant renovations to preserve its legacy. 

Exterior Repairs:

In preparation for recoating the building’s exterior, the surface had to undergo a thorough cleaning, and some parts of the concrete needed to be repaired. The Equus line of Schomburg ASOCRET concrete repair products was used to repair areas where the existing coating and plaster had become damaged and was pulling away. For larger voids, ASOCRET BIS 5/40 was used, while ASOCRET BIS 1/6, the finest of the ASOCRET range, was used for smaller voids and finishing work.

ASOCRET KS-HB is used to assist in the bonding of 5/40 while also can be used as an anti-corrosive primer coat. This was particularly helpful in areas where the reinforcing or metal had become exposed. The ASOCRET range of concrete repair products not only rehabilitated the exterior but also created a smooth, level surface that was ready for painting. In this project, the repairs were primarily required on areas around the window frames and ledges.

Exterior Coatings:

Heritage buildings are an important part of Wellington’s history, and to ensure the long-life of the Museums exterior, Keim Grantial mineral paint was chosen. A sustainable and eco-friendly option, the water-borne, silicate paint creates a strong, long-lasting, and water-repelling finish while still allowing for high breathability.

The refurbishment of the museum required a vibrant colour scheme, making colorfastness a crucial consideration. Keim Granital, with its natural properties, proved to be an excellent choice for ensuring long-lasting protection with minimal maintenance, that can be used on any mineral substrate. A great solution for refurbishing old surfaces.

A high-quality product is a core value of Equus industries, so it was important to us to get the colours right. Our team went through a thorough testing process with the colours for the building to ensure the vision for the building was turned into a reality.

Prior to the application of the Keim Granital, a layer of Equus WBSB was applied to prevent any further deterioration to the substrate. WBSB acts as a salt-barrier and aids in protecting the building from the coastal environment.

Roof Refurbishment:

The refurbishment of the building also called for a new warm roof. A warm roof is an exterior roofing system that combines thermal insulation with a robust waterproofing membrane. Warm Roofs provide their building with improved energy efficiency by reducing heat loss through the roof, protect the building structure from damage caused by condensation, and increase the lifespan of the roof. Costs are reduced over the roof’s lifetime due to reduced requirement for internal heating and cooling, and roof maintenance.

Maintaining a constant temperature can be particularly important in a heritage building. This helps to protect the historic features from condensation, temperature changes, and humidity. But, in this case the Museums attic was converted into a new, award-winning exhibition space, meaning the protection provided by the roof was a necessity.

To ensure this protection, a Duotherm Warm Roof was installed over the existing Chevaline Dexx coated roof. The Duotherm Warm Roof provides all the benefits of a warm roof while also providing the building with a robust, UV and weather resistant waterproofing membrane; providing further protection to the historic building for years to come.

Architect: Athfield Architects and Opus (now WSP)

Exterior Repair and Coatings:

Main Contractor: City Care – Project Managers on behalf of the Wellington City Council
Equus Certified Applicator: Mesh Coatings

Warm Roof:

Main Contractor: Naylor Love
Equus Certified Applicator: SWP Commercial