Seddon House – Government Buildings
Driven by the Lands and Survey Department’s need for larger premises, Government Architect John Campbell (designer of the nearby Custom House) was tasked with creating this impressive building.
Government Buildings. A building of two halves.
The initial floor plan soon grew to include other Government departments, featuring spaces for the Supreme Court, Stipendiary Magistrate and Warden’s Court, Education Board, and County Council.
Erected in two stages between 1908 and 1913, the size of the Government Buildings, also referred to as Seddon House, is a testament to the importance Hokitika once played as a political hotspot. Prime Minister of the time, Sir Joseph Ward, even came to personally lay the foundation stone.
Slightly more toned down than some of John Campbell’s other projects, Government Buildings still exudes Edwardian Imperial Baroque design touches, drawing inspiration from 18th Century French and 17th-century English architecture. Buildings of this style have become recognised as a reflection of the era’s spreading British Imperialism.
Classified as a Category 1 Heritage Building in 1990, redevelopment and restoration work is underway to ensure these premises’ future viability.
Address
District Westland
Street address 14 Sewell Street
Town Hokitika
Postcode 7810