This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration.
One of the last examples of a small gentleman's residence built in central Wellington, Plimmer House was built in the early 1870s for Henry Eustace de Bathe Brandon. It was constructed by Scoular and Archibald, builders of the Government Buildings. In contrast to the Renaissance Revival style of the government Buildings, Plimmer House quietly echoes the Gothic Revival style with its steeply pitched roof and tower. Thus the house displays the versatility of Scoular and Archibald as builders.
The house was subsequently acquired by Charles Plimmer - hence the current name of the house.
As a piece of townscape its smallness in scale is offset by the adjacent high-rise buildings which is so much a part of the twentieth century.
Mt Victoria House
Mount Victoria provides stunning 360 degree views of Wellington City, the harbour and the ocean to the south. Car and bus access is via Alexandra Road, while walking tracks lead from Oriental Parade and Majoribanks Street.
Legend has it that Wellington harbour, originally a land-locked lake, was home to two large and very active taniwha (sea monsters). One taniwha forged a passage to the open sea creating the entrance to the harbour. The second, named Whataitai, tried a different route, became stranded and died. It is believed that Tangi-te keo (Mt Victoria) was named after the soul of Whataitai.
Mount Victoria is part of the Wellington Town Belt, land set aside in 1841 by the colonial New Zealand Company for a "public recreation ground for the inhabitants of Wellington". It's a great place for walking, jogging and mountain biking.(100% New Zealand)