The Commercial Union Buildings were on the corner of Lambton Quay and Grey Street, circa 1920s - see 1/1-015444.
Commercial Union Arcade - 44-48 Victoria Street. Constructed 1941 as a building, Victoria House. First arcade was the Dominion Life Arcade in 1954. In 1973 the building was brought by Commercial Union and the arcade became the Commercial Union Arcade.
Date: 1933
From: Gooch, Mitchell and MacDiarmid Ltd :[Architectural plans. 1906-1995].
By: Atkins & Mitchell (Firm)
Reference: Plans-2002-058-028-001
Description: Shows a floor plan of the building as existing, and as altered. Also shows details of entranceway, doorway, screen partitions. Quantity: 1 plan(s). Physical Description: Ink drawing on tracing paper, 455 x 750 mm.
Date: [ca 1900 - ca 1950]
By: Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd
Reference: PAColl-10117
Description: Photographs relating to Commercial Union Insurance. Images show: -Portrait of Charles Ewen, general manager of the Commerial Union Assurance Company, taken 1 January 1915 by W H Bartlett. -Four portraits of unidentified men (one portrait has the names 'Jenkins' and Mr (Ogilvie?) on the back), probably subsequent general managers of Commercial Union, taken circa 1920s-circa 1950s by S P Andrew, Earle Andrew and Spencer Digby. -A scene showing the head office of the Colonial Insurance Company of New Zealand, Grey Street, Wellington, taken circa 1900 by an unidentified photographer. Scene includes other buildings and a horse-drawn tram. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Source of descriptive information - Date and photographer of Charles Ewen portrait from same image at PAColl-0586. Quantity: 6 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin prints, mounted Provenance: The photographs had been found in the office of CGU Insurance. QBE were formerly the offices of PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) and, prior to that, CGU and Commercial Union Insurance.
Date: [1900-1929]
From: Creator unknown: Photographs relating to life in the Wellington Region
Reference: 1/2-238894-G
Description: Photograph taken by an unidentified photographer circa 1900s-1920s showing a view looking down Lambton Quay with Grey Street on the right of frame. Pedestrians, three trams, including one "10 Lambton Stn", two horse and carts, and a motorcyclist (or cyclist) are in the Quay. The "Commercial Union Building" is on the corner of Grey Street on right of frame. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Half inch dry plate glass negative
Date: 1987-1995
From: Radford, Robin, 1936-: Collection
By: La Plante, Steven, active 1974-2015; Harrison, Rodger, active 1950-1990s; Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd
Reference: Eph-E-INSURANCE-CU-1900s
Description: Includes: Commercial Union Insurance calendar 1987 (shows "The Pencarrow Coffee Lounge, 254 Lambton Quay Wellington 1858-1986, painting by Rodger Harrison) Commercial Union Insurance calendar 1991 (Shows "Terrace Street Dunedin", painting by Rodger Harrison) Commercial Union Insurance calendar 1993 (Shows "The Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand", painting by Geoffrey Notman) Commercial Union Insurance calendar 1994 (Shows "Flock Hill Station, Winding Creek, looking towards Torlesse Range, Waimakariri Basin, New Zealand, photographed by Steven La Plant) Commercial Union Insurance calendar 1995 (Shows "Spring growth near Rangiwahia" photographed by Steven La Plant) Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Offset prints on single sheets, with metal edges top and bottom, 830 x 595 mm.
Date: 1985-1994
From: Shephard, Wayne, active 1990-2001: Papers relating to Wellington buildings
Reference: 2007-116-150
Description: File comprises Archive of Wellington Architecture research forms. Some forms include newspaper cuttings. Selected names indexed. Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Date: 1880 - 1910
From: [New Zealand ephemera of quarto size, relating to insurance companies, insurance cover, insuring of property, travel and accident insurance]
Reference: Eph-B-INSURANCE-1880/1910
Description: Includes: 1880: New Zealand Government Insurance Department. Payment of all policies guaranteed by the state. Flier [ca 1880/1881] 1883: Government Life Insurance. The Hon the Colonial Treasurer (Major Atkinson) on the condition of the State Guarantee. Flier [ca 1883] 1890: Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd of London. Circular letter, 11 December 1890 Government Life Insurance Department. Supplement to the New Zealand Mail, 15 May 1890. Yellow flier 1900: The New Zealand Government Life Insurance Department. The combination of security and liberality afforded by the policies issued from the office is unequalled in the Australasian Colonies. Pamphlet. 1900. 1902: New Zealand Accident Insurance Company :New Zealand Accident Insurance Company; mortgagees and owners are liable under the Workers' Compensation Act. Printed at the Observer Office, Auckland [ca 1902?] 1907: Australasian Life Assurance Societies. Business reported for the year 1906, with a summary of premium and interest receipts and expenses of the year. 20th edition. Australian Mutual Provident Society, Sydney, 3 October 1907. Pink pamphlet Australasian Mutuual Provident Society. Comparative view of the assets held by the life assurance societies of Australasia. 4 November 1907. Pink flier Undated ca 1900-1910: Mutual Life and Citizens' Assurance Company Ltd, Sydney. Comparison of the net cost per annum under a whole-life policy for 500 [pounds]. Pink flier Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Sizes varying up to 330 mm. Provenance: Some items purchased from Pukapuka Books in 2002.
Date: 1973-1990
From: Radford, Robin, 1936-: Collection
By: Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd
Reference: Eph-B-INSURANCE-CU-1970/1999
Description: Includes: The rhythm of life - name change from Dominion Life to Commercial Union [October 1973?] Commercial Union. Corporate structure of Commercial Union in New Zealand [1983] Commercial Union. Corporate structure of Commercial Union in New Zealand March 1985 A century of service 1890-1990. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Offset prints in booklets and pamphlets, sizes up to 330 mm.
Date: 1980-1989
From: Radford, Robin, 1936-: Collection
By: Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd
Reference: Eph-C-TABLE-TENNIS-1980s-01
Description: Poster for a table tennis tournament shows a black and white photograph of a player in action. There are two smaller photographs of players in action at lower left. Also included is a list of prize money to be awarded to winners and runners-up. Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Offset print, 485 x 337 mm.
Date: 1987-1989
From: Radford, Robin, 1936-: Collection
By: Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd
Reference: Eph-A-TABLE-TENNIS-Radford
Description: Includes: New Zealand Table Tennis Association Inc. Certificate Winner 1987 Commercial Union Secondary Schools Table Tennis Teams Championship New Zealand Table Tennis Association Inc. Certificate Winner 1989 Commercial Union Secondary Schools Table Tennis Teams Championship New Zealand Table Tennis Association Inc. Certificate Participant 1989 Commercial Union Secondary Schools Table Tennis Teams Championship. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Offset prints on single sheets, sizes up to 240 mm.
Date: 1957-1995
From: Radford, Robin, 1936-: Collection
By: Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd
Reference: Eph-A-INSURANCE-CU-1950/1999
Description: Includes: Yellow Commercial Union Assurance Company Limited 16 December 1957 Bonus certificate 31 December 1977 CU beermat [1980s?] Commercial Union. Staff right shockabsorber contents. 1991 Commercial Union. Staff right driveright contents. 1991 Commercial Union. Staff right rebuilder contents. 1991 Travel right insurance policy booklet 1995 Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Offset prints on single sheets, sizes up to 240 mm.
Date: 1974-1977
From: [New Zealand ephemera of octavo size, relating to insurance companies, insurance cover, insuring of property, travel and accident insurance]
Reference: Eph-A-INSURANCE-1974/1977
Description: Not fully listed. Includes pamphlets and booklets issued by: AMP Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited Commercial Union Assurance Export Guarantee Office Guardian Trust Life Underwriters Association of New Zealand National Provident Fund New Zealand Government Life Insurance Office N.Z.I. Trust NZ Mutual Funds Ltd State Insurance Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Sizes varying up to 240 mm.
Date: 1930 - 1945
From: [New Zealand ephemera of octavo size, relating to insurance companies, insurance cover, insuring of property, travel and accident insurance]
By: F & O Ltd
Reference: Eph-A-INSURANCE-1930s-01
Description: Inventory booklet listing the contents of each room of a house. The sitting room includes electric light fittings, smoking stands, tapestry. Bedrooms include portieres (door curtains). Dated 1930-1940s. The inventory does not include record players, gramophones, televisions; but does include electrical apliances (hot water jugs and toasters, vacuum cleaner) which became common household items in the early 1930s. It also includes washing machines. The kitchen does not include a stove, suggesting that a coal range may have been in use, rather than a moveable item. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Booklet of 16 pages, 219 x 92 mm.
Date: 1905
From: Original photographic prints and postcards from the file print collection, Box 18
By: Muir & Moodie (Firm)
Reference: PAColl-7581-89
Description: Looking along Lambton Quay, Wellington, circa 1905. Buildings line both sides of the street. On the left is the Commercial Union Assurance Company building and the corner of Grey Street. An electric tram bound for the railway station is right of centre. Photograph taken by Muir and Moodie. Inscriptions: Recto - Muir & Moodie No 117P. Lambton Quay Wellington Quantity: 1 b&w photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Ink printed on card, 8.9 x 13.7 cm
Date: 1895
From: F W Niven & Co. :View of Wellington [ca 1895] from Mt Victoria. F W Niven & Co. [lith] Ballarat, [Vic[toria, ca 1895]
Reference: D-002-007-003
Description: Top right panel shows illustrations of, or advertisements for, the following premises or organisations: J Staples and Company Limited, brewers and bottlers, Molesworth and Murphy Streets, Wellington. Shows the yard, with the brewery in the background Wellington Hospital. Shows a general view of the hospital building behind a row of trees. Commercial Union Assurance Company Limited, fire and marine. Capital £2,500,000 ; annual income £1,500,00. Head office for New Zealand Lambton Quay Wellington. General manager F Allen, J.P. Wellington branch manager Geo H Harbroe. Shows the exterior of a two-storey corner building William C Fitzgerald, sole proprietor of the celebrated chocolate worm tablets, Dr McKenzie's cough mixture, and anti Sea Sickness Remedy. Late surgeon of the ship 'Rakaia'. Shows the retail outlet building with advertising signs on it. Office of the 'New Zealand Times" and "New Zealand Mail", Lambton Quay. Shows the two-storeyed building frontage. William Tucker wholesale and retail travelling bag and portmanteau manufacturer. Solid leather trunks and sample cases made to order. 14 and 16 Lambton Quay, Wellington. Shows the exterior of the premises. Extended Title - Top right panel from F W Niven's "View of Wellington from Mt Victoria" [ca 1895] Quantity: 1 colour art print(s). Physical Description: Coloured lithograph, 355 x 355 mm.
Date: [ca 1905]
By: Muir & Moodie (Firm)
Reference: PA7-19-28
Description: Scene on Lambton Quay, Wellington, taken by Muir & Moodie in 190[5?]. The Commercial Union Assurance Company building is on the left. A tram is visible. Other Titles - Lambton Quay Wellington Inscriptions: Photographer's title on negative - bottom left - 117P Lambton Quay, Wellington. Protd 30.4.0[5?] Muir Moodie. Dunedin Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Albumen print 204 x 139 mm, mounted on card
Date: ca 1902
From: Original photographic prints and postcards from the file print collection, Box 16
By: Feeny, P H, active 1900
Reference: PAColl-7344-30
Description: A long line of men and women cycling south along Lambton Quay. The Wairarapa Farmers Co-operative Association building can be seen in the background and the Commercial Union Assurance building on the right. The photographer was Feeny, possibly P H Feeny of Picton, or P J Feeny of Nelson. This photograph was taken between 1900 and 1904. The single horse tram track still runs down Lambton Quay, and though the Wellington City Council purchased the Wellington Tramway Company in 1900, there was no change in the sevice until at least 1904 when the trams were electified. As a consequence of this there were fancy standards and brackets holding the tram wires and a double rail system was built. The women's hats also push the date nearer the 1890s than 1910, and the sleaves of their shirts suggest a post rather than a pre 1900 date. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Date: [ca 1920s]
From: Burt, Gordon Onslow Hilbury, 1893-1968 :Negatives
Reference: 1/1-015444-G
Description: Grey Street, Wellington, circa 1920s, with Lambton Quay on the left. The `Commercial Union Buildings' are on the corner. A sign advertising Royal Standard Typewriters and agents J Seater & Co, is visible. Other signs advertise Smith and Jones (land agents), and W P Page (estate agents). Photograph taken by Gordon H Burt. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Negative not yet sighted
Date: 1950s-1990s
By: Radford, Robin, 1936-
Reference: ATL-Group-00417
Description: Material collected by Robin Radford relating to table tennis, Commercial Union Insurance, and The Great Benyon magic shows. Comprises a photograph showing showing Alan Tomlinson and Murray Dunn in the final of the 1965 Table Tennis North Island Open and Junior Table Tennis Championships. It also includes ephemera and posters relating to the magician Edgar Benyon, Commercial Union Insurance, and table tennis matches in the 1980s. Title supplied by Library. Quantity: 17 Other printed ephemera item(s). 7 Poster(s) including large calendars. 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Transfers: Serials; - Trustees' Annual report to members and pensioners for the year ending .... Commercial Union General Insurance Staff Pension Scheme. [Wellington, N.Z.] : Commercial Union Insurance. 1992,1993,1994 - 'Annual review' 1995. [Wellington, N.Z.] : Commercial Union Insurance. - Link. (CU Assurance). The house magazine of Commercial Union Assurance Company N.Z. Ltd. March and June, 1976 - Monographs: - Insurance is a funny business / Drawn compiled and produced by Mike Setterfield; Assisted by Norman Wiseman. [Timaru, N.Z. Commercial Assurance Assurance,]. 48 p - Staff Pension Scheme. Rules effective from 20th December, 1966. [Wellington, N.Z.] : Commercial union Group in New Zealand. 7 p - Staff Pension Scheme. Trust deed and rules effective from 1st July 1980. [Wellington, N.Z.] : Commercial Union General Insurance. 31 p - Staff Pension Scheme. Trust and deed rules effective from 1st October 1986. [Wellington, N.Z.] : Commercial Union General Insurance. 52 p - Staff Pension Scheme. Consolidated trust deed of the Commercial Union General Insurance [30 June 1994]. [Wellington, N.Z.]. 37 p - Staff Pension Scheme. Proposal for the distribution of surplus funds in the scheme. [Wellington, N.Z>] : Commercial Union General Insurance, October 1994. 1 vol..