subject: Experience Baroque Splendour At Auckland's Iconic And Monumental Ferry Building [print this page] Connecting Auckland city with Manukau, Waitakere and North Shore, the Auckland Ferry Building is a structure of monumental significance for the state's transport network and commercial pursuits. But that's not all; having been an integral part of the city's landscape and architectural legacy since it was first built in 1912, this New Zealand Historic Places Trust building is also one of Auckland's most frequented tourist attractions.
Ideally located in the heart of the central business district on the Auckland harbour, the Ferry Building originally cost a whopping 67,944 pounds when it was first constructed. Noted as one of the first office buildings in the city built solely for the purpose of leasing, the Ferry Building now consists of two main quarters. The yellow structure with its decidedly Edwardian Baroque features is located opposite Queen Street and now contains a number of cafes and quaint shops with most of the actual ferry operations having been moved to the newly built wharves opposite Waitemata Harbor. Home to the headquarters of the city's two primary ferry operators, namely the Takapuna Tramways Ferry Company and the Devonport Steam Ferry Company, it has also leased out its office spaces to a number of consulates and trade unions.
Constructed entirely of brick and sandstone with a Coromandel granite foundation, the structure was extensively renovated during the latter half of the 1980's. Four storeys or 131 feet in height, the building used to encompass a sky piercing central tower in its centre which was replaced by a siren and clock to better regulate wharf activities.
Affectionately referred to as the Auckland Ferry Terminal or Downtown Ferry Terminal, the Ferry Building also serves as a vibrant visual landmark on the city's waterfront. Easily identified by locals and seasoned visitors as a significant part of Auckland's landscape for over a hundred years, the structure is also located adjacent to several other historic venues such as the Quay Street Historic District and the Harbor Historic Area.
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