Former Cambridge Club Building

On the corner of Alpha and Dick Streets, this distinctive timber building opened in 1907 as the Cambridge Club, an exclusive gentlemen’s social club. Later known as Victoria’s Function Lounge, it remained a social venue for more than a century. Today, the original building is an office.

When the Cambridge Club formally opened its new clubrooms on 24 October 1907, the organisation was still in its infancy. The building was intended to provide suitably grand surroundings for its members.

Designed by architects Rigby & Warren and built by local builder Fred Potts, the weatherboard building shows a strong Queen Anne influence. Mr A. Curtain painted and decorated the interior, while the furniture was supplied by Thomas Wells.

At its heart was a billiard room large enough for two tables, described by the Waikato Independent as “certainly one of the finest in the province”. There were also social and card rooms with specially designed mantelpieces, a generous entrance hall, and a caretaker’s room connected to the other rooms by a system of electric bells. The interior woodwork was oiled and finished with flat varnish.

Cambridge Club, Dick Street, Cambridge, 2010

In 1997, the clubrooms were remodelled by Garry Thomas, doubling the size of the building. In 2000, the premises became known as Victoria’s Function Lounge.

The Cambridge Club moved to the Cambridge Bowling Club on Thornton Road in 2015. The two organisations formally merged in 2016 to become the Thornton Club.

Today, Lewis Law owns and occupies most of the original 1907 building.

Architectural description

Built of timber weatherboard with a corrugated iron roof, the building has a gabled faceted entry bay, with an arched porch and decorative eaves brackets. The moulded mullion windows have divided pane fanlights. The building’s exterior timbers are heart matai and totara, while the interior is finished with heart rimu. The ceiling was decorated with three reeded panels and cornice mouldings.

This physical landmark is a Category A building which is associated with an important aspect of Cambridge history. It has a setting which adds to its cultural heritage value and demonstrates a good quality of design with a high level of integrity.

Details

Location: Cnr Dick and Alpha Streets, Cambridge

Date/Period: 1907

Architect: Messrs W S Rigby & J W Warren

Builder: Fred Potts

Category: Waipā District Plan Category A

Cambridge Town

Cambridge Town