Brief history of the Michael Fowler Centre

Sir Michael was first elected to the Wellington City Council in 1968. His vision as the Mayor was to tackle the seismic vulnerability of the central city and fundamentally change the cityscape.  

One vision he had was to create a central place of entertainment for Wellington in replacement of the town hall.  

Architects Warren and Mahoney were appointed to prepare the plans in March 1975 and they worked with acoustic engineer Professor Harold Marshall of Auckland University to design the main auditorium for orchestral performances. 

Two months later their design was adopted. Work on foundations began in December 1977 but because the site was on reclaimed land, it was difficult to secure solid foundations. It took some two and a half years to prepare the site. 

It was not until December 1979 that the major construction tender could be let to Fletcher Construction, and work began early in 1980. Built around a structural concrete frame, the MFC was to be a simple but functional space for concerts and meetings. 

The MFC was opened in 1983 and named after Mayor Michael Fowler, principally due to his unstinting and often-controversial efforts to raise money for the building. This included a round-the-world trip in 1977 in which Sir Michael door knocked the likes of billionaire Nelson Rockefeller and Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi in a bid to raise funds. 

With a large auditorium at its core, the building was finished in hard materials – concrete, glass, marble in the entry area, and, most distinctively, stainless steel cladding around the first-floor level of the building. 

Though the building was initially intended to replace the Town Hall, it was decided that the Town Hall would be retained and the two buildings were left close together with a canopy bridge connecting them.  

When the centre first opened on Friday 16 September 1983, Wellington celebrated with a ‘glittering ball’ ceremony and a 90-minute concert with the NZ Symphony Orchestra.   

The MFC was one of the last pieces of the puzzle that made up Te Ngākau Civic Square, with the square officially opening in 1991. 

Over the next few years, there are some key decisions that need to be made when it comes to the remaining buildings and spaces in Te Ngākau, including the City to Sea Bridge, Michael Fowler Centre, Jack Ilott Green and City Gallery. The Te Ngākau Precinct Development Plan will guide the redevelopment.    

Have your say on the development of Te Ngākau Civic Square

As the city embarks on its biggest transformation programme in more than 30 years, we’re highlighting some corners of the capital that help make Wellington a better place to live, work, and play.  To find out more about the works in Te Ngākau, you can visit our website or keep up to date with the projects happening in Wellington city on the Positively Pōneke site.