12 Harbour Street

Designed by John Lemon and built in 1882 for the Neill Brothers , although only a single storey structure the paper at the time describes the building as ‘one of the most capacious stores in town

The site was first developed by flour millers John and George Orr, who began a smaller building here that was later left unfinished following financial failure and bankruptcy proceedings. After a series of short-term leases, the property was taken up in 1882 by William Godfrey Neill on behalf of the Neill Brothers, a Dunedin-based merchant firm engaged in grain and produce trading.

The new store was designed by John Lemon and constructed by stonemasons Messrs Watson. While only a single-storey structure, it was engineered on a large scale, extending along the railway siding and designed for the efficient bulk handling of grain. The interior was largely open plan, allowing storage for tens of thousands of sacks, with early accounts suggesting a capacity of around 40,000 to 50,000 sacks. Its design incorporated direct rail access, mechanical lifting systems, and a railway turntable to streamline the movement of goods between train and store.

A notable surviving feature of this system is the original railway turntable, which remains in place at the rear of the building beneath the present-day carpark, as well as the rail line down the centre of the building 

William Neill died in a coach accident in 1900, and his brother Robert passed away only months later, bringing an end to their direct involvement in the firm.

Trust History

Neill Brothers' Store was acquired by the Trust in 1989. The frontage of this building has been restored. 

Tenants:

Whitestone City
Purple Sprouting