Building Plan of Addition to V.I.C. Stores for A Y Lees Esq, Lower Hutt
Building Plan of Addition to V.I.C. Stores for A Y Lees 
Esq, Lower Hutt
This plan is part of a collection of older plans - the earliest of which dates from 1903 - covering of both commercial and residential buildings. They form an important record of the built heritage of Lower Hutt.
Many of the plans are beautifully drawn and are worth looking at in their own right, and may provide additional local historical information for people searching family history and community and social historians.
Caption: Plan of addition to VIC stores, High Street, Lower Hutt (Ref: Arch 71640)
VIC Corner - corner of Kings Crescent and the High Street - the old VIC store.
The Variety Importing Company was established in the 19th century although this plan shows a later addition that was added to the building in 1923. We do have an earlier mention of the store from 1906. It appears on a subdivision advertisement for the J A Mason estate which covered that area, the selling point being how close the new houses would be to the VIC stores!
The Lees family, who built this addition, were associated with the site until the liquor business was separated from the VIC. We have a number of other records which relate to the Lees family which could also cast some light on their business dealings, for example a correspondence file for W H Lees from 1923-1926.
Sources:
Building Plans [Lower Hutt] Series. 1904-1955.
Subdivision Advertisements Series - Plan of the J A Mason Estate. Reference Arch 72852
Lower Hutt Borough Correspondence Series. File reference Arch 28489Hutt City Council Archives
NB for people needing plans for building purposes contact Consents for microfilm copies.