Plimmer's Ark
History of the converted ship

In January 1855 a severe earthquake struck Wellington, (at 8.2 on the Richter scale, the largest ever recorded in New Zealand). This lifted the shoreline by at least a metre and tipped over the Ark. Even though the ark was soon righted the water level around the hulk was now too shallow for vessels to dock at. Later in 1856 the jetty was again extended by 33.6 metres.

A timber retaining wall constructed on the north side of the Ark, filled with soil from Clay Point (Stewart Dawsons Corner) now linked the Ark to Lambton Quay. Plimmer built a warehouse on this new land. The warehouse served as the immigration office. The Provincial and General Government paid Plimmer to have all immigrants step ashore onto this wharf (until 1863 when QueensWharf was built). Another warehouse was built on the Lambton Quay end of the Ark around 1860. Reclamation of the shoreline around the Ark was complete by the early 1860s. Plimmer still used the jetty, but all goods had to be conveyed across Custom House Quay to the now land locked Ark.



A drawing showing the Ark with new jetty. Also showing outline of new streets, that came later.


The ark as a Ship Chandlers circa 1870
A corner of the Ark was cut away to allow people to walk along Customhouse Quay. In 1883 the Ark was demolished and the ship ribs cut down to ground level to make way for the building of the National Mutual Life Association head office. Trapped stagnant water caused a bad stench in some of the offices in the building above. In 1899 the hull was exposed again during excavations for the new Bank of New Zealand head office.

In July 1997, during excavations for the modification of the Bank of New Zealand buildings, the remains of the Inconstant's hull were uncovered. This discovery led to an archaeological investigation of the site.