C.M.L Insurance building (Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd)
Trustbank Centre
Government Life Building
229-237 Stafford Street And Strathallan Street, Timaru
LN: 2048 C:2
1908
ARchitect T Coulthard-Mullions
Constructed of brick, concrete and plaster in Edwardian with classical influence style. It was as an investment property for well-known Canterbury agriculturalist and pastoralist, William Hay, is a prominent three storeyed commercial building with a curved façade. A fire occurred in the Hay’s Building at midnight 1 March 1910, damaging furniture and stock. Later that year, in August 1910, William Hay died and the property passed to his estate. The building subsequently became known as the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance building (or C.M.L. Building for short). On 17 April 1951 the top floor of the C.M.L. Building was badly damaged by fire.
It tells the story of twentieth century commercial activity and architectural significance as an example of a large Edwardian building designed by architect, Thomas Courthard Mullions. Thomas Coulthard Mullions (1878-1957), had arrived in Timaru in 1904 and developed a strong practice, designing many residential and commercial buildings in the district.
Significant elements include palasters, capitals, open bed pediments, varied arch window details, oriel windows and catouche detail.
Did you know? In 1951 it was the scene of another disasterous fire.
1910 New Zealand Government Life and Accident Insurance building, Stafford Street, Timaru, with men, horses and carts in the foreground. The Press (Newspaper) :Negatives. Ref: 1/1-008809-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/29939829
Stafford St. 1941. Photographer New Zealand Herald W B Beattie. 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 1370-464-02' when re-using this image. Hay's Building to the right. Learn more
The CML (Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd) building, probably taken in the late 1940s. Depicts the frontage of the building overlooking the intersection of Stafford and Strathallan Streets. While CML was the main occupant of the building, several other business signs are visible occupying upstairs offices and the ground floor retail space. Handwritten on the verso is a note pointing out "Matt Johnstone Ltd - the forerunner of Tasman Electric", visible on the ground floor to the left. The verso also bears the stamp of Kingham's Camera Shop who presumably processed the images. South Canterbury Museum CN: 2012/100.04
The CML (Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd) building, during an overnight fire on 17 April 1951. Depicts the local fire brigade's ladder unit in action, dousing the top of the building with water while a crowd looks on from the street below. The man at the top of the ladder was identified as GG Beckingham in 2020. Reports of the fire in the "Timaru Herald" of 18 April 1951, record that second and ground floor premises were heavily damaged by water. It also mentioned one of the few casualties was Mr E Harvey, of Tasman Electric, who suffered a mild electric shock while retrieving stock from within the building. - South Canterbury Museum CN: 2012/100.05
Work in progress upgrading the corner of Strathallan and Stafford Streets, along with the removal of the mens underground toilets in the intersection, circa 1985. Depicts the deep hole in the middle of the road left by the removal of the toilets. Strathallan Street has been closed as new curbings are laid on the corners also. Identifiable businesses in the background include Westpac Bank, Mr Discounter, Johnstons Menswear, the Public Trust Office, Demco, and Oddies Chemist. South Canterbury Museum 7247
Timaru, South Canterbury, New Zealand: issued by authority of the municipality of Timaru on the occasion of the centennial of the Dominion of New Zealand, 1940.. Aoraki Heritage Collection, accessed 06/10/2025, https://aorakiheritage.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/780