Sir Peter Jackson film museum tipped in Lyall Bay revamp

Friday, 15 December 2023

Demolition is almost complete at a Lyall Bay site understood to be getting prepared for a movie museum.

Wellington’s Lyall Bay is in for a facelift with a swag of new projects, including what is understood to be Sir Peter Jackson’s long-awaited film museum.

Ownership of the Lyall Bay block — bordered by Lyall Parade, Kingsford Smith St, McGregor St, and Tirangi Rd — had been with a blind trust.

But updated Companies Office records show the directors of the company that owns it are now listed as Jackson and partner Dame Fran Walsh. The company is ultimately owned by Wingnut Group Management, which Jackson and Walsh own.

Wingnut chief executive and executive producer Clare Olssen was this week approached for comment. She said in May that Jackson and Walsh would love to build a film museum in Wellington, but there were then no definitive plans.

The Lyall Bay property owned by Sir Peter Jackson and Dame Fran Walsh.

Locals near the Lyall Bay site on Tuesday remained unclear about what was planned for the site, though various people have talked of a rumoured film museum. But it is understood that film museum plans have now firmed up considerably.

The confirmation of the purchase adds to Jackson and Walsh’s growing portfolio of land which recently included a large parcel of land at nearby Shelly Bay, where they had opposed a mega-development planned by developer Ian Cassels.

Many sites over many years have been touted for Jackson's film museum.

A plan to build one at Shelly Bay fell flat around 2012. Then a plan emerged in 2015 to incorporate it in to what is now the Wellington City Council's Tākina conference centre, but this also fell flat after differences between the Jackson camp and the council in 2018.

Demolition of most of the buildings on the Lyall Bay site has been nearly completed.

The movie museum will be on Lyall Parade, it is understood.

Wellington City Council spokesperson Richard MacLean said no consents had been filed for the site.

Further up Tirangi Rd, derelict buildings are being demolished this week and the Greater Wellington Regional Council on Tuesday revealed it was proposing leasing the site from Wellington Airport for a parking and charging facility for electric buses.

“Greater Wellington looks forward to being part of the wider Lyall Bay rejuvenation and working with the community on the future of the site,” regional council transport chairperson Thomas Nash said.

Airport chief executive Matt Clarke said the bay had “a lot of new projects underway”. The airport had bought two waterfront corner sites which would house hospitality venues in early 2024.

He didn’t identify the corners but property records show Walsh and Jackson own the waterfront corners on their blocks.

Lyall Bay already has a number of popular cafes including Spruce Goose and Maranui.

“Plans are also being developed for a new public promenade along Lyall Bay Parade, and construction has started on a state-of-the-art airport fire station on Coutts Street,” Clarke said.