William Coombs bought the site of this building in about 1881. Following his death in 1907, the land was transferred to his widow, Alice Coombs (1857-1940). C. Tilleard Natusch & Sons’ received the contract to design this building.
Wellington contractors, Messrs Irvine & Burr began erecting the concrete building in late 1925, at a cost £16,083. The first stage was the main building, the second was the electrical work and lift, and the third was the shop fronts, which were complete by June 1927. The building was named after the (then) neighbouring Commercial Hotel. The plans indicate that the new building was erected around pork butcher Bert Hansel’s small-goods shop.
The Commercial Building was designed in the Inter-War neo-Georgian style, the style’s features being described as symmetrical with modest detailing. As originally built, the three-storey building consisted of four street-level shops, with suites of offices on the upper two floors. Many different businesses have occupied it over the years.
