A Study of the significance of financial institutions in a central city office area - Wellington, 1958/1959

Abstract

In wellington City, as in most of the Western Cities, land values increase toward a central place where building and traffic densities are high. An investigation of the pattern of land values in wellington reveals that the highest land values and high traffic and building densities coincide with an area dominated by office use. The majority of the Head offices of banks and insurance firms are located in this area. My hypothesis is that financial institutions have a dominant influence on the economic structure of the office area, causing a concentration of high land values in this area. In chapter one the pattern of land values, traffic and building densities for the central city are established. In the following chapter the hypothesis is tested in relation to three places of evidence. Firstly, groups of businesses and the types of floor space they occupy. Secondly, the distribution of workers and employment opportunities. Thirdly, property ownership and control.